Category Manager

McCain Foods•Oakbrook Terrace, IL

14d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Category Manager, you'll serve as the analytical engine and trusted category expert behind McCain's U.S. Retail business. Reporting to the Senior Category Manager, you'll partner directly with key Tier 1 and Tier 2 retail customers, delivering category insights and recommendations that drive growth for both our customers and McCain. In this highly visible role, you'll lead category reviews, influence assortment and shelving decisions, manage planogram execution, and help shape broader category strategies that inform innovation, commercialization, and portfolio management. You'll connect data, consumer insights, and market trends to create compelling selling stories and business solutions that strengthen McCain's position in the marketplace. This is a hybrid role based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.
3-5 years of progressive experience within Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), including category management, sales, marketing, or business management.
1-2 years of customer-facing experience supporting U.S. retail customers, ideally within Tier 1 or Tier 2 accounts.
Strong analytical capabilities with experience supporting assortment, portfolio, consumer, and innovation decisions.
Proven ability to work independently while influencing cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.
Experience using syndicated data sources such as Circana (IRI) or NielsenIQ.
Familiarity with retailer databases and tools such as Walmart Scintilla and/or Kroger 84.51°.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
Willingness to travel approximately 25% domestically.
Ability to participate in product tastings that may include wheat, soy, dairy, and meat proteins.
Current, unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Experience within the food manufacturing or food retail industry.
Category management experience supporting multiple product categories in a CPG environment.
Experience with planogram and space management tools such as JDA or Nexgen.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed organization.

Responsibilities

Build trusted partnerships with key retail customers and establish yourself as a category thought leader.
Lead quarterly category reviews, translating syndicated, shopper, and retailer data into actionable recommendations.
Develop and present assortment, shelving, merchandising, and promotional strategies tailored to customer needs.
Own planogram development, optimization, and execution for assigned retail accounts.
Identify category growth opportunities and unmet consumer needs, providing input into innovation and product development.
Support portfolio management initiatives, including SKU optimization, product renovations, and discontinuation strategies.
Create persuasive category and retailer-focused selling stories that support new product launches and business growth.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, R&D, Culinary, and Innovation teams.
Contribute to annual operating plans, joint business planning processes, and pricing strategy development.