VP, Category Leadership

Work Location: ​Chicago​

Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance for most of the workweek (i.e., 3 days or more) is essential for: effective communication including during in-person meetings, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives.

Want to make an impact?

We are seeking a VP of Category Leadership & Management to join the Sales team, reporting to the Chief Customer Officer. This highly valued and influential role will help drive our organization's growth ambition by developing and executing category growth strategy across all channels and categories in the US portfolio—including Sugar Confections, Fruit Snacks, and the full Ferrero confectionery portfolio. This individual will establish the company as an objective thought leader and trusted advisor with our retail customers, leveraging multiple data sources to translate insights into persuasive customer conversations and compelling category growth plans. The role requires close partnership with Marketing & Sales Leadership on high-priority initiatives in support of the Company's growth objectives. 25–30% travel is required for the position.

Ways you will make a difference

The following are representative but not limited to the major responsibilities of the role:

Category Strategy & Insights

• Develop, maintain, expand, and communicate category growth strategies across all channels and categories in the US portfolio, focusing on Distribution, Merchandising, Shelving, and Pricing (DSMP) fundamentals


• Develop and maintain the long-term planning for the category management function on horizons of 1, 3, and 5 years


• Translate Category Management annual and long-term priorities to actionable sales stories and initiatives

Consumer & Shopper Intelligence

• Instill a 'customer led' strategic approach within brand, category, and innovation teams—helping design a future that expands reach and drives brand values and product innovation


• Generate high-quality, actionable insights to inform innovation opportunities throughout the product development cycle; lead advanced analytical techniques on transactional, demographic, and syndicated data


• Work collaboratively with Field Sales, Sales Operations, and Customer Marketing to develop recommendations for aligned KPIs and ensure process integrity each session

Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Align support for Joint Business Plans (JBPs) for key customers with the Sales Leadership Team


• Manage data and tool supplier relationships and contracts; align on demand planning through the S&OP process

People Leadership & Team Development

• Deliver results from the category leadership team through close coaching, strategic thought leadership, and problem solving


• Recruit and develop a highly-engaged and high-achieving Category Management team capable of sustaining the company's profitability, goals, and vision

Skills that will make you successful

• Define, prioritize, and shape consumer needs-based, commercially viable opportunities in the consumer packaged goods space


• A combination of strategic, intuitive, and quantitative skills—a puzzle solver who can transform data into selling stories and link insights back to the business in a way that has direct impact on internal and external business decisions


• Demonstrated experience bringing the consumer to all phases of innovation and new product development throughout the entire development cycle: opportunity identification, ideation, concept and product development, product optimization, validation/testing, and commercialization


• Strategic and proactive thinking to develop category strategies and translate them into distribution, shelving, pricing, and merchandising objectives


• Experienced research moderator in all types of qualitative approaches


• Interpersonal skills to interface effectively with the necessary internal and external stakeholders, building solid relationships and achieving category sales goals


• Solid MS Office skills, especially Excel and PowerPoint, with storytelling capabilities to translate data and insights into compelling selling narratives


• Proven track record of delivering on business objectives—from structuring work, people, and interdependencies; prioritizing; executing under tight timeframes; and presenting and influencing outcomes based on learnings


• Ability and willingness to speak up and defend the consumer POV while successfully building productive working relationships with cross-functional teams


• Has a record of success in a fast-paced, high velocity environment; ability to operate in a consumer landscape that never sits still


• Global mindset; desire to build a successful career with a growing global company

Experiences that will support your success

• 12–15+ years of category management, innovation insights, market research, consumer insights, future trends, or related field experience for consumer-facing CPG companies; Foods/Confectionery experience preferred


• 10+ years of relevant experience with Customer Management experience; prior category management role required


• Bachelor's degree in a business, marketing, or related discipline required; MBA or advanced degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, Market Research, Mathematics, Decision Science, Data Science, or Econometrics preferred


• Proven skills in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and data analysis


• Experience leveraging advanced analytical techniques to build practical, data-driven programs for improving business KPIs


• Past customer-facing sales or category management experience required; trade marketing experience preferred


• Syndicated data expertise required (IRI/Circana preferred); experience with shopper insights platforms


• Experience managing a team to deliver results; line manager experience providing career development for team members

What We Offer

At Ferrara, we're proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO).  Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Benefits-Resource-Center

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $211,875 - $296,625 annually.