CATEGORY MANAGER

About the role

We are seeking a strategic, data-driven Prepared Foods Category Manager to own and scale one of the company’s highest-growth categories. This role will lead end-to-end category strategy across value-added chicken portfolios driving gross & net sales growth, margin expansion, innovation, supply optimization and strategic customer growth.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute 3-year category roadmap aligned with business unit strategy.
• Identify whitespace opportunities in Retail Customers w/ Meal Solutions (Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Kroger, Publix, etc.) across our branded portfolio of products and the private label & custom product landscape (including Meal Solutions & co-brand or third-party partnerships).
• Lead innovation pipeline specific to the Channel with cross-functional teams.
• Optimize assortment using velocity, margin, and consumer insight analytics.
• Drive and support joint business planning with strategic customers.
• Own gross revenue, gross-to-net trade management, net sales, cost of goods and gross margin to the business per budget.
• Implement cost engineering initiatives across ingredients, packaging, and production in coordination with cross-functional teams.
• Drive mix shift toward high-margin, differentiated SKUs.
• Conduct elasticity modeling and pricing optimization with RGM to support growth.
• Partner with Category Development, Revenue Growth Management, Digital Transformation, Brand & Digital Marketing, Innovation & Project Management, Culinary, Supply Chain & Demand Planning, Finance, Operations and Sales teams.
• Align cross-functional goals business unit and category strategy.
• Drive prioritization within the cross functional teams to deliver objectives.
• Manage performance metric implementation and key performance indicators.
• Execute process, cadence and routines specific to the channel.
• Improve forecast accuracy and reduce aged & shrink inventory risk.
• Drive process improvements in production scheduling and WOS positions.
• Standardize fundamental processes in support of channel operations.
• Leverage internal and third-party data to track key performance metrics.

Qualifications

• 7-10+ years of progressive experience in category management, merchandising, marketing or relevant commercial roles.
• 3-5+ years experience within CPG or agriculture. Food/Meat categories preferred.
• Proven ownership of multi-million-dollar PnL responsibility.
• Demonstrated success negotiating multi-million-dollar contracts.
• Advanced analytical capability (SQL, advanced Excel, BI tools preferred).
• Microsoft Office & Adobe Suite proficiency (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Proficiency in third-party reporting toolkits (Circana, Qlik, Dynamics, Telus, etc.).
• Strong executive presence and cross-functional influence.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred.
• Can perform the functions of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.