Category Leadership Manager

Job Description

Here at Kraft Heinz, The Category Leadership Team is an indispensable partner to our customers and sales organization.  We are focused on transforming the future within our categories faster and better than anyone else.   We do this by being shopper obsessed, activating as a high performing culture.  We lead and act with integrity for the category first.   We are consultants with a growth mindset.   We are brilliant at the basics and love KHC and our customers. 

The Category Leadership Manager, Kroger reports to the Kroger Team Lead, Category Leadership. As a top-focus customer team, this role will serve as a strategic category advisor to the Kroger buyers building a long-term strategy for growth.  Additionally, this role will facilitate prioritization of category leadership topics with the KHC Kroger sales team on the categories of focus on their desk. This position supports the overall application of category management principles to business issues, identifying category business opportunities and providing an assessment of the merchandising controllables, including shelf, assortment, innovation, and aisle strategy through a Kroger lens utilizing Kroger specific data applications.  The position also coordinates information and category management related activities that are conducted in conjunction with the internal KHC Customer Business Development team.

The Category Leadership Manager is a story telling expert, highly skilled in the use of analytical tools, combining disparate pieces of data and insights into a comprehensive story and can complete a category review process with very limited supervision. In addition, the Category Leadership Manager can represent and explain the process independently to Buyers and Customer senior management as needed.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• ​​Proactively identify root causes of customer issues and opportunities and deliver compelling stories to drive action to address
• Identify, define and analyze alternative courses of action using analytical, evaluative and or constructive thinking skills.
• Establish team customer category priorities that are consistent with goals and objectives as defined by the customer and Kraft Heinz
• Develop impactful customer-specific category development recommendations in support of key business building initiatives
• Expert in using multiple inputs including syndicated data, shopper card and household panel data that support compelling stories that spur business recommendations with a preferred expertise on the Kroger data systems of 84.51, On Demand and Circana.
• Able to educate, apply, and advise on category management best practices

Expected Experience & Required Skills

• ​Experience in CPG industry and experience preferred in Category Leadership/Management (3+ years)
• Demonstrated syndicated and panel data knowledge (Circana, Numerator)
• Expertise preferred in Kroger data systems of 84.51, On Demand and Circana
• Applied project management and training experience with an emphasis on planning skills and the ability to execute with minimal direction
• Strong industry and sales knowledge with an emphasis on category and space management
• Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills

Work Environment & Schedule

This position is considered an in-office role with hybrid flexibility (3 days in office, 2 days from home if desired). Additionally, this role requires ability to work a salaried, exempt schedule to best execute against customer and internal expectations.

Physical Requirements 

• ​​​Willingness to drive and/or travel as needed (up to 10% of time)

• ​Operate a computer and view screens for ~100% of work schedule​​ 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain all duties or responsibilities that are required of the role. Duties or responsibilities may change or be added with or without notice.

Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors

Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:

• Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
• Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
• Emotional – Employee Assistance Program, Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
• Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location(s)

Cincinnati Office

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer that prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants who require an accommodation to participate in the job application or hiring process should contact [email protected].

Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values.

New Hire Base Salary Range:

$102,100.00 - $127,600.00

Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors

Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:

• Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments

• Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training

• Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs

• Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location(s)

Cincinnati Sales

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact [email protected] for assistance.