Manager, Field Category - Waters and Beverages

Job Summary and Mission

The Category Manager drives Nestle sales, shopper centricity, and category growth by serving as a strategic partner to retailers through best-in-class thought leadership, insights, analysis, and reporting. This role collaborates with Shopper Insights, Category Strategy, Customer Account Managers and retail partners to influence customer adoption of category growth drivers and optimize merchandising, assortment, pricing, and shelving strategies.

Location:

Preferred location is Arlington, VA; we can also consider Massachusetts, Connecticut, Charlotte, NC, and Philadelphia/Harrisburg, PA.

• Customer Strategic Leadership
• Build strategic customer relationships through category thought leadership and become the "Voice of Choice" for retailer insight needs.
• Implement Nestle’s category vision with customers, focusing on merchandising, assortment, pricing, and shelving.
• Influence customer strategic direction for the category using analytical tools, syndicated/customer‑specific data, and shopper insights.
• Lead knowledge sharing and respond to inquiries about competitive data, customers, categories, or channels.
• Proactively identify and sell insight‑based category growth opportunities to customers.
• Develop and maintain consistent category summaries to establish Nestlé’s category centricity and expertise.
• Commercial Activation
• Translate insights into actionable growth plans and activations tailored to retailer needs across 4
  
  Ps.
• Develop and deliver compelling strategic narratives grounded in division category strategies to influence retailer actions.
• Spearhead merchandising and assortment strategies to grow the category and optimize shopability (e.g., planograms, SKU prioritization, share of shelf) both in-store and online for retailers.
• Internal Collaboration and Partnership
• Partner with Sales team to drive category‑centric retailer engagements focused on insights and thought leadership.
• Partner with Category Strategy team to understand category/shopper insights and utilize these insights to drive category solutions for customers.

• Experience creating and presenting growth solutions at national, channel, and customer levels.
• Experience leveraging data and insights into actionable solutions.
• Ability to deliver insight‑based thought leadership for category strategy.
• Able to solve complex analytic problems using data and insights.
• Proficiency in leveraging multi‑functional resources and market/shopper analytics.
• Deep understanding of the CPG industry and joint business planning.
• Strong persuasive selling and collaboration skills.
• Ability to build diverse, collaborative relationships.
• Clear and concise communication skills (oral and written).
• Ability to manage confidential information internally and externally.
• Knowledge of multidisciplinary business practices.
• Success in cross‑functional projects and activities.
• Strong financial acumen and negotiation skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, changing, matrix environment and manage ambiguity.

• Bachelor’s degree (business‑related preferred); advanced degree a plus.
• 5+ years of category management, sales analytics, or related CPG experience.
• Proven success in building strategic customer relationships and delivering insight‑based thought leadership.
• Deep understanding of the CPG industry, joint business planning, and commercializing value.
• Advanced proficiency in market/shopper analytics, syndicated data (Nielsen/IRI), and planogram creation (JDA Prospace or equivalents).
• Strong financial acumen, negotiation skills, and ability to manage confidential information.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, matrixed environment and manage ambiguity.
• Exceptional communication skills (oral and written), with a history of creating and presenting growth solutions at national, channel, and customer levels.

The approximate target compensation range for this role is $135,000 – 165,000. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to background, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as geographic location of the position.

Nestlé offers performance‑based…