Senior Manager Category Development

Position: Senior Manager Category Development

Reports To: Director Category Development

Department: Cateogry Development

Location: Bentonville, Arkansas

About the Role:

The Senior Manager, Category Development is responsible for providing leadership to grow the category and brand volume and increase revenue through the development and delivery of industry-leading category insights for retailers and distributors. Using a diverse array of data sources and analytic tools, this role is accountable for providing key analytical support to accounts, developing compelling insight-led sales stories and presentations, and forging internal and external relationships to win with distribution and assortment, category business reviews, space planning strategies, and innovation introductions that drive achievement of HUSA goals. This position serves the following accounts: [insert accounts].

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver relevant, localized category insights and trend analyses to customers and assigned account(s)
• Drive strategies by identifying opportunities to develop programs and initiatives that attract and convert more shoppers; deliver opportunity benefits through high-level insight-led presentations demonstrating value of the proposed programs
• Utilizing a proficiency in data gathering and insight generation tools, proactively identify insights and ensure sales and category teams are provided with compelling and consistent strategic direction that will increase distribution and achieve HUSA goals
• Partner with distributors by providing relevant data and analytical support and using data-centric storytelling to influence their retail activities in support of the HUSA portfolio and the success of the assigned account(s) and distributor
• Engage distributors by using insights to develop and present customer-specific selling stories in support of opportunities identified for assigned account(s)
• Lead on the delivery of effective data-led storytelling to drive and support HUSA assortment and space planning changes/strategies within account(s), and capitalize on category and high-end volume opportunities within assigned account(s)

• Utilize insights to offer effective, localized category validatorship to customer at the account and store level demonstrating category objectivity while driving customer trust and increased distribution
• Support VP of National Accounts with relevant strategic insights, congregated through a diverse array of data sources
• Support development of the HUSA sales programs as needed, including delivery of post-promotion analyses and recommendations
• Collaborate with the Consumer and Market Intelligence team to identify shopper insights and opportunities specific to assigned account(s)
• Provide leadership around the development and weekly performance tracking of annual joint business plans for assigned account(s) 
• Prepare presentations for business reviews, joint business planning workshops, new item presentations, and post-promotion analyses meetings for assigned account(s)
• Participate in monthly buyer calls with customer as required, and supplier roundtable/validation meetings
• Communicate and engage regularly with National Account Directors and Managers and Commercial Marketing team
• Mentor Category Development Managers and regional category development colleagues

Heineken Behaviors:

Our 4 Heineken Behaviors CONNECT  SHAPE  DEVELOP  DELIVER enable the delivery and evolution of our company strategy and form the core of our company culture. 

Basic Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• 5+ years CPG category management experience
• Must be a strong, confident, engaging self-starter with no fear of breaking down barriers and a determination to work hard and collaborate at the highest levels
• Proficient in CPG industry insights tools, such as: AC Nielsen, IRI, Spectra, PowerBi, shopper panel data, shopper loyalty data, JDA space planning, Shelf Architect space planning tool, Numerator Promotions Intel
• Proficient in customer tool
• Capable of building strong collaborative relationships that allow for some risk-taking while maintaining trust
• Ability to take data and develop from it a convincing insight-led story that motivates internal and external team members
• High-level presentation skills
• Strong analytical, technical, and communication skills
• Strong financial and business acumen with the ability to quantify financial impacts on assortment decisions and promotional performance
• Expertise in Excel including pivot tables, macros, vlookups, and ability to manipulate large data sets
• Strong proficiency in PowerPoint
• Ability to work in an agile environment
• Ability to work cross-functionally across departments in the company
• Minimum 21 years of age (at time of hire)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in VIP Karma and iDig is preferred
• Exposure to retail account management and beverage distribution models preferred

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary Range: $125,000 - $130,000 + Annual Bonus
• Benefits - Medical/Dental/Vision + Matching 401k Plan
• Vacation – 20 Days Paid Vacation & Unlimited Sick Days
• $200 Monthly Beverage Allowance

HEINEKEN USA is an equal opportunity employer. Embracing and celebrating diversity is core to HEINEKEN’s purpose of “brewing the joy of true togetherness to inspire a better world”. We believe that people as diverse as our brews – including and not limited to gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religious belief, nationality, social background, disability and thinking style – enrich our lives and strengthen our business. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates as we champion a culture of belonging that provides fair and equal opportunities for all.

This position is not available for visa sponsorship.