Category Manager

Waltham, MA, United States

Reporting to the UK Head of Category, this role is responsible for delivering best in class category leadership for UK Food. The role scope is across the Mars portfolio and will be required to work with different customers, with specific customer ownership confirmed against each category role. Using a combination of category, customer, shopper and consumer insight, the Category Manager is the expert of the category performance within the customer. The Category Manager uses this expertise to deliver objective recommendations to the customer, and to the MARS customer team to help shape our strategy and approach with the customer

This role executes against the category vision & strategy through tailoring to the customer using bespoke insight and creating a collaborative category plan.

The role contributes to Mars performance by driving our customers category growth and will recommend short and medium term fixes/identify opportunities to course correct performance where required.

The role will deliver best in class category management to the customer by taking an objective total category perspective when providing market, consumer, shopper, and promotional insights. The role will also lead in range reviews and building fixtures within the retailers merchandising centres where required. Another key deliverable is the development of Perfect Store targets and building the picture of success with retailers.

The role involves building relationships both internally and externally with senior contacts in the customer and will work with the Mars Customer team to execute the category strategy.

What will be your key responsibilities?

Category and insights business orientation

Deliver best in class Category Management by taking an objective total category perspective when providing market, consumer, and shopper insights to the customer.

Responsible for of the Range review process from inception through to implementation and delivery of post review analysis.

Delivery of an improved Perfect Store compliance through the creation of category-focused selling stories and proactive management of range.

Execution of Mars NPD launches in line with ER targets, through the creation of category focused selling stories, identifying listing opportunities/challenges and providing merchandising solutions to maximize on shelf delivery.

Delivery of an in- depth category performance understanding to help inform internal customer team decision making and strategy

Input into KPI setting and tracking against these, including Perfect Store, Core Range compliance and distribution

The role is a 6-month paternity cover role.

Strategy development and vision

Tailor the category vision content to the customer and use to develop a Category strategy aligned with the retailer.

Ensure our interactions with the customer leads to a competitive advantage through understanding the Mars Vision and Account vision / strategies and ensuring a collaborative category relationship to enable aligned account strategy plans.

Understand and deploy vision to the shelf for the account, collaborating with Sales to set joint targets using the picture of success model.

Work with objectivity both with our external customers and internal customers.

Identify and push forward tailored range and execution opportunities for the account

Customer relationships

Ensure Category growth and objectivity are at heart of all interactions with Customers.

Deliver a step change in customer partnership at all levels.

Delivery of customer relationships, meetings, and interaction vs the contact strategy.

Develop good relationships with internal Mars Account teams and ensure internal alignment behind customer category strategy. Attend account team meetings and establishing yourself as an integral part of their team

What can you expect from Mars?

Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.

Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.

Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.

An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 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 is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s, SNICKERS, TWIX, MILKY WAY, DOVE, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, WHISKAS, EXTRA, ORBIT, 5, SKITTLES, BEN’S ORIGINAL, and COCOAVIA. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitals, BluePearl, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCA and Pet Partners. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 140,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.

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