Senior Manager - Category Management - Sonic

Inspire Brands, Inc.; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonic Drive-In seeks a Senior Manager, Category Management to lead development and execution of beverage, snacks and sides categories, packaging, and innovation strategies that support long-term growth.

You will shape the menu innovation roadmap, translate consumer and business insights into actionable category plans, and drive sales, profitability, and brand differentiation through cross-functional collaboration and rigorous analysis.

Qualifications

• 4-year degree preferred and 7+ years in a category or brand management role.
• Strong strategic and creative thinking.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Proficient in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies for beverages, snacks, and sides.
• Lead the end-to-end innovation pipeline from concept to launch.
• Partner with cross-functional teams across Culinary, Marketing, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, and Insights.
• Oversee market testing, launch readiness, and performance evaluation.
• Monitor category performance and provide data-driven recommendations.

Skills

Category management

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

The Senior Manager, Category Management will report to the Director, Category Management and is responsible for developing and executing Sonic’s beverage, snacks and sides categories, packaging, and innovation strategies that support Sonic’s long‑term growth objectives.

This role plays a critical leadership position in shaping the menu innovation roadmap, identifying growth opportunities, and translating consumer, operational, and business insights into actionable category strategies that drive sales, profitability, and brand differentiation.

The Senior Manager leads the end-to-end development and execution of menu and category initiatives, including the innovation pipeline management, market testing, launch readiness, go‑to‑market planning, packaging and cross‑functional coordination across Culinary, Marketing, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, and Consumer Insights.

This role is accountable for ensuring initiatives are strategically sound, operationally executable, and successfully launched. In addition, this position provides ongoing category stewardship through performance analysis, consumer and marketplace research, and identification of emerging trends and whitespace opportunities. As a key business partner, the Senior Manager influences organizational decision‑making by delivering strategic recommendations, managing complex projects, and aligning cross‑functional teams around initiatives that support sustainable growth and strengthen Sonic’s competitive position.

Responsibilities:

• Lead Category Strategy and Growth – Develop and execute short‑ and long‑term category, product, and packaging strategies that support Sonic’s business objectives and drive sustainable sales and profit growth.
• Identify emerging consumer trends, marketplace opportunities, and white‑space platforms to inform the innovation roadmap and future growth initiatives.
• Partner with the category management director and senior leadership to establish category priorities and strategic recommendations.
• Own Innovation Pipeline: Lead the end‑to‑end innovation process from concept development through commercialization, including opportunity identification, business case development, product testing, launch planning, and post‑launch evaluation.
• Build and manage the beverage, snack, and sides pipeline of innovation initiatives across core menu, limited‑time offers, and packaging.
• Collaborate with culinary to develop, refine, and validate new products and platforms.
• Lead Market Testing and Launch Execution: Oversee market test strategy, execution, and performance evaluation to ensure initiatives are operationally sound and commercially successful.
• Drive launch readiness activities, including stage‑gate deliverables, execution checklist, operational alignment, training requirements, and launch materials.
• Identify and mitigate risks while ensuring projects remain on schedule and meet business objectives.
• Own Category Performance and Insights: Monitor category, product, promotion, and test performance to identify opportunities for growth, optimization, and profitability improvement.
• Lead consumer research efforts and leverage marketplace, competitive, and operational insights to inform category strategy and innovation priorities.
• Develop data‑driven recommendations and present findings to senior leadership.
• Management & Direct Reports: 1 Category Specialist.

Requirements:

• 4‑Year Degree Preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in a category or brand management position.
• Business acumen, including understanding of market trends, consumers, competitors and P&L fluency.
• Experience taking product ideas from ideation to execution.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively.
• Ability to collect and synthesize information, making it relevant, understandable, and actionable for key stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, especially the ability to explain difficult concepts in applicable business terms. Strong ability to summarize strategies into (PowerPoint) presentations in clear and understandable message.
• Strong computer skills: Excel, Word, PowerPoint are required.
• Detail oriented with a focus on accuracy, process management, and execution excellence.
• Project Management and strong ability to work with cross‑functional teams.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment, multi‑task, prioritize and be detail oriented.
• Self‑starter personality with excellent organizational skills who can operate with some supervision and has the ability to manage multiple projects and timelines simultaneously.
• Ideal candidate has an inquisitive nature, a passion for learning and solving problems and a growth mindset.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing business priorities.
• A go‑getter who carries a positive attitude every day and who desires to grow in the role and within the marketing organization.