Sr. Manager- Category Leadership Center of Excellence

We have an amazing opportunity available on our Category Leadership Center of Excellence Team. As we increase our focus on early life and family nutrition, we're seeking a Senior Manager, who will be responsible for the Happy Family BU (inclusive of Baby Food and Formula) and oversee the All Family Yogurt portfolio. In this role, the Senior Category Leader is responsible for translating category leadership principles into action through data and consumer/shopper insights. This position will report to the Director of Category Leadership - COE YBU and have one direct report. The Senior Category Leader supports the development and deployment of center driven initiatives supporting Danone growth strategies by providing insightful stories and shopper insights that support a mutually beneficial growth plan. This role requires an advanced working knowledge of all tools required to complete and present category, brand, division and center driven related projects. Data tools include Syndicated Scan (Circana/Nielsen), Retailer transaction/loyalty data, BI reporting, JDA Space Planning, Numerator, etc.

The Senior Category Leader acts as the active interface between sales, marketing, business development, shopper marketing, shopper insights, business analytics, and market research. Their day-to-day function will be working with Catman COE & Field, CatCom, and many other cross-functional teams to develop and deploy Infant Nutrition BU initiatives and Channel strategies by creating compelling, actionable stories that captivate our customers delivering against the quad win.

Driving category leadership principles through the application of strong data analytics and consumer/shopper insights. Develop fact-based selling stories leveraging syndicated data sources. This person participates in meetings as an "expert" for the category and in the field of category management.
• Use multiple data sources (e.g. IRI, 8451, Numerator, Nielsen, etc.) to develop insight to include sales/share reporting, opportunity gap, SKU rationalization, plan-o-gram analysis, CORE and HERO tracking, sales and performance trackers
• Develop strategic COE HFBU plans, vision, tactics, and strategies for achieving category volume, contribution, and share objectives.
• Conduct detailed category decompositions and deliver insights to action by identifying trends, opportunities, and challenges to core business areas in an extremely fast paced environment
• Strong working knowledge and execution of shelving standards and associated shelving software tools (POG Gen, JDA, Shelf IQ, etc.)
• Collaborate with cross functional team to create customized solutions that ensure delivery across key initiatives
• Analyze and evaluate demographic profiles and consumer purchasing behavior across categories and Channels
• Work efficiently to respond to urgent requests for information and presentation support to drive growth in an extremely dynamic environment.
• Stay abreast of global consumer trends in a widely diverse set of retail channels.

The base compensation range for this position is $125,000-$160,000 commensurate with experience. 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.

• 4-year college degree in Business or related field
• 3-8 years of Category Leadership experience within the consumer-packaged goods industry
• Demonstrated analytical and critical thinking; ability to link strategies, objectives to develop compelling stories
• Strong thought leadership and influencing skills: ability to influence both internal teams and customer
• Ability to proactively set and lead an insights agenda
• Expert in syndicated data required, proficient in shopper/panel data and space management. Able to synthesize data into insights and compelling category growth narratives.
• Strong communication and presentation skills. Ability to interact confidently and effectively with team members, management, and the customer
• Can manage multiple projects at once and able to prioritize and adapt quickly
• Excellent MS Office skills (PowerPoint, Excel, Word)
• Comfortable with business travel (5 - 20% travel as needed)

At Danone North America, you'll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world like Activia, Silk, Two Good, Oikos, evian, and Happy Family. You'll be part of one of the largest Certified B Corps in the world, working together to make sure our brands create real benefits for people, communities, and the planet. We have 6,000+ employees across the U.S. and Canada. Come join our movement for a healthier world: One Planet. One Health BY YOU.

Danone North America is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to legally protected characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state/provincial and/or local law. For our EEO policy statement and your EEO rights under law click here.

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