Manager, Category Management
About The Position
The Manager, Category Management drives the growth and performance of an assigned menu category, such as Beverage, Bakery, or Salads. The role serves as the primary owner for one category and assists in developing strategies to improve guest relevance, transactions, profitability, and growth. It identifies opportunities to improve category performance and strengthen Panera’s competitive position, partnering closely with Culinary, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Consumer Insights, Finance, Digital, and Data & Analytics to translate strategy into business results. The position is based in Newton, Massachusetts, and requires in-office presence three days per week. Beginning in July 2027, the position will transition to four in-office days per week, Monday through Thursday, in Weston, Massachusetts. Travel is required as needed, and the role follows Panera’s established hybrid work expectations.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 3–5 years of experience in marketing strategy, product innovation, campaign management, and cross-functional team collaboration.
- Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Analytical mindset with ability to interpret data and make data-driven decisions.
- Creative thinking and passion for innovation and continuous improvement.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in restaurant, retail, and/or consumer goods industries.
Responsibilities
- Define the vision, priorities, and innovation for the assigned category.
- Own the profitability and performance of the assigned category, ensuring it contributes to enterprise growth and objectives.
- Monitor and drive category sales and transaction performance using data-driven insights.
- Assist in building business cases and growth plans that support enterprise objectives.
- Contribute to a three-year innovation pipeline and identify white-space, category expansion, and business growth opportunities by analyzing market trends and consumer needs.
- Support pricing and promotional recommendations with Finance to balance guest value and profitability.
- Translate guest, competitive, and market insights into actionable category strategies and growth opportunities.
- Collaborate with Culinary, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Consumer Insights, Finance, Digital, and Data & Analytics.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
