Category Development Manager

Overview

Join the team behind iconic brands such as Huggies, Kleenex, Cottonelle, Scott, Kotex, Poise, Depend, and Kimberly‑Clark Professional. At Kimberly‑Clark, you’ll find innovation, growth, and the chance to make a real impact.

Kimberly‑Clark is seeking a Category Development Manager on the Walmart team in our Rogers, AR sales office. In this role you will own the relationship with the Walmart merchant and deliver actionable insights to drive category sales and market share. You must be able to synthesize data from multiple sources, interpret findings, and communicate recommendations clearly. Experience in Category Management using Walmart internal data is preferred but not required.

Candidates should be familiar with shopper and syndicated data and support Walmart’s modular process and project store requests.

• Gather, synthesize, and analyze category, shopper, trend, and channel data to inform Walmart merchants on business performance. Clearly communicate key business drivers and proactively develop recommendations to accelerate category growth.
• Apply an understanding of shopper behavior and path‑to‑purchase fundamentals to inform analysis.
• Monitor the competitive landscape and share relevant insights with Walmart merchants as needed.
• Continuously monitor category and competitive trends to identify opportunities for Walmart across business formats.
• Contribute to category strategy development by providing data‑driven analysis and explaining the “why” behind recommendations to support senior leaders in shaping category direction.
• Lead buyer meetings, providing guidance on key topics and responding to merchant requests to drive category growth. Support merchant meetings with solid, well‑prepared analysis, often alongside senior leaders.
• Support Walmart’s modular planning process by building accurate, compliant modular recommendations aligned to category strategy.
• Deliver best‑in‑class omni‑channel competitive and shopper insights using multiple data sources, including POS, Nielsen Panel, Scintilla, Catalytics, Keepa, and site audits. Develop clear, structured storytelling in presentation decks to communicate insights effectively.
• Reconcile data across multiple sources, flag data quality issues early, and ensure analytical rigor in all deliverables.
• Manage own work streams and deadlines reliably; elevate risks and dependencies appropriately to ensure timely delivery.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office, JDA/Prospace, Power BI, Nielsen, Scintilla, and Catalytics.

• Strong results orientation and accountability
• Ability to learn quickly and adapt in a dynamic environment
• Receptiveness to feedback and coaching; willingness to continuously improve
• Innovative problem‑solving mindset
• Strong relationship‑building and networking skills
• High attention to detail and execution excellence
• Personal ownership of outcomes
• Cross‑functional collaboration and a team‑oriented approach

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 3+ years of experience in Sales, Category Management, or Supply Chain
• Proven ability to leverage shopper insights to develop strategies that drive category and/or brand growth
• Demonstrated strength in networking, analytical thinking, and reporting development
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• High attention to detail
• Effective written and verbal communication
• Self‑starter with a track record of building strong relationships
• Structured storytelling and presentation development skills

• Experience with Space Planning tools
• Familiarity with Scintilla, syndicated data, household panel data, demographic data, and shopper research
• Experience using advanced data and analytics platforms
• Demonstrated project management and leadership capabilities
• Cross‑functional collaboration
• Strong prioritization and time management skills
• Active listening and adaptability
• Ability to work effectively across diverse perspectives and teams

We believe our employees are our greatest asset and are committed to providing resources that help them succeed. The role offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, 401(k),…