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Chicago, Illinois, United States
Hybrid
Job Description:
Senior Category Manager, Category Intelligence (Seasonal & Front End)
Are you ready to shape the future of snacking? As the Senior Category Manager, Category Intelligence (Seasonal & Front End), you will be the driving force behind the Seasonal and Front End Category Strategy and thought leadership for Mars Snacking. In this highly visible role, you will blend strategic vision, analytical rigor, and compelling storytelling to influence key cross-functional partners and retail customers across the Mars Snacking ecosystem.
Working with some of the world's most iconic brands, you will lead and optimize category management strategies by directing collaborative projects with key retail partners. By translating deep shopper insights and market trends into cost-effective, demand-driving solutions, you will directly influence how millions of shoppers experience Mars products at the most critical decision points of their retail journey.
Bachelor's degree required (preferably in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, or a quantitative field); MBA or advanced degree is a plus
5–8 years of FMCG/consumer products experience with a strong background in category management and shopper insight expertise.
Proficiency with key data sources (such as Nielsen, IRI/Circana, Shopper Panel, and Numerator) to drive analytical rigor.
Proven ability to translate complex insights into impactful, actionable category, shopper, and customer solutions.
Strong strategic storytelling and influencing skills to develop compelling, insight‑led category selling stories and operationalize seasonal insights with retail partners and internal teams.
High learning agility and a collaborative mindset to partner closely with One Demand teams (Seasonal Marketing and Customer Marketing) to drive shared insights.
Ability to navigate ambiguity, challenge the status quo, and execute solutions in a fast‑moving environment.
Inspirational leadership style with a proven track record of driving business transformation and thought leadership.
Nice-to-Haves:
Experience in Sales, Customer Marketing, or specialized Shopper Insights.
Category Strategy Leadership: Serve as the key business partner for Seasonal and IC Brand teams, providing deep expertise on shelving, innovation, and category insights.
Learning Plan Research: Co-lead the shopper research learning agenda with Customer & Shopper Insights (CSI), transforming insights into actionable selling stories and activation platforms (VR studies, Purchase Decision Trees, etc.).
Insights to Activation: Develop insights-driven Seasonal and Front End growth principles (aisle flow, layout, blocking) to maximize shopper experience and category potential through retailer execution.
Thought Leadership: Shape the "now-next-future" vision for Seasonal and Front End strategy, delivering industry-leading ideas and establishing test & learn partnerships with key retailers.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Marketing, Customer Marketing, Human Intelligence, Shopper Insights, and Sales to provide category expertise to address both internal and external business opportunities.
Insight Translation: Analyze category, shopper, and channel trends to identify new growth opportunities and translate them into customer activation platforms.
Strategic Storytelling: Craft compelling narratives and visualizations (e.g., Most Common Planograms) to empower field teams and influence customer decisions.
Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles (Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, Freedom).
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 a company bonus.
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The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.
The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 134,400.00 - USD 184,800.00