Job title: Senior Manager, Category Leadership CMG Takehome Aisle
Job location: Hershey, PA preferred or Remote (Must be near a major airport)
SummaryThis position acts as the Subject Matter Expert for Hershey's CMG Take Home Aisle, blending Shopper and Consumer Research with advanced analytics to design, test, create, and scale Hershey's Gold Standard Merchandising principles.
This highly collaborative role partners cross-functionally with Field Sales, Category Leadership, Insights, Channel Strategy, Pack Type, Brand, and Marketing teams, while also representing Hershey externally through customer engagements (e.g., GCICs) and industry events.
The role is accountable for shaping the strategic vision of the Take Home aisle, delivering annual gold standard playbook updates and continuously innovating shelf principles through test-and-learn approaches. By evaluating category performance data and retailer execution, this leader will define principles, metrics, and tracking mechanisms that drive stronger planogram compliance, improved in-store execution, and enhanced shopper conversion.
As a strategic advisor to Home Office teams, this role will guide optimal placement for core and innovation items, including strengthening Hershey's leadership in must-win segments such as Premium and Sweets, and evolving Gold Standard principles across both physical and digital shelves.
Responsibilities- Ideate, test, and evolve Gold Standard principles through constant evaluation of the shopper, category and Hershey data
- Partner with Test & Learn and the Merchandising COE to design, activate, and scale in-market tests that strengthen shelf principles and build compelling selling stories.
- Support Field Sales and Category teams by translating insights into actionable guidance and consultative support for consistent marketplace activation.
- Build and maintain external relationships by leading GCIC presentations and collaborating with customers to bring Hershey's principles to life in-store.
- Drive increased Gold Standard compliance by developing tracking mechanisms, guiding principle adoption, and supporting execution through every reset window.
- Collaborate internally to identify implementation barriers, gather feedback on initiatives, and uncover whitespace opportunities for future testing.
- Integrate digital shelf principles into Gold Standard merchandising through close partnership with omni-channel and eCommerce teams.
- Stay ahead of emerging trends, technologies, and insights to advance category leadership and elevate the shopper experience.
- If a remote candidate, moderate travel of 25-30% can be expected.
QualificationsEducation: Bachelor's Degree Required
Experience: - Minimum 7 years of progressive professional experience
- 5+ years of consumer products sales experience with a strong track record of analytical rigor and results
- Category Management experience strongly preferred; additional functional or general management experience a plus
- Proven project management skills with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives
- Strong technical and analytical capability preferred, including experience with:
- Visual storytelling
- Space planning tools (e.g., JDA)
- Analytics and insights platforms (Scintilla, Circana, Nielsen, Numerator)
- Reporting and visualization tools (Power BI)
