Senior Manager, Shopper Insights
Kinders, Walnut Creek, CA, United States
What’s it like to work at Kinder’s? Well, there’s a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that, there’s also plenty of hard work. Because we don’t just like flavor, we’re obsessed with it.
With over 100 products sold nationwide, we’re now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods, and more. We’re not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led, we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships. Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.
As we expand globally and approach $1billion in revenue, we need more smart‑and‑scrappy, flavor‑obsessed people to come aboard. If you’re looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work… this is it! Every day, you’ll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.
How you'll have an impact at Kinder’s As the first Sr. Shopper Insights & Analytics Manager at Kinder’s, you will help architect and scale the Shopper Insights discipline from the ground up. This is a strategic role responsible for shaping how Kinder’s understands, prioritizes, and activates against shopper opportunities across channels and retail partners. You will serve as a strategic partner to Sales Strategy and Field Sales, helping fuel Kinder’s continued high growth by translating shopper understanding into distribution gains, category expansion, and retail thought leadership.
Through a deep command of shopper behavior, mindsets, and decision dynamics, you will uncover insights that inform merchandising strategy, assortment architecture, shelving optimization, and go‑to‑market planning. You will elevate Kinder’s role as a category growth driver and leader.
By delivering clear and compelling narratives, you will help inform internal go‑to‑market strategy, retailer conversations, and business decision‑making — ensuring Kinder’s and its customers win whenever and wherever shoppers are seeking exciting, delicious, and effortless flavor solutions.
Key Responsibilities For The Role Shopper & Retail Insights Leadership
In partnership with Sales Strategy and other key stakeholders, define and own the multi‑year Shopper Insights learning agenda aligned to enterprise growth priorities
Identify high‑value opportunities across channels and retailers by synthesizing primary research, panel data, and syndicated sources
Translate shopper behavior into clear commercial implications that drive distribution, velocity, and basket expansion
Serve as a category thought leader, elevating Kinder’s credibility with retail partners through insight‑led selling
Analytics & Insights Integration
Integrate diverse data streams (primary research, shopper panel, syndicated, and retailer data as needed) into cohesive, action‑oriented narratives
Establish frameworks and standardized approaches for Shopper Journey mapping, segmentation, and opportunity sizing
Build scalable tools and ways of working that embed shopper thinking into the Sales organization
Champion disciplined, hypothesis‑led analytics that move beyond diagnosis to business opportunities to test and learn
Storytelling & Influence
Craft stakeholder‑ready, insight‑driven stories that drive clarity and inspire action among senior leaders and decision‑makers
Connect macro trends, category dynamics, and shopper motivations into growth opportunities and narratives
Simplify complexity into intuitive visualizations and clear business implications tailored to diverse audiences
Equip Sales teams with compelling, insight‑backed selling stories that unlock incremental retailer opportunity
Capability & Partnership Building
Act as the voice of the shopper in preparation for key customer engagements and internal strategy discussions
Partner cross‑functionally with Sales Strategy, Marketing, and Category Management to embed shopper thinking into planning processes
Elevate organizational fluency in shopper analytics through education, frameworks, and repeatable tools
Build and manage external research partners to deliver high‑impact learning efficiently and effectively
What You Bring to the Table Education / Experience
Bachelor’s Degree in a related field required, MBA preferred
7+ years progressive experience working in an insights capacity; shopper / retailer‑facing experience a must, CPG experience preferred
Deep fluency in shopper panel (Numerator preferred), syndicated and retailer data
Demonstrated success translating insights into measurable commercial impact
Experience designing and leading large‑scale research initiatives and managing agency partners
Strong retail and business acumen with ability to identify opportunities that drive growth in a retail environment
Personal Characteristics
Productive business partner who enjoys finding ways to say ‘yes’ as often as possible to impactful and important priorities
Strong communicator, relationship builder with the ability to build trust and rapport with stakeholders.
Capability builder who is inspired by the idea of creating new approaches and educating stakeholders on new ways of thinking
Growth mindset with an excitement to learn (and teach) about driving value through insights at Kinder’s
Low ego and ability to go with the flow in a fast moving (and changing) environment
Self‑starter who is comfortable in ambiguity excited by an opportunity to build the way forward vs. walk into something already established
Energized by being a part of a fast‑moving team with the ability to be a leader and a follower
Location & Travel The position will ideally be based out of our office in Walnut Creek, CA. We strongly believe in the power of culture and community and have a hybrid work structure with 4 days in the office on a weekly basis to encourage collaboration and personal connections that will allow us to better serve our customers and consumers and to have more fun. Remote may be considered for exceptional candidates with proven experience being effective in a remote capacity.
Some travel will be required for this role on a periodic basis. Typical travel includes industry conferences and key customer visits.
$160,000–$195,000 per year. The amount an individual employee will earn within the salary range will be based on factors such as relevant education, qualifications, performance and business needs.
SEASONED FOR SUCCESS
No two days here are the same.
We try to be good team members and good communicators, but we don’t live by hierarchy and structure – everyone is a difference maker here.
We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information – our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
We believe our job is to take smart risk, not to eliminate risk.
We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise, but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
We aren’t trying to be average – we want to do exceptional things, and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.
BENEFITS THAT BRING MORE TO THE TABLE We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off, 401(k), bonus / incentive eligibility, equity grants, competitive health benefits, and other family‑friendly benefits, including parental leave. Kinder’s benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.
OUR RECIPE FOR BALANCE We believe great culture starts with people. We’re a people‑first company built on connection, collaboration, and balance. Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community, but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work‑life balance and personal commitments.
