Category Advisor Manager-Loblaws

Job description

A mutually rewarding experience.

 

Work. Realize your ambitions. And realize there’s more to being in business than just making a profit. That’s the Mars philosophy. And the opportunity we offer every one of our Associates. An opportunity to take what you do and make it mean more for you, for those around you and for the planet.  What you get here is challenging, interesting work. You get the tools you need to do a great job and you get to have the best possible people on your side to help you do it. And at the same time as getting to find ways to do business better today than we did it yesterday and driving a great career, you also get to build a more enlightened business and drive sustainability.

 

Because it’s never just about a single person, a single project or a single brand. It’s about how you can grab everything that’s within your reach here and use it to pursue mutual, long-term gain. It’s about having ideas. And ideals. Being prepared to risk failure because the promise of success means we’ll all be a little better off. It’s that mix of integrity and ambition that makes Mars such a special place to work. And why working here is always about more than just a job.

Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, operates six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

 

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, CESAR®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints. Food – UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA® and WISDOM PANEL®.

 

Mars Canada is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, a private family-owed business. In Canada, Mars was established in  late 1940s and is known for some of the Canada’s best-loved brands, including M&M’S®, PEDIGREE®, SNICKERS®, PEDIGREE®,  ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXCEL® and UNCLE BEN’S®. Mars in Canada comprises four business segments: Food, Chocolate, Wrigely and Petcare. More than 1200 associates across the country are united by the company’s Five Principles: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom and strive every day to create relationships with stakeholders that deliver growth we are proud of as a company

 

Job Summary       

The Category Advisor Manager vendor advisor is accountable for developing robust category strategies for Loblaws companies on an unbiased category responsible lens rooted in Consumer/Shopper Insights.  Leverage category knowledge and analysis with team to drive category growth with Loblaws companies through regular direct customer contact 50% and with other customers 50% as asigned.  Collaborate and lead the planogram process with the customer to grow the category.  Proactively identify strategic category opportunities for our customer at both business planning timing and on an on-going basis. Develop and disseminate category management best practices to be utilized with other customers working with the Category management manager.

 

 

Key Accountabilities      

Scope:

The Category Advisor Manager role is focused on developing, implementing, and maintaining strategies to deliver results against (1) thought leadership (2) data analysis (3) new products (4) shelf management (5) industry awareness (6) developing a collaborative working relationship with the customer

 

Thought Leadership:

·  Develop and Implement Category Principles with retailer that will lead to category growth. Develop Strategic alliances with key decision makers at specific retailer.

 

Data Analysis:

·  Responsible for the management of and developing expertise in external market and consumer data sources (Nielsen and Shopper Insights) understanding the needs of the customer and what their drivers are for success.
·  Focus against further validation of key strategies with shopper / consumer validated data.
·  Responsible for the management and developing expertise in customer specific POS data (developing reports collaborating with the customer); leverage data to create and deploy actionable customer specific insights

New Product Support:

·  Provides Customer specific selling-stories in support of new product launches across all manufacturers (unbiased category facts) and act as advisor on customer’s promotional calendar.
•
Shelf Management:

·  Champion strategic and ad-hoc shelf management for the category to maximise category and customer’s sales and profits.
·  Responsible for the successful execution of all formal planogram review processes with the specific customer

 

Distribution Gap Identification: 

·  Identifies distribution opportunities and work collaboratively with customer and manufacturers to close any identified gaps including post planogram reviews.
·  Industry Awareness :
·  Maintains awareness of developments within the retail and competitive environment.

 

Special Projects:

·  Responsible for supporting other sales productivity initiatives as required
·  Other :
·  All other duties and responsibilities as assigned
·  Responsible for following all Quality and Food Safety Policies and applicable procedures.

 

Key Lateral Responsibilities

·  Account Teams
·  Marketing Teams
·  Category management segment teams

 

Key Critical Competencies

·  Analytical mindset
·  Strategic agility
·  Planning
·  Organizational agility
·  Perspective - unbiased

 

Key Technical Knowledge and Skills

·  Detailed knowledge of Syndicated Data: Market Track, Homescan, Shopper Insights
·  Category Management
·  Understanding of customer research
·  Advanced Excel Skills

 

Critical Learning Experiences

·  A.C.N. Training
·  3+ years of working with WSP, developing templates and completing analysis
·  Account Management experience an asset
·  University Degree or College diploma in related field

 

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.

 

A criminal records check will be required for this position.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.

Mars Canada is committed to equity in employment and diversity. Mars Canada will provide an inclusive and barrier free recruitment process to applicants with accessibility needs in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require a disability-related accommodation during this process, please inform Mars Canada of your requirements. For more information please review Mars Canada's  Accessibility Policy and address any questions about that policy to