Your Opportunity as the Lead, Category Strategy – Pet

The primary responsibility of this position is to lead in the development of key components of JM Smucker’s Category Leadership capabilities for the Dog Treats category to deliver JM Smucker & Category business results. Leads in the development of Category specific and shopper-centric insights and Category Thought Leadership materials across multiple functions. The position is expected to be the go-to category expert for Dog Treats, responsible for providing in-depth category, customer and shopper expertise.

Location: Orrville, OH (Close proximity to Cleveland/Akron)

Work Arrangements: Hybrid - onsite a minimum of 9 days a month primarily during core weeks as determined by the Company; maybe more as business need requires

In this role you will:

Develops Category Leadership Growth Driver Strategies, Initiatives and Content at a national level.

Develops Category Leadership Plans / Growth Driver category roadmaps of compelling category strategies that drive the category’s future growth potential

Leads / Develops 4P Guiding Principles  

Provides national level thought leadership, maintains Category Knowledge Estate

Collaborates and influences across the commercial organization (Marketing, Insights, Growth, R&D, Field Category, Sales)

Builds Category selling stories at a national level to be seamlessly executed at the customer level by working directly with field category on a regular basis. 

Requires a high level of cross functional collaboration and storytelling with data skills

Develops Shopper Centric Insights 

Identifies, builds and executes shopper learning plans in concert with JMS Shopper Insights team.

Develops Shopper centric insights analytics on a national scale

Leverages available data and insight resources to identify and create new insights and category opportunities

Customer Team Engagement

Collaborates with Marketing, Sales & Category Leadership teams to translate and disseminate JM Smucker Thought Leadership with our key customers.

Provide category consultation at internal and external meetings to provide context, direction, and guidance regarding potential actions

Feeds back retailer and commercial team learnings to JM Smucker & business areas

Other

Provides project support and resolves category issues, as needed

Identifies requirements for category management tool development and data support systems

The Right Place for You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

What we are looking for:

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree

6+ years of Consumer-Packaged Goods industry experience

3+ years of Shopper Insights or Category Management experience

Strong story telling with data skills

Strong communication skills (verbal and written)

Strong technical skills in Excel, Power Point, Circana or AC Nielsen (POS and Panel)

Strong computer and analytic skills

Proficient in leveraging Syndicated and Panel Data

Ability to travel on occasion

Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role (not required):

MBA

Experience in customer-facing and/or execution

Experience working cross functionally in a Headquarter environment

Proficient in leveraging Retailer Club Card Data

3rd Party partnership and data analysis (RichMix, Mintel, Kantar)

Learn more about working at Smucker:

Helping our Employees Thrive

Delivering on Our Purpose 

Our Continued Commitment to Ensuring a Workplace for All 

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