Sr Manager, Category Management

Suja Life, Inc.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Suja Life, Inc. is seeking a Sr. Manager, Category Management, Channels to lead strategy across Mass, Club, Specialty and Emerging Channels, building partnerships with retailers like Walmart, Costco, Trader Joe's.

You will develop channel-specific category plans, optimize placement and assortments, mentor category managers, and influence cross-functional teams to deliver profitable growth. This remote role requires strong analytical skills, 8+ years in category management, and proven negotiation

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in category management, syndicated data, insights, research, sales or a related field.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to leverage data for strategic decision-making.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior retail executives and internal stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key decision-makers and executives across Mass, Club, Specialty, and Emerging Channel accounts.
• Develop and implement category management strategies tailored to the distinct needs of each channel, ensuring alignment with retailer goals and company objectives.
• Lead the creation and execution of category plans to drive sales, market share, and profitability within key retailers.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for category management, collaborating with retail partners on product assortment, pricing strategies, promotional plans, and go-to-market execution.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen partnerships, enhance category growth, and secure shelf space, ensuring alignment between retailer needs and company objectives.
• Provide thought leadership to category managers and mentorship to sales leads on strategic approach and insights-based storytelling.

Job description

• Pay or shift range: $130,000 USD to $150,000 USD
  The salary range listed is the expected pay range for this position. Final compensation will be based on skills, experience, location, qualifications, and other job-related factors permitted by applicable law.

Description

Position Summary

The Sr. Manager, Category Management, Channels is responsible for leading the strategy, development, and execution of category management initiatives across Mass (Walmart, Target), Club (Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's), Specialty (Trader Joe's, Aldi), and Emerging Channels (Convenience, Drug, Food Service, Hospitality, and other non-traditional retail formats) accounts. This role involves managing and growing relationships with key retail partners, developing channel-specific category strategies that deliver profitable growth, and optimizing product placement and assortments across each of these distinct retail formats. The Sr. Manager will work with our team of category managers and work closely with cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, supply chain, and operations, to ensure the success of channel partnerships and product categories.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key decision-makers and executives across Mass, Club, Specialty, and Emerging Channel accounts.
• Develop and implement category management strategies tailored to the distinct needs of each channel, ensuring alignment with both retail partner goals and company objectives.
• Lead the creation and execution of category plans to drive sales, market share, and profitability within key retailers.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for category management, collaborating with retail partners on product assortment, pricing strategies, promotional plans, and go-to-market execution.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen partnerships, enhance category growth, and secure shelf space, ensuring alignment between retailer needs and company objectives.
• Foster a culture of teamwork and collaboration, ensuring that the category management team is equipped to address the unique needs of each sub-channel.
• Provide thought leadership to category managers in the execution of account-specific strategies and category optimization, as well as mentorship to sales leads on strategic approach and insights-based story telling with our customers.
• Internal expert on customer specific data platforms (emphasis on Scintilla and Costco CRX) and leverage insights to inform mutual growth strategies with our customers, as well as shape internal cross functional strategies.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sales growth, market share, promo effectiveness, HH pen and buy rate, making adjustments as needed to maximize category success.
• May from time to time need to attend store schematic tests or resets, club roadshows/demos, or other channel-specific retail events.

Job Qualifications

Education

Experience

• 8+ years of experience in category management, syndicated data, insights, research, sales or a related field.
• Proven track record in managing relationships and initiatives with large retail accounts across Mass, Club, Specialty, and/or Emerging Channels, while driving sales and category growth.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to leverage data for strategic decision-making.
• Extensive use of syndicated scan, panel, and loyalty card platforms, as well as channel-specific retailer portals (e.g., Scintilla, CRX/Unify+ and specialty retailer vendor systems).
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior retail executives and internal stakeholders.

Knowledge

Language Skills

Excellent professional oral, written and presentation communication skills.

Other Skills & Abilities

• Have attention to detail, self-motivated, manage conflicting priorities, meet critical customer & internal deadlines, think creatively and outside of the box, personable, professional, and have strong sense of analytical curiosity.

Major Business/Professional Contacts

• Regular contact with category management team, sales leads, sales planning, and key retailer contacts.

Working and Environmental Conditions

Use of computer, keyboard, and telephone required.

Remote home office position with 10% to 20% travel for customer meetings and occasional internal meetings.

Due to time zone variations, may require occasional work in the evenings.

Physical Demands

Sitting/standing for extended periods of time, sit in front of a computer, light/heavy computer use, speak on the telephone, appear on video conference calls, etc.

Compensation and Benefits

Come thrive at Suja Life! We offer a competitive benefits package, including:

• Salary ranges from $130,000 - $150,000
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and more
• Paid Parental Leave – 12 Weeks at 100% Pay
• 401(k) match to help you plan for the future
• Paid time off: vacation, sick days & holidays
• Juice benefits: yes, we keep you fueled and refreshed!

#INDHP

Suja Life is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, genetics, age, or veteran status or any other applicable legally protected status or characteristic. The Company complies with all federal/local/state regulations regarding pay.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.