Senior Director, Category Management & Product Development – Own Brands

Albertsons • Pleasanton, CA

2d

About The Position

Prior to applying it is required that you inform your manager of your desire to apply for a new position. Why choose us? Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Join us for an exciting opportunity at Albertsons Companies, where innovation and customer service go hand-in-hand! At Albertsons Companies, we are looking for someone who’s not just seeking a job, but someone who wants to make an impact. In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to lead, innovate, and contribute to the growth of a company that values great service and lasting customer relationships. This position offers the chance to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment that’s constantly evolving. Main responsibilities: The Senior Director of Category Management & Product Development for Own Brands is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving category growth and margin improvement by setting the strategic direction for category performance including assortment, product quality, innovation, pricing and promotion aligned to the overall business goals. They lead cross-functional teams comprised of category management, product development, strategic sourcing, and commercialization — ensuring Own Brands deliver on customer needs, competitive differentiation, and enterprise financial goals.

Requirements

• 12+ years progressive experience in category management, merchandising, product development, or buying—preferably in grocery, CPG, or retail.
• 5+ years direct people leadership, including managing managers.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including P&L ownership.
• Experience partnering with QA, regulatory, sourcing, brand, and supply chain.
• Ability to lead change and influence across a matrixed organization.
• Data-driven decision-maker with strong strategic insight.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and executive presentation skills.

Nice To Haves

• Proven success scaling own brands / private label programs strongly preferred.
• Deep understanding of grocery retail categories and shopper behavior.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive, long-term category strategies that align with the retailer's overall business objectives, market trends, and consumer insights.
• Manage the end-to-end profit and loss (P&L) for assigned categories, encompassing cost, revenue and margin performance.
• Ensure Own Brand strategies align with corporate goals across loyalty, penetration, sales, and margin.
• Analyze market and consumer data to determine the optimal private label product mix, identifying gaps and opportunities for new product development and premiumization.
• Identify customer and market opportunities to develop product concepts and launch new "Own Brand" items, overseeing the product lifecycle from ideation to exit strategies for underperforming items.
• Ensure all private label products meet high quality, safety, and regulatory standards, working closely with quality assurance and legal teams to mitigate risk.
• Manage the entire product development process from concept and R&D through testing, packaging design, commercialization, and scale-up… overseeing product formulation, packaging, naming, claims, certifications, and positioning.
• Establish and enforce quality assurance protocols and product standards, ensuring all items comply with relevant food safety, regulatory, and ethical sourcing standards (e.g., Organic, Fair Trade, etc.).
• Foster a culture of creativity and innovation, leading the development of new product formulations and recipes that meet nutritional and culinary standards and resonate with customer needs.
• Lead packaging refreshes, design improvements, and brand tier consistency aligned with our sustainability agenda
• Support negotiations with suppliers and manufacturers to secure favorable terms, including pricing, quality standards, and reliable supply, while building strong, strategic relationships.
• Collaborate with sourcing, procurement, and logistics to ensure cost-effective operations, optimal inventory levels, and business continuity.
• Utilize deep data analytics, syndicated data (e.g., Nielsen, Circana), and consumer insights to drive decision-making and identify growth opportunities.
• Serve as a primary liaison, collaborating with national and division teams to ensure cohesive strategy execution across all channels (in-store and e-commerce).
• Provide regular, high-level reports and presentations to senior management on category performance, market dynamics, and strategic recommendations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of category managers and analysts, fostering a culture of accountability and innovation.
• Champion initiatives to embed data-driven decision-making and best practices across the organization.

Benefits

• Competitive wages paid weekly
• Associate discounts
• Health and financial well-being benefits for eligible associates (Medical, Dental, 401k and more!)
• Time off (vacation, holidays, sick pay).
• Leaders invested in your training, career growth and development
• An inclusive work environment with talented colleagues who reflect the communities we serve

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed