The Category Manager for Mars Food & Nutrition Canada is imperative to driving distribution, shelving, and mutually profitable growth strategies and initiatives for Mars and National Grocery Retailer partners alike.  With a category-first mindset, this position is responsible for delivering actionable insights through robust reporting and analysis in order to identify issues and opportunities to develop strategic recommendations rooted in shopper behavior and advanced data analytics. 

This role will collaborate closely with Sales and Category team members, leading the creation of compelling selling stories, planogram recommendations, and analytical tools that support annual planning, line reviews, and ongoing business needs. It also contributes to the Demand Management Review process each period by providing consumption analysis and insights as well as distribution and shelving reviews as needed based on retailer reset timing.

What are we looking for?

• University Degree or College Diploma.
• 5+ overall years of experience in CPG or related Industry.
• 3+ years of Category Management and Space Management experience.
• Strong working knowledge of syndicated scan and panel data (Nielsen and Numerator), and familiarity with Loyalty Retailer Data is helpful (experience with LDIA, Sobey’s and Save on Foods retailer data would be considered an asset).
• Strong working knowledge of Blue Yonder JDA Space Planning is preferred. Experience with other space planning software is an asset.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), experience with Power BI is helpful.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical experience from situation assessment through solution ideation to tangible solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to convey information using written and oral communication tools that compel merchant decision making and action.
• Strong planning, project and time management skills to ensure adherence to aggressive timelines.
  

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Become an expert in Rice, Side Dish, and Asian category leadership principles and Retailer category objectives to be able to make recommendations internally and externally influencing strategic execution and decision making.
• Deliver accurate reporting highlighting business insights, issues, and opportunities incorporating expert level knowledge of industry, channel, retailer, category, and shopper.
• Drive analysis of shopper, category, and retailer data and insights in order to develop compelling and profitable business building recommendations. Prepare and deliver category reviews, compelling selling stories and presentations, inclusive of market and industry trends, retailer performance, competitive insights, assortment and shelving recommendations.
• Lead assortment and shelf strategy planning inclusive of shopper-based shelving design, analytics, and reporting post-execution.
• Collaborate with Category, Sales, and Marketing team members and apply learnings to identify sales growth opportunities to deliver effective business solutions which incorporate consumer segmentation, relevant research, brand positioning, and category trends, and assist in leading efforts to improve the Team's fact-based selling and storytelling skills with an emphasis on the integration of data analysis.
• Grow Retailer collaboration with superior category insights and analysis by developing strategic alliances with Key Decision Makers at specific retailers and implementing category principles with Retail partners that lead to category growth.
• Responsible for contributing to the Demand Management Review process each period by providing regular consumption analysis and insights, deep dives as needed, as well as distribution and shelving reviews based on retailer reset timing.  Additionally, this role will support other sales productivity initiatives and reporting as required.
• Studies and analyses may include, but are not limited to, the use of Nielsen syndicated and panel data, Numerator panel and insights data, Retailer specific data such as LDIA, Circana Sobeys and/or Save On Foods data, purchase and basket studies, new item evaluation,  Rich Mix assortment analysis, and others. Each scenario requires a detailed approach for organizing and completing such analysis specific to the Retailer based on needs and opportunities.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented associates, all guided by the Five Principles. 
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best in class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in - house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

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