Category Manager

Advantage Sales and Marketing LLC (ASM) is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. ASM services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Job Responsibilities

The Category Manager supports client’s shopper insights managers who are leading custom market research projects, working to synthesize insights and establishing compelling means of disseminating findings to relevant teams throughout the Client’s organization.

The Category Manager does Ad-hoc data pulls and queries from Client’s proprietary syndicated data tracking tool---to inform category stories and strategies at customers, monitor shopper responses to customer tactics, answer customer specific questions, track the success of innovation launches, fill Nielsen data gaps to broaden understanding of the retail landscape. They will development “Basic Training” reports as directed by each Client manager (e.g. succinct decks to inform the organization on relevant topics of broad interest such as shopper groups, retailer activity, etc.)

The Category Manager will work with other relevant data bases, as appropriate ---shopper loyalty card data, syndicated data, specialized data bases (e.g. Amazon data base for online position)

Education

BA/BS degree in Marketing/Social Sciences.

Advanced degree preferred but not required.

Experience

Minimum of 2+ years of increasing market research experience with a proficiency in project management.

Technical experience with consumer panels and/or shopper loyalty card data bases is beneficial.

Prior experience with “retailer” orientation and/or field sales team a strong plus.

Demonstrated success at project management and ability to work independently.

Required Skills

Superior knowledge and application of software packages such as PowerPoint and Excel.

Strong written communications and compelling presentation skills.

Demonstrated ability to ask insight-minded questions, self-motivate and work independently.

Advantage Sales & Marketing, LLC is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer