Director Category Management

Jack Link's Protein Snacks • Minneapolis, MN

2d • $175,000 - $190,000

About The Position

The Director of Category Management will transform category management into a strategic growth engine for the organization and its customers. The role owns the development and delivery of category insights, shelving strategies, and customer engagement models that support mutually beneficial growth. The Director will use data, shopper insights, and category expertise to influence decisions, strengthen customer partnerships, and secure Category Captain, Advisor, or Validator roles across key accounts. The role combines analytical rigor, persuasive storytelling, and cross-functional leadership, and includes building and leading a high-performing team of Category Managers and Analysts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Marketing, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in CPG Analytics, Category Management, Shopper Insights, or Sales.
• 5+ years of experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Proven experience serving as a Category Captain, Advisor, or Validator with key customers.
• Deep expertise in syndicated data (Nielsen/IRI), space management tools (e.g., ProSpace), and customer data platforms (e.g., Scintilla, 84.51).
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills, with the ability to translate data into insights and actions.
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functionally and externally without direct authority.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree (MBA or related field).
• Experience in snacks, meat snacks, beverages, or other high-velocity CPG categories.

Responsibilities

• Own and expand Category Captain, Advisor, and Validator roles across priority customers, positioning the company as a trusted category authority.
• Develop customer-specific category strategies grounded in shopper, consumer, and market insights.
• Lead joint business planning inputs through category perspectives that shape assortment, shelving, pricing, and promotion decisions.
• Establish governance and best practices for customer engagement to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery.
• Partner with Sales to identify opportunities to deepen influence and unlock incremental category growth.
• Define and institutionalize Gold Standard planogram principles that balance shopper needs, category growth, and brand performance.
• Lead development and deployment of data-driven shelving solutions using space management tools.
• Ensure planograms are insight-led, customer-relevant, and aligned with strategic growth priorities.
• Drive continuous improvement through test-and-learn approaches and post-implementation performance tracking.
• Partner with Sales and customers to ensure execution compliance and maximize in-store impact.
• Serve as the voice of the category internally and externally, translating data into actionable, forward-looking insights.
• Develop insight-led narratives that influence customer decisions and strengthen credibility.
• Identify emerging category, consumer, and shopper trends to shape strategic recommendations.
• Elevate category management capabilities through tools, frameworks, and best practices.
• Represent the company in key customer meetings, industry forums, and strategic discussions as a category expert.
• Lead the synthesis of syndicated, shopper, and customer data into actionable insights.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, RGM, and Insights to align on category strategies and priorities.
• Build scalable reporting and analytics frameworks to improve speed, consistency, and impact.
• Ensure insights translate into measurable actions that drive category and business performance.
• Develop team capabilities in advanced analytics, storytelling, and business acumen.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

• Annual incentive and program-specific awards may be included in the Total Rewards package.
• Medical benefits.
• Dental benefits.
• Vision benefits.
• Life insurance.
• Disability insurance.
• 401(k) participation.
• Paid holidays.
• Paid time off.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director