Position SummaryThe Category Development Manager is responsible for driving category growth and strengthening retailer partnerships through data-driven insights, consumer understanding, and strategic storytelling. This role leads Canadian category development initiatives while supporting broader regional needs as required. The Manager integrates syndicated data and consumer insights to build compelling category narratives that improve distribution, optimize assortment, and accelerate profitable growth for both customers and the organization. This individual serves as the category thought leader, partnering closely with Sales, Marketing, and cross-functional teams to translate consumer and market insights into actionable commercial strategies.
What You Will Do:- Category Development (Food, Drug, Mass, Convenience, Dollar, Office Product, Club)
- Develop and articulate annual category growth drivers aligned to company and customer objectives.
- Build and maintain the overarching category story grounded in consumer insights.
- Identify risks and opportunities through ongoing performance analysis.
- Provide national category development support for Tier 1 customers and regional category development support as required.
Shopper & Consumer Insights
- Support the category with actionable shopper insights to inform strategy, innovation, and customer engagement.
- Partner with Marketing and Insights teams to translate consumer research into commercial implications.
- Connect macro consumer trends to category performance and future whitespace opportunities.
Research & Analytics
- Analyze syndicated data (e.g., NielsenIQ, Circana), retailer POS, panel data, and internal analytics.
- Maintain distribution trackers and identify voids, velocity gaps, and competitive risks.
- Conduct SKU productivity and assortment optimization analyses.
- Share relevant macroeconomic, retail, and consumer trends impacting category performance.
Customer Line Reviews & Selling Support
- Lead and manage the end-to-end customer line review process. Including set presentation templates.
- Develop compelling, insight-based customer selling stories grounded in consumer and market data.
- Own line review tracking, timelines, and deliverables.
- Partner with Sales to deliver persuasive, fact-based presentations that drive assortment, distribution, and shelving gains.
- Provide post-line review recaps and performance follow-up.
Assortment, Distribution & POG Optimization
- Provide planogram (POG) recommendations based on performance, consumer behavior, and shelf productivity.
- Recommend assortment changes aligned to consumer needs and growth drivers.
- Monitor competitive activity and shelf dynamics to inform strategic adjustments.
Ongoing Performance & Insight Communication
- Lead monthly category insight reviews for internal stakeholders.
- Highlight performance vs. market and explain key drivers through a consumer lens.
- Proactively communicate risks, opportunities, and recommended actions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain to ensure category strategies align with commercial priorities.
- Support innovation launches with consumer-backed rationale and post-launch performance analysis.
- Contribute to joint business planning through category and consumer expertise.
Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, or related field.
- 5+years of experience in Category Management, Category Development, Business Development, Trade Marketing, Consumer Insights, or CPG analytics.
- Strong experience using syndicated data platforms (e.g., NielsenIQ, Circana).
- Experience interpreting consumer research and translating insights into business actions.
- Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.
- Proven ability to build and deliver customer-facing presentations.
Salary Range: $90,000-$105000 CAD.
Eligible to participate in the company bonus program.
We do not use AI in the hiring process.
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