Manager, Category AFH

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Illinois.

📋 Description

• Analyze and comprehend the category for Mars Snacking AFH Foodservice and Vending/Unattended Retail partners.

• Deliver objective, strategic, and tactical insights and recommendations for the category.

• Transform insights into actionable strategies concerning assortment, shelving, merchandising, and modular development.

• Act as a trusted advisor to customer merchants and category teams.

• Spearhead insight-driven category growth strategies that provide value for both customers and Mars.

• Oversee annual and ongoing category planning by identifying growth prospects, estimating potential impacts, and crafting strategic action plans.

• Utilize distributor, operator, consumer, and syndicated data to reveal insights and pinpoint performance drivers.

• Develop and present insight-led presentations for customer meetings, category reviews, and business evaluations.

• Assist with ad hoc requests, continuous reporting, strategy assessments, shelf planning and creation, and insight generation.

• Advocate for best practices in category management, analytics, reporting, and storytelling.

• Collaborate with Sales and customers on growth initiatives and Joint Business Planning.

• Work alongside internal teams to cultivate insights and opportunities that bolster category growth and commercial success.

• Conduct ad hoc analyses to assess business performance and identify opportunities.

• Engage externally with key AFH Foodservice and Unattended Retail partners.

• Report to the Director of Channel Strategy and Intelligence.

• Willingness to travel up to 30%.

⛳️ Requirements

• Post-secondary education or equivalent work experience.

• A minimum of 5+ years in the CPG industry with experience in Category Management, Sales Strategy, Insights, or similar commercial roles.

• Advanced analytical skills utilizing syndicated, POS, customer, and operator data sources.

• Proficiency with Nielsen Discover, Circana (Supply Track, CREST, IRI), Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Ability to consolidate and interpret data from various disparate sources into clear, action-oriented recommendations.

• Proven experience in converting analytics into strategic insights that promote business growth and assist in decision-making.

• Outstanding communication and presentation abilities.

• Capability to customize complex information for audiences with varying levels of expertise.

• Strong aptitude for teaching or consulting on business insight development through data analytics.

• Preferred: Experience in Foodservice and Vending/Unattended Retail.

• Preferred: Familiarity with distributor and operator data platforms, including Circana Supply Track ALR Distilr, Vistar Power BI, Sysco PGI, US Foods Shared Table, and PFG Meal Ticket.

• Preferred: Experience with foodservice-specific market research and insights platforms such as Technomic Ignite and Datassential.

• Preferred: Knowledge of space planning software; JDA/Space Planning experience is advantageous but not mandatory.

🏝️ Benefits

• Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in a 401(k) plan.

• Company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance plans for employees and qualifying dependents.

• Up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave may be available.

• 120 hours of vacation annually.

• Paid sick time at 100% pay continuation for a maximum of 40 hours per calendar year.

• 12 paid holidays throughout the calendar year, including both fixed and flexible holidays.

• Variable pay and general allowances may be included based on the position and employee’s work schedule.