Category Manager, C-Store at Mars, Incorporated in Des Moines, Iowa

Job Description:

Job Description:

Category Manager, C-Store

***This is a remote role with potential for up to 25% travel and customer interface. Main customers are located in Des Moines, Atlanta and Nashville. The role could also be based remotely from a hub in Minneapolis or Nashville.

The Category Manager position is responsible for managing category leadership solutions supporting multiple Mid-West Convenience Stores for the Mars Wrigley Confectionery businesses including Chocolate Candy, Non-Chocolate Candy, Gum, Mints, and Salty Snacks. This role is expected to provide fact and insight-based solutions that drive growth for the category, retailer, and Mars Wrigley. Utilizing shopper insight, opportunity identification and full understanding of products, assortment, pricing, placement, shelving, promotion, and merchandising, this role is the primary insight provider for our categories at Casey's, Racetrac, Mapco and HT Hackney, among others.The key objective of this role is to develop strategic initiatives that lead to marketplace actions for the Confectionery Category. This role will work closely with internal and external partners.

This role is part of the Category Leadership organization and reports to the East Team Lead of Category Leadership. Prioritization and close collaboration with both internal and external partners will be critical to success within this role.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent work experience


• 2+years of experience in Category Management, Sales, or advanced analytics


• Business Analytics skills or experience


• Experience in CPG and/or retail


• Experience working with syndicated data software (i.e., IRI or Nielsen) & Assortment Planning or Space Management Software (i.e. Apollo, Intercept, JDA, etc)


• Experience with promotional / non promotional strategy development


• Experience with Microsoft Suite


• Strong communication, collaboration, & problem solving skills


• Solid written, verbal, and presentation skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing and visualizing data using cutting edge tools (MS Power BI, Tableau)


• Convenience channel experience and/or foundational knowledge


• Knowledge of emerging retail strategy and technology (Omni-channel)

What will be your key responsibilities?

As the Mars Wrigley Category Contact, this associate will:

• Work collaboratively with external and internal partners to develop and activate growth strategies and tactics for the confectionery category within the convenience channel.


• Work to lead the team to create and plan category leadership solutions that deliver profitable sales growth for MW and the customer. These solutions should include shopper and category insights focused on products, assortment, placement, shelving, pricing, promotions, and merchandising optimization.


• Where appropriate, manage and deliver against the responsibilities of the Category Captaincy/Advisory process in partnership with your customers.


• Influence the customer by identifying specific opportunities, lead in research and testing projects to deliver category leadership solutions benefitting both the retailer and the Confectionery Category.


• Be comfortable with, and utilize, best in class category tools and resources to bring solid category insights to the buyer and senior leadership. Tools may include, but are not limited to the following: IRI, Nielsen, syndicated and panel database resources, JDA, space management software, Nielsen ASO Incrementality tool, market research findings, etc.


• Influence Annual Account Business Planning, through collaborative partnering with sales team, by providing actionable category insights and solutions that support category leadership objectives for customer, company and category


• Serve as a team resource for Category reporting and scorecarding.


• Serve as a team resource for planogram development and delivery to your convenience customers.


• Evaluate and monitor all customer category leadership solutions, turn analysis into recommended action and continually improve to be more effective and efficient in executing business building opportunities with the customer.


• Must be able to confidently present to internal and external leadership business partners.

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.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.