SPECIALIST CATEGORY MANAGEMENT

Job DetailsJob Location: St Louis, MO 63114Summary: Specialist, Category Management serves as a category expert across multiple consumer packaged goods categories, supporting business growth through category insights, portfolio management, innovation development, and customer-facing recommendations. This role leverages syndicated data, consumer research, market trends, and competitive intelligence to identify opportunities, develop compelling selling stories, and support strategic decision-making. The position offers broad exposure to Sales, Marketing, R&D, Regulatory, Finance, and Operations, providing a strong development path toward future leadership roles within Category Management. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Market & Competitive Analysis · Utilize syndicated data, market research, category insights, and market analysis to develop and update Sales Materials and support New Product Development · Launch new consumer market research surveys to support and inform category insights · Utilize Data Tools and Insights to become a Category Expert   Portfolio Management · Support category sales, margin, and profitability objectives through portfolio analysis, SKU optimization recommendations, and innovation planning. · Leverage Cross-Functional Teams to create selling slides for project approval meetings · Manage Customer Correspondence Letters for any new portfolio enhancements · Help keep category portfolio up-to-date based on market audits, product life cycle, syndicated data, consumer trends and online research · Support product conversions, reformulations, packaging updates, and assortment optimization initiatives. · Maintain category portfolio documentation, competitive tracking tools, and innovation pipelines. · Assist with Stage Gate and new product approval processes.   New Product Development · Utilize research tools and consumer trends to develop Category Insights to inform short-term and Long-Term new product pipeline opportunities · Manage new product label claim development with Cross-Functional Teams · Help prepare Customer Presentations and make category assortment recommendations · Evaluate emerging consumer trends and whitespace opportunities to support innovation strategy. · Develop consumer-focused product claims and product concepts in collaboration with cross-functional teams. · Support customer category presentations, conversion activities, and new item launches. · Partner with R&D, Packaging Development and Sales teams to bring new products to market. QualificationsSupervisory Responsibilities: n/a   Education Requirements: Bachelor’s degree required in Business, Marketing or Communications   Experience Requirements: 0-4 years of experience in Category Management, Marketing, Consumer Insights, Product Development, Business Analytics, Sales Support, or related Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) experience. Internship experience in CPG, retail analytics, market research, or category management is highly valued.   Competencies: · Strong business acumen, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify opportunities from data and market insights. · Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. · Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams. · Strong communication, presentation, and data storytelling skills with the ability to translate insights into actionable recommendations for internal teams and customers. · Self-starter with the ability to work independently and proactively drive projects. · Intellectual curiosity and passion for uncovering consumer, shopper, and market insights. · Ability to utilize quantitative, qualitative, and syndicated research tools to identify consumer trends and category opportunities.   Technical Skills: · Skilled at Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, PowerPoint and Excel · Experience with syndicated data platforms (Circana, NielsenIQ, SPINS, Numerator, etc.) preferred · Experience with Tableau, Power BI, or similar visualization tools preferred · Advanced Excel skills preferred (Pivot Tables, data analysis, reporting)   Deliverables: · Monthly category performance reports and competitive updates · Customer-specific selling presentations and assortment recommendations · Innovation concept summaries and new product opportunity assessments · Consumer research survey development, analysis, and reporting · Market audits, product benchmarking, and competitive intelligence updates · Category review presentations and SKU optimization recommendations · Weekly project support presentations and support materials for internal meetings · Product claims documentation and commercialization support materials · Ongoing assortment, pricing, and category trend analyses   Goals: · Develop expertise across assigned product categories and become a trusted internal resource for category trends and insights. · Identify opportunities for portfolio optimization, innovation, and business growth through data-driven analysis. · Contribute to the development and commercialization of new product opportunities. · Support customer presentations with compelling category insights, trends and recommendations. · Demonstrate strong project management skills by effectively managing multiple priorities and deadlines. · Build collaborative relationships across Sales, R&D, Regulatory, Project Management, Sourcing, and Graphics teams. · Continuously expand knowledge of consumer behavior, retailer strategies, and market trends.   Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: None   Travel: n/a   Work Environment: This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.