JM Smucker Company

Director, Category Leadership

JM Smucker Company • $125K — $150K *
Orrville, OH 44667In-Person
Food & Beverages
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required
  • 10+ years of CPG industry experience
  • 5+ years in shopper insights or category management
  • Proven leadership of teams with 5+ direct reports
  • Strategic leader with an enterprise mindset
  • Exceptional communication and executive presence
  • Ability to travel up to 25%

Responsibilities

  • Champion consumer, shopper, and marketplace insights into category growth strategies
  • Define high-value customer and channel opportunities
  • Establish vision and roadmap for Category Leadership
  • Lead development of national category narratives and customer growth plans
  • Convert category strategy into retailer-specific growth initiatives
  • Coach and develop a high-performing Category Leadership team
  • Partner with SBA leaders to drive a unified strategy

Benefits

  • Hybrid work arrangement with onsite requirements
  • Opportunities for professional development and career advancement
  • Dynamic work environment with a focus on strategic impact
  • Participation in shaping enterprise-level strategies
  • Engagement in a future-ready team culture
Full Job Description
Your Opportunity as the Director, Category Leadership

This position is accountable for shaping and advancing Smucker's Category Leadership capabilities to deliver SBA growth, strengthen customer partnerships, and elevate commercial performance across the Pet portfolio. The Director will set the strategic vision for unlocking category growth through disciplined data, insights, and shopper activation across the category, Smucker, and key retailers. This leader will develop and steward current and long-range category strategies that optimize assortment, shelf space, aisle vision, and investment choices while fully leveraging consumer, shopper, retailer, and marketplace intelligence. As a strategic business partner, this role will influence annual sales planning, revenue growth management, NRO, innovation, long-range planning, brand planning, insight priorities, and budget decisions. The Director will also build future-ready organizational capabilities by setting clear expectations, developing talent, and elevating the team's strategic impact across the Pet SBA and JMS Enterprise.

Location: Orrville, OH (Close proximity to Cleveland/Akron)

Work Arrangements: Hybrid - onsite a minimum of 9 days a month primarily during core weeks as determined by the Company; maybe more as business need requires

In this role, you will:
  • Champion the translation and synthesis of consumer, shopper, retailer, and marketplace insights into enterprise-level category growth strategies and priorities.
    • Define high-value customer and channel opportunities that strengthen joint business plans and shape long-term growth agendas
    • Establish the Category Leadership vision, plan, and roadmap grounded in insight-led opportunities and enterprise priorities
    • Lead the development and deployment of compelling national category narratives that can be translated into customized customer growth plans
  • Convert category strategy into retailer-specific growth agendas, executive-level stories, and strategic initiatives that influence customer decision-making.
    • Prioritize and activate key retailer opportunities that advance joint business plans and unlock sustainable category growth
    • Shape retailer category strategies through differentiated, account-specific insights, executive influence, and pragmatic commercial recommendations
  • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Category Leadership team, setting clear expectations for strategic ownership, business impact, and enterprise collaboration.
    • Create meaningful growth opportunities that build leadership depth, strengthen succession readiness, and expand team capabilities
    • Provide direct feedback, strategic direction, and coaching that accelerates individual performance and strengthens team effectiveness
  • Partner with SBA leaders to drive a unified Category Leadership strategy, consistent language, and aligned ways of working across the enterprise
  • Strengthen connectivity between field sales, strategy, insights, and portfolio priorities to ensure integrated execution and enterprise alignment
  • Influence Insights priorities and budgets to ensure the organization is investing in the capabilities, data, and analytics required to support category growth
  • Define, scale, and embed Category Leadership best practices that raise the standard for strategic customer engagement and commercial impact
  • Maintain an enterprise-forward perspective on category trends, systems, capabilities, retailer needs, and marketplace dynamics to anticipate future growth requirements
  • Evaluate the work required in the future-state organization and proactively build the capabilities, leadership competencies, and experiences needed to lead in a more integrated and broadly scoped environment
  • Model Director-level expectations by demonstrating enterprise thinking and proactive ownership, decisive leadership, and the ability to set direction


