Manager Category DevelopmentLocation: Los Angeles, California, United States
Function: Commerce
About the Role: The Manager, Category Development is responsible for growing category and brand volume and increasing revenue through the development and delivery of industry-leading category insights for retailers and distributors. This role is accountable for developing compelling sell stories that are supported by data resources for insight-led 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.
The position collaborates closely with Account Managers, to drive the West Chain Account business, specifically ABSCO. It also develops and maintains reporting tools, scorecards, and selling materials that translate data into compelling, insight-driven narratives to support volume, distribution, and assortment growth. In addition, the role partners cross-functionally with Revenue Management, Consumer & Market Insights, and other teams to ensure Category Development efforts are fully aligned with broader commercial priorities.
Strong financial & business acumen and the ability to quantify the financial impact on assortment decisions and promotional performance. Knows how to ask for forgiveness before permission and take risks while still building strong collaborative relationships.
Key Responsibilities: - Deliver relevant, localized category insights and trend analyses to customers and assigned HUSA Chain Accounts team.
- Drive the regional and channel strategies by developing and telling stories of value to demonstrate 'Why Heineken USA' that are supported by the integrated use of all data resources; develop this into presentations that engage and motivate the intended audience.
- 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 to empower data-centric storytelling to enhance their retail execution in support of both their success and the HUSA portfolio.
- Deliver effective data storytelling to drive and support HUSA assortment and space planning strategies and capitalize on c ategory and h igh -e nd volume opportunities.
- Utilize insights to offer category validatorship to customers demonstrating category objectivity while driving customer trust and increased distribution.
- Support senior level stakeholders with strategic insights, delivered in a way they can use to directly share with retailers or distributors.
- Support development of the HUSA s ales programs as needed, including delivery of post-promotion analyses.
- Collaborate with the Marketing team to identify shopper insights and opportunities.
- Create and share best practices across the department and company to improve overall company performance.
- Work with Revenue Management / Pricing at a regional level as necessary to develop strong strategies and presentations.
- Prepare for, attend, and participate as required in customer quarterly business reviews, promotional planning meetings, and joint business planning workshops.
- Participate in bi-weekly sales team meetings, monthly category team meetings, and monthly RVP/Regional Marketing Director meetings.
- Contribute as required to monthly regional score carding and innovation score carding.
- Work with distributors to develop and execute trainings for distributor personnel, including data analysis skills to increase distributor success in selling the HUSA portfolio.
Basic Qualifications/Requirements: - Bachelor's Degree required
- 3+ years category or shopper experience and/or regional and independent experience (customer facing)
- Experience working with Albertsons Company
- 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: Nielsen, Circana / IRI, Spectra, Numerator, shopper panel data, shopper loyalty data, JDA S pace P lanning
- Capable of building strong collaborative relationships that allow for some risk-taking while maintaining trust
- Strong financial and business acumen with the ability to quantify financial impacts on assortment decisions and promotional performance
- Expertise and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite tools including Excel and 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: - CPG/adult beverage industry experience preferred
Compensation & Benefits: - Base Salary Range: $125,000 - $145,000 + Annual Bonus
- Benefits - Medical/Dental/Vision + Matching 401k Plan
- Vacation - 20 Days Paid Vacation & Unlimited Wellness Days
- $200 Monthly Beverage Allowance
HEINEKEN Leadership Expectations: 
