Category Leadership Manager

As the world leader in nutrition, health and wellness for children from birth to preschool, Gerber Products Company is committed to creating a strong future. We joined the Nestle Nutrition family in 2007, and have been a partner in parenthood ever since. Our Anything for Baby team works closely with experts to create products that enrich and establish healthy habits for children, and are good for the planet as well. A career at Gerber provides meaningful opportunities to develop professionally, and nurture generations to come. Now is the time to define your future, and ours too.

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The Manager, Category Management role both assists in the development of the category strategy, as well as steers and supports the activation of the customer category plan.

This is accomplished through supportingand consultingwith theCommericalDevelopment or Market Development Organization Director, Category Leadership in the development of rolling 3-year Category Growth Solutions and the CDMs in the development of the Commercial Action Plans by providing insights and analysis. Develops and delivers key insights from retailer, market and consumer information that are linked to clear results/actions. As well assupporting and consulting with the Category Account Managers and/or Customer and Division Category Management in the development of Customer Category plans for one or more categories.

Category Strategy: Product / Brand Category Objectives

• Supports and consults with the Commercial Development or Market Development Organization Director in the development of rolling 3-year Category Roadmaps and the CDMs in the development of the CAPs

• Activates Category Growth Solutions and uses them in the development and activation of channel-specific Category Business Plans (with a category first approach) to 4P objectives

• Supports and/or develops 4Ps strategic direction based on category strategy, best practices from customers/account teams and quantitative feedback from Hub & Consumer and Marketplace Intelligence

• Work with Commercial Development or Market Development Organization Director & CDMs to generate planograms to support Customer Category initiatives

• Responsible for creation and publication of Gold Standard Planogram for category of ownership (Named Division CM resources only)

• Interface with Acosta POG services team to request and manage development of customer/account specific planograms, as defined by new ways of working

• Define Customer Category Structure and Roles

• Define Customer Category Strategy & Tactics

• Develop Implementation Calendar, including coordination with CAM to ensure alignment to the customer's Category Business Plan

Customer Strategy: Sales Performance Targets, Meeting Sales Goals, Segmentation / Resource Allocation,Improve Maintain Customer Specific Relationship score (i.e. Advantage, Kanter, Customer Specific)

• Partner and consult with the CAM's and CD in the development of Customer Category plans for one or more categories. Acts as a conduit to align key stakeholders, including, local team, and other functions. Activates category strategies by leveraging the tools, insights, and analytics from CD, Data and Reporting Team, and retailer-specific data as required for specific customers.

• Applies a strong focus on category assortment and merchandising to drive category growth. Proactively uncovers and develops key insights in partnership with CAM's to drive growth opportunities for the retailer through the use of market and consumer information that are linked to clear results/actions.

• Develops and delivers succinct, concise, and compelling presentations that can be further tailored by customer teams that clearly communicate opportunities and issues, and offers key findings and implications (the "so what") across the 4Ps, linking to the roadmap where appropriate; Includes ad-hoc projects, annual and midyear category reviews, and monthly scorecarding for account team and retailer

• Coordinate interfacing with the customer to present the Category Summary, with the objective of establishing Nestle's Category centricity and expertise

• For Field Category Managers Only - Responsible for the creation and maintenance of the retailer 101

Win at Retail: Improving Execution

• Develop the key merchandising strategy and translates that into a gold standard planogram working with appointed category manager in the field or division counterpart

• Monitor plan execution and Category Scorecard results

• Oversee accurate execution of customer/account/store level planograms in accordance with category strategy

• Collect and provide customer feedback to Division CM to inform improvement in planogram development and execution

• Understand, educate, and deliver on Category First strategy

• Work with Retail Salesto gain a true understanding and perspective for retail shelf shelf and understand in store environment (i.e. OOS, promotions, seasonal merch opportunities)

Develop Valued Capabilities: Improving selling capabilities and adding customer value through improved analytics and insights, and continuous improvement

• Develops and delivers key channel analysis, information and insights that are linked to clear actions and results.

• Leverage Nestleglobal and local market strategy, trends, insights, and market drivers to bring innovative solutions and growth opportunities to the customer

• Collaborate effectively across NestleSalesto share winning ideas and insights to continually improve Nestle internal capabilities and Nestlecompetitive advantage

• Accelerate Retailer specific advanced analytic initiatives through partnership and expertise

• Improve efficiency and insights through automation of category management tools

• Provide input to the strategic category planning process through delivery of insights to internal team and customer

Integrated Approach: Develop concise, deliberate, fact-based narratives incorporating past, current, and future performance shopper trends and metrics with Qualitative Consumer Behavioral Data

• Leverage Data Analyticsand Consumer and Marketplace Intelligenceto gather Shopper Insights & Trends, Account Performance, Market Trends, and Competitive Performance analysis by Category

• Work with Consumer and Marketplace Intelligence/Hub to pull reports to identify shopper buying habits and trends related to the category

• Leverage Shopper Metrics Reporting and Category Growth Solutions process to determine customer specific actions

• Leverage Customer/Store level analytics and Hub recommendations andinsights

• Continual interaction and work with theData & Reporting Teamfor standardized reports, insights on the business, and category growth driving opportunities.

Qualifications:

• Typically has a University Degree (BA/BS) or equivalent experience and minimum 7 years related work experience.

• Advanced Skills in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. Database management understanding a plus

• Working understanding of the Plan-O-Gram creation process. This includes experience within JDA Prospace or its program equivalents. Ability to create new POG's from scratch or alter existing POG's based on current and future market trends to best position Nestle and our retail partners to win in the future.

• Knowledge of interrelationship of key functions and their key initiatives (Sales, Marketing, CMI, Finance, HR, Supply Chain, Technical and Globe & IS/IT)

• Demonstrated knowledge of business driving technology solutions (i.e. IRi, Numerator, and Sharpr) and internal/external industry insights and trends

• Knowledge of core Business Processes and Fundamentals (Sales/Distribution, Customer Planning and Managing, Financial Reporting, Training, HR Policies, Integrated Commercial Planning, Nestle Management and Leadership Principles)

• Understanding of the CAP guidelines and Category Roadmaps

• Knowledge of available tools: Business Process Maps, Nielsen Answers, Consumer Panel Data (Spectra)and Nielsen

• Knowledge of Operating Models For Key Classes of Trade: Examples: Grocery/Drug (High/Low), C Store (High), Mass (Predominantly EDLP with some High/Low), Club (EDLP)

• Understanding Consumer Packaged Goods Companies Strategies Versus Private Label

• Knowledge of New "Develop Category Growth" Model that Identifies Category Opportunity Gaps with Key Retailers

• Good knowledge of internal relationships: Customer Development Manager, Customer Account Manager, Commercial Development Manager, Broker Manager, IRi In-House Team, Shopper Marketing and Customer.

• Understand the Differences that Make Up Grocery, Drug, C Store, Mass, Club and Dollar Classes of Trade

• Business strategy experience (Field CAM, Marketing Associate) creating and presenting compelling growth solutions at national, channel, and customer levels.

• Expectation is to move through several manager level roles to strengthen business experienceto gain an understanding of sales at store level and Nestleportfolio

• Analyst or Manager on an account team or with data partner (IRI/Nielsen) with strong analytical and business acumen to use data and insights to build a strong sales story and understand the customer

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