Senior Manager Category Management
Bimbo Bakeries, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Position Summary
The Senior Manager of Category Management for Kroger Assortment is the subject matter expert on shelf/assortment management and analytics on our Kroger business. This job plays a critical role in BBU's broader Customer Sales Team and will proactively influence how BBU Wins at the Shelf. The Senior Manager is grounded in and makes recommendations from insights that identify opportunities in the best interest of the category. This role is part of a dynamic and diverse cross‑functional team working to increase the utility of various category management tools through training, establishing processes, and sharing best practices. Ultimately, this role exists to create short‑ and long‑term value to Kroger and BBU.
Key Responsibilities
Proactively identify and lead category management initiatives that drive category growth while increasing BBU's sales/share and profits. This should include interpreting shopper and category insights, optimizing product assortment, evaluating product placement, and proposing solutions to improve overall category performance.
Category Management expert and advisor to leadership and the Customer Sales team. Influence decision makers by reviewing and analyzing shelf space opportunities, as well as current business trends and category performance within the market and industry.
Responsible for leading and delivering all space management projects and activities, including Kroger's Kompass process and any internal space management initiatives.
Proactively communicate and work with Customer Sales Team, Brands, Business Units, and RGM on assortment opportunities, including void closures, at risk items, innovation, and core assortment.
Build and maintain long‑term relationships with Kroger assortment lead and PLM. Leverage insights and recommend action plans by developing persuasive fact‑based sales presentations that leverage customer, industry, market, and competitive information.
Maintain frequent and fluid communication with internal and external stakeholders regarding projects, insights, and/or opportunities, for self and for the team.
Other duties as assigned.
Key Behavioral Competencies
Curious self‑starter with an ability to proactively identify needs and opportunities then establish a plan to meet those needs.
Ability to effectively create and implement programs for area of responsibility.
Collaborative and able to align with internal and external stakeholders.
Curious and willing to investigate root causes of in‑market performance results.
Leadership Competencies
Use a combination of feedback and reflection to gain productive insight into personal strengths and weaknesses.
Build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
Take on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
Understands the business and organizational environment and shows interest in adapting to their culture and ways of working.
Education and Work History
Bachelor's Degree in Sales, Marketing or Business related field. Advanced degree preferred.
10+ years of customer‑facing experience in the CPG industry and Category Management. Grocery and Mass channel experience is preferred.
Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills.
Proven experience converting data into logical, actionable strategies.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Comfortable presenting to customers and senior executives.
Highly motivated self‑starter with strong project management skills, capable of multi‑tasking in a matrix organization.
Thorough understanding of POS and Panel data, and experience with retailer shopper card data sets.
Experience managing people, including the creation of individualized development plans and defining accountabilities.
Strong working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite of products, i.e. Excel and PowerPoint, and of space management software, i.e. JDA or Apollo.
Travel up to 20%
Benefits
Salary Range: $116,200 - $162,700
Comprehensive Benefits Package
Annual Bonus Eligibility
401(k) & Company Match
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be requested to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Bimbo Bakeries USA is an equal opportunity employer with a policy that provides equal employment opportunity for applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, any other classification protected by law.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The Senior Manager of Category Management for Kroger Assortment is the subject matter expert on shelf/assortment management and analytics on our Kroger business. This job plays a critical role in BBU's broader Customer Sales Team and will proactively influence how BBU Wins at the Shelf. The Senior Manager is grounded in and makes recommendations from insights that identify opportunities in the best interest of the category. This role is part of a dynamic and diverse cross‑functional team working to increase the utility of various category management tools through training, establishing processes, and sharing best practices. Ultimately, this role exists to create short‑ and long‑term value to Kroger and BBU.
Key Responsibilities
Proactively identify and lead category management initiatives that drive category growth while increasing BBU's sales/share and profits. This should include interpreting shopper and category insights, optimizing product assortment, evaluating product placement, and proposing solutions to improve overall category performance.
Category Management expert and advisor to leadership and the Customer Sales team. Influence decision makers by reviewing and analyzing shelf space opportunities, as well as current business trends and category performance within the market and industry.
Responsible for leading and delivering all space management projects and activities, including Kroger's Kompass process and any internal space management initiatives.
Proactively communicate and work with Customer Sales Team, Brands, Business Units, and RGM on assortment opportunities, including void closures, at risk items, innovation, and core assortment.
Build and maintain long‑term relationships with Kroger assortment lead and PLM. Leverage insights and recommend action plans by developing persuasive fact‑based sales presentations that leverage customer, industry, market, and competitive information.
Maintain frequent and fluid communication with internal and external stakeholders regarding projects, insights, and/or opportunities, for self and for the team.
Other duties as assigned.
Key Behavioral Competencies
Curious self‑starter with an ability to proactively identify needs and opportunities then establish a plan to meet those needs.
Ability to effectively create and implement programs for area of responsibility.
Collaborative and able to align with internal and external stakeholders.
Curious and willing to investigate root causes of in‑market performance results.
Leadership Competencies
Use a combination of feedback and reflection to gain productive insight into personal strengths and weaknesses.
Build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
Take on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
Understands the business and organizational environment and shows interest in adapting to their culture and ways of working.
Education and Work History
Bachelor's Degree in Sales, Marketing or Business related field. Advanced degree preferred.
10+ years of customer‑facing experience in the CPG industry and Category Management. Grocery and Mass channel experience is preferred.
Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills.
Proven experience converting data into logical, actionable strategies.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Comfortable presenting to customers and senior executives.
Highly motivated self‑starter with strong project management skills, capable of multi‑tasking in a matrix organization.
Thorough understanding of POS and Panel data, and experience with retailer shopper card data sets.
Experience managing people, including the creation of individualized development plans and defining accountabilities.
Strong working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite of products, i.e. Excel and PowerPoint, and of space management software, i.e. JDA or Apollo.
Travel up to 20%
Benefits
Salary Range: $116,200 - $162,700
Comprehensive Benefits Package
Annual Bonus Eligibility
401(k) & Company Match
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be requested to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Bimbo Bakeries USA is an equal opportunity employer with a policy that provides equal employment opportunity for applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, any other classification protected by law.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
#J-18808-Ljbffr