Category Manager

Job Purpose

• To work with customers to leverage growth for both customer and Oscar Mayer Food Group in line with shopper needs
• Build and sustain effective relationships with our customer contacts so we are seen to be the supplier of choice on both qualitative and quantitative insight – Management level, to support the ready meals elements of the business area

Primary

• Implement a shopper/consumer insight led approach to commercial activities to deliver competitive advantage & profitable growth for Oscar Mayer Food Group
• To understand the performance drivers of the customer vs the market and other retailers
• Build and develop category knowledge internally within the business by driving the category and shopper agenda
• Develop and apply our category, shopper, retailer knowledge to ongoing business issues
• Develop and sponsor new business opportunities for the commercial team
• Provide direction and guidance to NPD in developing products
• Work in partnership with NPD, Sales and Finance to ensure range recommendations enhance our commercial position

Accountabilities

• Determine range targets and provide internal reviews pre and post customer brief
• Co-ordinate and manage the delivery and implementation of category plans with key customers
• Develop and ensure the application of Category, Consumer & Shopper Insights is communicated across the business
• Be seen to be the most knowledgeable category manager on ready meal health categories
• Produce growth opportunities and threats assessment for commercial gain
• Provide unbiased shopper and consumer insight to internal and external customers
• Manage information databases (qual & quant) and support business information needs
• Assist in building business cases to support the site innovation plan
• Support promotional analysis to support our commercial proposition
• Drive the profitable growth of each category within the customer

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Degree standard – ideally marketing/business related
• Comfortable with quantitative and qualitative data commissioning and use own brand experience – branded experience an advantage
• Customer facing & shopper research experience e.g. Kantar, Nielsen, IRI, Retail Link, Nectar360, Dunnhumby
• Strong numerical & analytical skills
• Effective presentation, communication & influencing skills
• Excellent planning, organizing & project management skills
• Confident, motivated, leader with self-belief & persuasiveness
• Able to work effectively in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment within a cross functional team
• An enthusiastic, committed, and flexible approach
• Be effective in the ability to hit deadlines