Assistant Category Strategy Manager - Foods

ASSISTANT CATEGORY STRATEGY MANAGER - FOODS

Earlier this year, Unilever announced an agreement to combine its Foods business with McCormick & Company, creating a scaled global flavour powerhouse. The proposed combination would bring together iconic Foods brands, including Hellmann’s and Knorr, with McCormick’s portfolio to create a global leader across spices, seasonings, condiments and complementary food categories, supported by strong retail and foodservice platforms. McCormick brings more than 135 years of heritage, a presence in 150+ countries and territories, and a portfolio of trusted brands. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, with completion estimated for mid-2027.

JOB PURPOSE
The Assistant Category Strategy Manager will help shape how Unilever and its retail partners unlock growth across the Foods business. Sitting at the intersection of category insights, shopper understanding, and retail execution, this role turns complex data into recommendations that influence assortment, shelving, innovation, and category growth.

Partnering across Brand Teams, Consumer & Shopper Insights, Field Category Management, Sales and Shopper Marketing, you will contribute to high-visibility initiatives, help develop customer-facing category insights and recommendations, and independently manage defined workstreams from insight through action. The position primarily supports Condiments while contributing to broader Foods initiatives across Cooking Aids and Mini Meals.

This is an opportunity for a curious, analytical, and commercially minded problem solver who wants to make an impact, strengthen strategic storytelling and influencing skills, and help shape decisions with some of Unilever's most important retail partners.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

In this role, you will:
• Translate category, shopper, consumer, and retail insights into clear growth opportunities and business actions.
• Support the development of category growth strategies, shelving recommendations, assortment decisions, and customer-facing selling stories.
• Develop compelling, data-led materials that influence internal stakeholders and retail customers.
• Work closely with Field Category Management and Sales to bring national strategies to life across customers and channels.
• Bring the voice of the customer perspective into innovation, portfolio, and business-planning discussions.
• Independently manage defined Category Strategy workstreams from analysis through recommendation and delivery.
• Maintain and improve Category Management tools, processes, and best practices, connecting detailed execution to broader category, customer, and business priorities.

You are an insight translator
You enjoy uncovering the story behind the data. You connect shopper, category, and marketplace insights to clear business implications and strategic recommendations that drive action.

You are a storyteller
You bring insights to life through clear, compelling presentations. You simplify complexity, tailor the story for the audience, and land a memorable point of view.

You are naturally curious
You continuously ask why and seek to understand shopper behavior, category trends, retailer strategies, and competitive dynamics to uncover new growth opportunities.

You are a business problem solver
You are energized by ambiguity and enjoy taking an undefined business question, structuring the problem, analyzing the data, and developing a practical, insight-led solution.

You are a collaborative partner
You build productive relationships across Brand, Category and Shopper Insights, Category Management, Sales and CS&P teams. You remain open to feedback and influence through facts, insights, credibility, and clear storytelling.

You are an owner
You take ownership of your work, proactively move projects forward, communicate early when alignment is needed, and follow through on commitments.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED

Experiences & Qualifications
• Minimum of BA/BS degree, MBA a plus
• Two to four years of experience in Category Management, Sales, Shopper Insights, Consumer Insights, Retail, CPG, or a related analytical field.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into business insights, implications, recommendations, and actions.
• Experience developing presentations, category stories, or customer-facing recommendations.
• Strong written, verbal, storytelling, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and independently advance assigned work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment, while knowing when to seek alignment.
• Demonstrated curiosity, initiative, ownership, and comfort working through ambiguity, with strong attention to detail and sound business judgment.
• Retail, customer-facing, or Foods experience preferred.

Specialized Training
• Experience with syndicated data sources such as Circana/IRI, NielsenIQ, Numerator, shopper data, and loyalty-card data preferred.
• Experience applying shopper and consumer insights to Category Management strategies and recommendations.
• Experience with merchandising or space-planning tools, including JDA Space Planning, is a plus.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.

Pay: The pay range for this position is $71,400 to $107,200. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs. 

Bonus: This position is bonus eligible. 

Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible. 

Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents. 

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