Job SummaryThe Category Manager works closely with the Retail Sales Team, Marketing Team, and Finance & Accounting teams to drive sales, purchases, and profitability. As a strategic partner to top customers, the Category Manager is responsible for providing fact-based, insight-led, and actionable category solutions to drive growth for the category, customer, and company. The Category Manager acts as a thought-leader using consumer and data trends to provide value-creating business solutions regarding category assortment, merchandising, shelving, pricing, and promotion. The role has close collaboration with both internal & external partners. The position requires proficiency in following the company values of cooperation, integrity, work ethic, decisiveness, and agility.
Essential Functions
Category Insight Leadership
Define and own the multi-year Category Insights learning agenda aligned to enterprise growth prioritiesIdentify high-value opportunities across channels and retailers by synthesizing primary research, panel data, and syndicated sourcesTranslate shopper behavior and category trends into clear commercial implications that drive distribution, velocity, and basket expansionServe as a category thought leader, elevating CDI's credibility with retail partners through insight-led selling
Analytics
Integrate diverse data streams (primary, shopper, panel, syndicated, and retailer data) into cohesive, action-oriented narrativesEstablish frameworks and standardized approaches for Category trend mapping, segmentation, and opportunity sizingBuild scalable tools and ways of working that embed shopper thinking into the Sales organizationChampion disciplined, hypothesis-led analytics that move beyond diagnosis to business opportunities to test and learn
Storytelling
Craft stakeholder-ready, insight-driven stories that drive clarity and inspire action among senior leaders and decision-makersConnect macro trends, category dynamics, and shopper motivations into growth opportunities and narrativesSimplify complexity into intuitive visualizations and clear business implications tailored to diverse audiencesEquip Sales teams with compelling, insight-backed selling stories that unlock incremental retailer opportunity
Partnership
Act as the voice of the category expert in preparation for key customer engagements and internal strategy discussionsElevate organizational fluency in category analytics through education, frameworks, and repeatable toolsBuild and manage external research partners to deliver high-impact learning efficiently and effectively.Performs other related duties as assigned.
QualificationsTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Ability to adapt to changing conditions and demands. Ability to handle multiple priorities.Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interface with all levels of the organization as well as external customers. Excellent verbal, written, and social communication skills.Ability to work under pressure with minimal or no supervision.Ability to travel to Retailer and key trade events (20% travel)Detail oriented and deep understanding of key category management.Exceptional leadership, motivational, and team management skills.Proven ability to develop teams to the next level.Strategic thinking and analytical skills with the proven ability to translate data into insights and actions.Possess strong communication and organizational skills.Strong Microsoft skills required.Enjoy independent responsibility. Self-motivated and able to execute independently.Emotional intelligence.Travel required for in-person meetings as needed.Team player with excellent collaboration skills.High level of integrity and dependability with strong sense of urgency and results-orientation.Highly proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel and PowerPoint)Strong financial acumen, attention to detail, time management and problem-solving skillsAbility to collaborate across multiple departments and levels of the organization.Must demonstrate good judgement when carrying out duties as assigned.
Education and/or Experience
Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or equivalent work experience required.7+ years progressive experience working in an insights capacity; category / shopper/retailer-facing experience a must, CPG experience preferredDeep fluency in shopper panel (Numerator preferred), syndicated and retailer dataDemonstrated success translating insights into measurable commercial impactExperience designing and leading large-scale research initiativesStrong retail and business acumen with ability to identify opportunities that drive growth in a retail environment
Language SkillsEnglish is required as the written and spoken language.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
CMA certification preferred
Work EnvironmentThe work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The company will make reasonable accommodations that do not cause an undue hardship if such an accommodation enables individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
TravelSome domestic travel.
ADA/FEHAThe Company will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and California's Fair Employment and Housing Act.
EEOThe Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.
Physical DemandsThe physical requirements outlined here represent those necessary for successful performance of this position's core responsibilities. Upon request, the company will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these fundamental job duties, provided such accommodations do not create an undue burden on the organization.
Sitting/Standing/Walking: Stands, walks and sits during completion of job responsibilities.Lifting/Carrying: Occasional lifting requirements as job demands. Must be able to lift a minimum of 40 lbs. on an occasional basis.Pushing/Pulling: Occasional pushing or pulling requirements.Bending/Stooping: Occasional bending and stooping requirements.Squatting/Kneeling/Crawling: Occasional kneeling or crawling requirements.Twisting/Turning: Ongoing twisting or turning requirements.Climbing/Balancing: Climbing and balancing is required during plant inspections, and other related job requirements.Reaching: Ongoing reaching requirements associated with job requirements.Grasping/Manipulating: Grasping and manipulating of papers, objects, and equipment will be required. Abilityto keyboard for data input will be required on an ongoing basis.