Senior Manager Category Management

Position Overview

This role involves interpreting shopper and category insights, optimizing product assortment, evaluating product placement, and proposing solutions to improve overall category performance. The Category Management expert will serve as an advisor to leadership and the Customer Sales team, influencing decisions by reviewing and analyzing shelf space opportunities, current business trends, and category performance within the market and industry.

• Lead and deliver all space management projects and activities, including Kroger's Kompass process and any internal space management initiatives.

• Proactively communicate and collaborate with the Customer Sales Team, Brands, Business Units, and RGM on assortment opportunities, including void closures, at‑risk items, innovation, and core assortment.

• Build and maintain long‑term relationships with Kroger assortment lead and PLM; leverage insights and recommend action plans by developing persuasive, fact‑based sales presentations that use customer, industry, and market data.

• Maintain frequent and fluid communication with internal and external stakeholders regarding projects, insights, and opportunities for both the individual and the team.

Other duties as assigned.

Curious self‑starter who can proactively identify needs and opportunities, create and implement programs, and collaborate with internal and external partners to meet shared objectives. Demonstrated ability to investigate root causes of performance results, use feedback and reflection to improve personal strengths, and take on new opportunities with urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm. Shows a strong interest in adapting to the business and organizational environment and its culture.

• Bachelor's Degree in Sales, Marketing, or a related business field.
• 10+ years of customer‑facing experience in the CPG industry with Category Management; grocery and mass channel experience preferred.
• Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills, proven experience converting data into actionable strategies.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting to customers and senior executives.
• Highly motivated self‑starter with strong project management skills and the ability to multi‑task in a matrix organization.
• Thorough understanding of POS and panel data, and experience with retailer shopper card data sets.
• Experience managing people, including creating individualized development plans and defining accountabilities.
• Strong working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite (Excel and PowerPoint) and space management software (JDA or Apollo).
• Travel up to 20%.