Short Intro and About the Job

The Manager/Sr. Manager, Customer Category Leadership - Shelf Excellence will serve as Danone's subject matter expert in shelf excellence, space planning, shelf analytics, and shelving strategy. This role will partner closely with Customer Category Leadership teams to translate category, shopper, and shelf insights into recommendations that drive category growth and improve shelf performance. This role is open to remote.

This individual will lead planogram development, identify shelf opportunities through analytics and in-store monitoring tools, and help establish scalable shelf excellence capabilities across the organization. In addition, this role will directly manage an Analyst and be responsible for setting priorities, developing capabilities, and ensuring high-quality delivery across shelf excellence initiatives.

The ideal candidate combines deep space planning expertise with strong business acumen, a consultative mindset, and a passion for optimizing the shelf experience for shoppers and customers.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Space Planning & Shelf Strategy
   1. Lead development of customer-specific shelving recommendations and planograms across categories and channels
   2. Apply shopper, category, and performance insights to optimize assortment, space allocation, and category flow
   3. Serve as Danone's subject matter expert on shelving principles, category flow, and space management
   4. Develop innovative shelf solutions that support category growth and improve shopper navigation
2. Shelf Analytics & Opportunity Identification
   1. Leverage Storesight and other shelf analytics tools to identify share-of-shelf opportunities, execution gaps, etc
   2. Monitor shelf conditions and proactively surface risks and opportunities to Customer Category Leadership teams
   3. Translate shelf analytics into actionable recommendations that drive category growth
   4. Measure and track shelf performance over time
3. Strategic Partnership & Prioritization
   1. Partner with Customer Category Leadership teams to identify shelf-related opportunities and support customer engagement
   2. Prioritize work across customers, categories, and strategic initiatives
   3. Balance reactive customer needs with proactive opportunity identification
   4. Influence internal stakeholders through data-driven recommendations and thought leadership

Skills:

• Strong space planning and merchandising expertise
• Ability to translate complex data into clear business recommendations
• Strong communication and storytelling skills
• Consultative mindset with the ability to influence without authority
• Strong prioritization and project management capabilities
• Agile and adaptable across customers, categories, and business needs
• Curious, proactive, and passionate about shelf optimization

The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $175,000 USD. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate's relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions. Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options. To give our employees flexibility, Danone is a hybrid work environment.

This role is considered a "hybrid" position that allows for flexible work, meaning it is a role where collaboration with key stakeholders in Danone Hubs occurs. While you may have the option to work from home on a schedule as agreed to with your supervisor, you are also expected to regularly report to your assigned office location at least 3 days per week.

About You

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Analytics, or related field
• 5+ years of CPG experience in Category Management, Space Planning, Category Leadership, or related functions
• Expert in JDA/Blue Yonder or Apollo space planning software
• Experience with ShelfIQ, Storesight, Mission Control, or comparable shelf analytics platforms
• Strong understanding of syndicated data, shopper insights, and category management principles
• Experience translating insights into customer-facing recommendations
• Experience leading projects and influencing cross-functional teams
• Digital shelf knowledge preferred, but not required
• Occasional travel required