Category Development Manager

JOB TITLE: Category Development Manager

REPORTS TO: Vice President of Marketing & Category Development

JOB PURPOSE

The Category Development Manager drives the growth of branded and private-label businesses across North America by leading category strategy, business development, and data-driven insights.

Working collaboratively with internal and external partners, this role identifies growth opportunities, supports retail and foodservice customers with compelling category stories, and strengthens analytics capabilities to accelerate business growth and innovation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leverage fact-based insights to develop compelling, data-driven selling stories that influence strategic decisions and stakeholder alignment.


• Communicate insights and business recommendations to internal and external stakeholders, translating complex data into actionable opportunities.


• Utilize syndicated data sources, including Circana/IRI, NielsenIQ, Numerator, and other research tools, to identify category trends, performance drivers, and growth opportunities by channel, customer, and category.


• Develop clear, concise reports and presentations highlighting current performance, key insights, and strategic growth opportunities.


• Lead and mentor a high-performing Category Management team, fostering innovative approaches to category strategy and customer engagement.


• Support annual brand learning plans by identifying key insights and translating them into actionable business recommendations.


• Identify opportunity gaps and prioritize brand growth initiatives across retail and foodservice channels.


• Develop strategies that strengthen the existing business while identifying opportunities to accelerate sustainable growth.


• Lead innovation initiatives by developing category and customer strategies that support successful new product launches.


• Support the Sales team during customer business reviews by providing data-driven insights and recommendations.


• Develop impactful sales materials, including sell sheets and presentations, to support brand strategy execution.


• Develop insight-led assortment and planogram recommendations that maximize category performance across key retail partners.


• Partner with Sales to develop effective pricing and promotional strategies that support customer and business objectives.


• Help build a high-performing, collaborative team focused on continuous improvement and category management best practices.


• Collaborate cross-functionally to support the Brand and Sales teams in achieving annual business priorities and growth objectives.


• Perform other duties as assigned.


• Follow all health and safety rules and regulations.


• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices, food safety, and food defense guidelines.


• Comply with all company policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.


• At least three years of experience in category management, category development, or consumer insights within the consumer packaged goods industry or a related field.


• Expert knowledge of syndicated data sources, including Circana/IRI, NielsenIQ, Numerator, and market research tools.


• Strong understanding of U.S. and Canadian retail and foodservice markets, trends, and consumer dynamics.


• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights and business opportunities.


• Strong presentation and communication skills, with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders.


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.


• Ability to create and manage reports, spreadsheets, presentations, and professional communications effectively.


• Ability to work successfully in a fast-paced environment.