Category Development Manager

Job Purpose

The Category Development Manager is responsible for driving 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, the role identifies growth opportunities, supports retail and foodservice customers with compelling category stories, and strengthens analytics capabilities to accelerate business and innovation success.

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 (Circana/IRI, Nielsen, Numerator, etc.) and research tools to identify category trends, performance drivers, and growth opportunities by channel, customer, and category.
• Develop clear, concise reports and presentations that highlight 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.
• Drive strategies that strengthen the base 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 through customer business reviews, 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.
• Contribute to building a high-performing, collaborative team focused on continuous improvement and category management best practices.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to support Brand and Sales teams in achieving annual business priorities and growth objectives.
• Perform other assigned duties.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in Category Management, Category Development, or Insights within CPG or a related industry.
• 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.
• Analytical thinker with the ability to translate data into actionable insights and business opportunities.
• University degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.
• Strong presentation and communication skills with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, with the ability to create and manage documents, spreadsheets, email communications, and presentations effectively.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.