WHERE EVERY INGREDIENT MATTERS Kinder's is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, citizenship, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran status, as well as any other legally‐protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law, and you need any accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements, please reach out to us at careers@kinders.com
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With over 100 products sold nationwide, we’re now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods, and more. We’re not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led, we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships. Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.
As we expand globally and approach $1billion in revenue, we need more smart‑and‑scrappy, flavor‑obsessed people to come aboard. If you’re looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work… this is it! Every day, you’ll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.
How you'll have an impact at Kinder’s As the first Sr. Shopper Insights & Analytics Manager at Kinder’s, you will help architect and scale the Shopper Insights discipline from the ground up. This is a strategic role responsible for shaping how Kinder’s understands, prioritizes, and activates against shopper opportunities across channels and retail partners. You will serve as a strategic partner to Sales Strategy and Field Sales, helping fuel Kinder’s continued high growth by translating shopper understanding into distribution gains, category expansion, and retail thought leadership.
Through a deep command of shopper behavior, mindsets, and decision dynamics, you will uncover insights that inform merchandising strategy, assortment architecture, shelving optimization, and go‑to‑market planning. You will elevate Kinder’s role as a category growth driver and leader.
By delivering clear and compelling narratives, you will help inform internal go‑to‑market strategy, retailer conversations, and business decision‑making — ensuring Kinder’s and its customers win whenever and wherever shoppers are seeking exciting, delicious, and effortless flavor solutions.
Key Responsibilities For The Role Shopper & Retail Insights Leadership
In partnership with Sales Strategy and other key stakeholders, define and own the multi‑year Shopper Insights learning agenda aligned to enterprise growth priorities
Identify high‑value opportunities across channels and retailers by synthesizing primary research, panel data, and syndicated sources
Translate shopper behavior into clear commercial implications that drive distribution, velocity, and basket expansion
Serve as a category thought leader, elevating Kinder’s credibility with retail partners through insight‑led selling
Analytics & Insights Integration
Integrate diverse data streams (primary research, shopper panel, syndicated, and retailer data as needed) into cohesive, action‑oriented narratives
Establish frameworks and standardized approaches for Shopper Journey mapping, segmentation, and opportunity sizing
Build scalable tools and ways of working that embed shopper thinking into the Sales organization
Champion disciplined, hypothesis‑led analytics that move beyond diagnosis to business opportunities to test and learn
Storytelling & Influence
Craft stakeholder‑ready, insight‑driven stories that drive clarity and inspire action among senior leaders and decision‑makers
Connect macro trends, category dynamics, and shopper motivations into growth opportunities and narratives
Simplify complexity into intuitive visualizations and clear business implications tailored to diverse audiences
Equip Sales teams with compelling, insight‑backed selling stories that unlock incremental retailer opportunity
Capability & Partnership Building
Act as the voice of the shopper in preparation for key customer engagements and internal strategy discussions
Partner cross‑functionally with Sales Strategy, Marketing, and Category Management to embed shopper thinking into planning processes
Elevate organizational fluency in shopper analytics through education, frameworks, and repeatable tools
Build and manage external research partners to deliver high‑impact learning efficiently and effectively
What You Bring to the Table Education / Experience
Bachelor’s Degree in a related field required, MBA preferred
7+ years progressive experience working in an insights capacity; shopper / retailer‑facing experience a must, CPG experience preferred
Deep fluency in shopper panel (Numerator preferred), syndicated and retailer data
Demonstrated success translating insights into measurable commercial impact
Experience designing and leading large‑scale research initiatives and managing agency partners
Strong retail and business acumen with ability to identify opportunities that drive growth in a retail environment
Personal Characteristics
Productive business partner who enjoys finding ways to say ‘yes’ as often as possible to impactful and important priorities
Strong communicator, relationship builder with the ability to build trust and rapport with stakeholders.
Capability builder who is inspired by the idea of creating new approaches and educating stakeholders on new ways of thinking
Growth mindset with an excitement to learn (and teach) about driving value through insights at Kinder’s
Low ego and ability to go with the flow in a fast moving (and changing) environment
Self‑starter who is comfortable in ambiguity excited by an opportunity to build the way forward vs. walk into something already established
Energized by being a part of a fast‑moving team with the ability to be a leader and a follower
Location & Travel The position will ideally be based out of our office in Walnut Creek, CA. We strongly believe in the power of culture and community and have a hybrid work structure with 4 days in the office on a weekly basis to encourage collaboration and personal connections that will allow us to better serve our customers and consumers and to have more fun. Remote may be considered for exceptional candidates with proven experience being effective in a remote capacity.
Some travel will be required for this role on a periodic basis. Typical travel includes industry conferences and key customer visits.
$160,000–$195,000 per year. The amount an individual employee will earn within the salary range will be based on factors such as relevant education, qualifications, performance and business needs.
SEASONED FOR SUCCESS
No two days here are the same.
We try to be good team members and good communicators, but we don’t live by hierarchy and structure – everyone is a difference maker here.
We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information – our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
We believe our job is to take smart risk, not to eliminate risk.
We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise, but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
We aren’t trying to be average – we want to do exceptional things, and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.
BENEFITS THAT BRING MORE TO THE TABLE We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off, 401(k), bonus / incentive eligibility, equity grants, competitive health benefits, and other family‑friendly benefits, including parental leave. Kinder’s benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.
OUR RECIPE FOR BALANCE We believe great culture starts with people. We’re a people‑first company built on connection, collaboration, and balance. Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community, but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work‑life balance and personal commitments.
WHERE EVERY INGREDIENT MATTERS Kinder's is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, citizenship, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran status, as well as any other legally‐protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law, and you need any accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements, please reach out to us at careers@kinders.com
#J-18808-Ljbffr