eCommerce Category Development Manager

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®.

Job Purpose/Overview
The Category Development Manager is responsible for providing category and shopper solutions to drive category growth in eCommerce. The mission is to cultivate solutions from shopper insights that drive mutually beneficial results to Mars and Top Retail Accounts.  This associate will work proactively with customer team to deliver desired digital shelf results in the area of Category Leadership, consumer and shopper insights.

 

Key Responsibilities
• Strategic Leadership
o Develop & communicate category leadership initiatives and related action plans that deliver BMT objectives
o Produce digital merchandising solutions designed to translate strategic direction
o Develop and publish category leadership concepts including but not limited to: assortment reviews, pricing analysis, new item introductions, promotional planning and evaluation, consumer usage analysis
o Provide the team and stakeholders with on-going information regarding initiatives, opportunities, issues and changes to plans

• Insights
o Assist in development and execution of primary research projects in conjunction with customer strategic development plan and in collaboration with assigned Shopper Insights manager
o Leverage relevant secondary research/data sources to identify & quantify business opportunities
o Develop and execute plans for implementation of marketplace initiatives designed to test theories developed via primary and secondary research

• Market Trends
o Monitor and communicate relevant market data to customer and internal stakeholders
o Present macro-trends and solutions to customer
o Research and provide direction to customer on trends as they present themselves via industry journals/experts
• Reporting
o Develop and deliver timely reporting for evaluation of customer and Mars performance
o Leverage access to all information systems which affect the ability to perform category analysis and implement category management processes

 

Context and Scope
This job will be on the eCommerce Category Insights team. The Category Development Manager will work cross-functionally with Marketing and Sales to deliver eCommerce Category thought leadership.

Job Specifications/Qualifications

1. Education & Professional Qualification
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent degree in a field of study related to the job
• 3+ years’ experience in Consumer Packaged Goods sales or combination of sales and project management
• 2+ years of Category Management experience with an understanding of the category management process
• Preferred - Master’s Degree in Business/Marketing
• Preferred - eCommerce experience

2. Knowledge/Experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of category management processes
• Demonstrated ability with all information-based selling tools
• Advanced Experience with Panel and Scan Syndicated Data (IRI or Nielsen)
• Advanced Experience with Space Management Software (JDA or Apollo)
• Ability to travel 20% of the time

 

Key Functional Competencies & Technical Skills
• Demonstrates ability to select, analyze and integrate consumer/shopper, customer and category information to deliver business solutions in alignment with Mars and customer strategies
• Demonstrates the knowledge and application of Category Management processes and theories of delivering value-added category and shopper solutions
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of all available information sources including methodology and relevance
• Demonstrates knowledge of the strategies, processes and structures of Mars and our customers (or ability to learn)
• Stays current with new developments and seeks ways to use technology to increase learning, productivity and business results
• Understands the roles and importance of vendor relationships and manages vendors to provide business solutions that address stakeholder's needs and improve the company's competitive position
• Effectively plans and manages major business projects and activities that directly support key unit goals

 

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.