Key Leadership Expectations:
  • Be proactive by setting direction and define priorities with PET SBA
  • Elevate strategic thinking across the team by connecting category opportunities to broader business growth choices
  • Lead with proactive ownership, sound judgment, and accountability in a more integrated and broadly scoped organization
  • Build future-ready capabilities by developing talent, strengthening cross-functional influence, and raising the standard for Director-level leadership


What we are looking for:

Minimum Requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree.
  • 10+ years of relevant experience in the CPG industry
  • 5+ years of shopper insights or category management experience
  • Proven experience leading teams of five or more direct reports, with a track record of setting vision, building capability, and inspiring a team to execute with excellence
  • Enterprise-minded strategic leader with the ability to envision future-state teams, processes, capabilities, and customer relationships
  • Executive presence and resonant leadership, with the ability to engage, inspire, and lead inclusively while creating clarity, confidence, and accountability
  • Strong ability to communicate, present, influence, and align senior leaders, cross-functional partners, executive stakeholders, and C-level audiences
  • Highly self-directed leader with the judgment, agility, and ownership required to lead through change, manage competing enterprise priorities, and deliver results
  • Exceptional executive communication skills, strong business acumen, and rigorous attention to detail
  • Ability to travel up to 25% of the work schedule


#LI-CM1

About JM Smucker Company

J.M. Smucker Company manufactures and supplies spreads, warm beverages, sweeteners, condiments, decorating syrups, and milk products.

JM Smucker Company Careers

There has never been a more exciting time to explore the job opportunities at JM Smucker Company, a leader in the food industry known for its strong values and commitment to quality. As we continue to grow, we invite you to join our team of professionals, where innovation and leadership thrive. Work You’ll Do Join JM Smucker Company’s dynamic team to help drive growth and innovation in one of the most respected companies in the food sector. At JM Smucker, we are dedicated to transforming our business while upholding our unique culture of integrity and responsibility. Lead in a Unique Market Position At JM Smucker Company, you will find yourself at the crossroads of consumer needs and cutting-edge solutions. With a focus on diversity and professional development, we empower our employees to lead and innovate within the industry. Engage with a Skilled Team of Professionals Collaborate with over 7,000 dedicated employees who bring their skills and passion to our teams every day. At JM Smucker, we believe in nurturing talent through comprehensive training and development programs, ensuring that every team member can achieve their career goals. Introducing the JM Smucker Leadership and Innovation Initiative We are committed to fostering leadership and innovation across all levels of our company. This initiative is designed to support our employees in mastering their professional journey through continuous learning and leadership opportunities. Do Innovative Work Be part of a company that is as committed to innovation as it is to producing high-quality products. At JM Smucker Company, you will work on projects that challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what is possible in the food industry. Be Part of a Great Team Experience a culture that values teamwork, leadership, and diversity. Our teams are made up of individuals from various backgrounds, working together to achieve common goals and drive success in the industry. Future-Proof Your Career With JM Smucker Company, your career is in good hands. We offer a variety of job opportunities, from internships to full-time positions, each accompanied by competitive benefits and the chance for growth. Whether you are just starting out or looking to advance your career, JM Smucker provides the resources and support to help you succeed. Explore Discover how our commitment to innovation leads to superior products and services: [Explore Our Innovations] Read more about how our teams are pioneering new techniques and flavors in the food industry. The JM Smucker Company Difference Our commitment to quality, innovation, and diversity sets us apart in the food industry. We believe that our employees are our greatest asset, and we are dedicated to their growth and development. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We are always looking for passionate, creative, and driven individuals to join our team. [SEARCH JM SMUCKER JOBS] Keep Up to Date Stay informed with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights—all from the people who work here. [READ CAREERS BLOG] Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await at JM Smucker Company. [SUBSCRIBE FOR JOB ALERTS]
Learn more about JM Smucker Company
Size
14,000 employees
Market Cap
$16.9 billion
Industry
Food & Beverages
Net Income
$955.6 million
Founded
1897
5 Year Trend
+1.6%
Revenue
$8.1 billion
* Ladders Estimates

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