Category Manager

Position Title: Category Manager
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Grade: Grade 05
Requisition ID: 40791
About the role .
Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Category Development of McCain Foods (Canada), the Category Development Manager is responsible for leveraging various data sources and analytical tools to provide support to external and internal customers. This support includes monthly category reviews, assortment, shelving and pricing recommendations and ad-hoc analysis on request from customers. The scope of this role includes two external key customers, Retail Sales and Marketing team on the internal side. This position will bring skills and expertise in data analytics, report creation /presentation and planogram management (including full support of planogram deployment for the key customers). As a member of the Category Leadership team, the CDA will be enabling the Sales team with insights / analytics to deliver McCain's objectives for Canadian Retail business.
What you'll be doing.
Category Leadership and Insights

• Develop and support relationships with the key assigned Retail Customers as Category Vendor Advisor (Category Captain), establish credibility and set the stage for selling category solutions aligned to McCain strategies and enabling customer business growth.
• Managing the delivery of weekly / monthly reports with commentary to drive action and deliver value for external customers
• Manage monthly and YTD business and drivers reporting to inform the organization on McCain's performance against key consumption metrics
• Conduct quarterly (or monthly) Customer Category reviews for the key or assigned accounts that are based on insights and align to McCain strategies for respective customers
• Identify category development gaps and growth opportunities for key customers, develop customer centric strategies (that align with McCain objectives) and work directly with customers to execute and bring them to life
• Develop and sell-in customer specific assortment, shelf space and promotional strategy solutions to help grow the category and McCain business in key or assigned customers
• Work with the external customer to develop, execute and track all required assortment and planogram changes as per customer timeline and quality standards
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales teams on internal projects where customer or category insights and analytics support is required.

Continuous Improvement

• Continuously improve skills and knowledge in the category development space by participating in webinars, conferences and formal training courses.
• Get and maintain the Category Management Association certification and other designations required for external customers.
• Lead internal training sessions to help others in the organization develop analytical skills and effectively use standard reports.
• Cross-train to be able to act as back-up for other Category Leadership team members as needed.
• Advise, support and collaborate with Retail Sales team to develop customer selling stories / decks, technical learning materials.

MEASURES OF SUCCESS:

• Strong relationships based on trust and credibility built with external and internal customers
• Timely delivery of assortment, shelf space and promotional recommendations for the external customer (within their respective cycles) and internal partners
• Delivery of share of shelf to $ share index target for the external customer
• Timely delivery of category insights inputs for the sell-in of customer annual JBP, innovation launches, pricing strategy changes, etc. in partnership with Sales Strategy & Operations team
• Delivery of AOC on target in accordance with KPIs for profitable business growth in Canadian Retail (working together with the rest of the Category Leadership team)
• Strong working relationships with key cross-functional partners in Sales, Marketing, Finance, etc.

What you'll need to be successful.

• Minimal Undergraduate degree
• Minimum of 3+ years of experience working in CPG
• Preferred 1-2+ years of relevant work experience in a customer-facing role
• Analytically savvy, fast learner focused on continuous improvement
• Preferred 1+ years' experience working with Walmart Retail Link
• Ability to work independently and contribute to team projects
• Strong working knowledge of Nielsen syndicated data
• Comprehensive experience in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience with Customer POS and shelf management software is a plus
• Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment
• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships internally and externally

About McCain .
Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.
Leadership principles .
At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.
The McCain experience .
We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you'll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we're better together.
Our purpose is grounded in building meaningful relationships. We're big believers in the power of working together in person-it helps us stay connected, collaborate more effectively, and grow as a team. At the same time, we recognize the importance of flexibility. Most office-based roles follow a hybrid model, with the option to work remotely two days a week. There may be exceptions depending on the role and location, so we encourage you to speak with your recruiter for more details.
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain's Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy , as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here .
Job Family: Sales
Division: NA Sales
Department: Category Development - Canada Retail
Location(s): CA - Canada : Ontario : Toronto
Company: McCain Foods (Canada)