Category Manager, Walgreens - Mars Wrigley

Job Description:

Category Manager, Walgreens - Mars Wrigley

Chicago, IL

The Category Manager is responsible for managing category leadership solutions for Walgreens for the Mars/Wrigley Confectionery businesses including Chocolate Candy, Non-Chocolate Candy, Gum, Mints, and Snacks. This role is expected to provide fact and insight based solutions that drive growth for category, Walgreens, 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 Walgreens that lead to marketplace actions. This role will work closely with internal and external partners.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelors Degree, or equivalent work experience
• 3-5 years of experience in Sales or Category Management
• 1 year of business analytics experience
• Experience in CPG and/or retail
• Experience working with syndicated data software (i.e., IRI or Nielsen)
• Experience working in Assortment Planning or Space Management Software (i.e. Apollo, Intercept, etc)

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Create and plan category leadership solutions that deliver profitable sales growth for Walgreens. These solutions should include shopper and category insights across: products/ assortment (everyday/ new products/ promoted), placement and everyday shelving and merchandising, pricing & Promotions.
• Influence the customer by identifying specific opportunities, assist with any research and lead project to deliver category leadership solutions benefitting both Walgreens and category
• Influence Annual Account Business Planning at Walgreens, through full partnering with sales team, by providing actionable category insights and solutions that support category leadership objectives for customer, company and category
• Identify specific research opportunities (shopper, consumer, etc.) to bring new learning to category leadership solutions
• Execute all agreed to category leadership solutions with Walgreens to include success measures and detailed follow through
• Evaluate/ monitor all customer category leadership solutions, turn analysis into recommended action and continually improve to be more effective and efficient for category and Walgreens.
• Leverage insights and resources through the utilization of a broad range of data sources, market research findings, tools, analyses, and technology to continually bring new shopper ideas to Walgreens and Mars/Wrigley; incorporate in all category solutions for Walgreens.

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.
• This role includes a company car.

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.