Senior Manager, Commercial and Category Insights

Gaia Herbs•Mills River, NC

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Commercial and Category Insights bridges data and strategy, serving as the key driver of category performance across Retail and eCommerce through deep market analysis and consumer insights. This role leverages syndicated data, competitive intelligence, retailer and channel-specific analytics, and shopper insights to create compelling category stories, customer-ready selling tools, and assortment strategies that support distribution growth, improved shelf placement, and increased velocity. Acting as a strategic partner, you will collaborate closely with merchandising, marketing, sales, and supply chain teams to embed shopper analytics at the core of commercial decision-making and execution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business or related field OR
8+ years of consumer-packaged goods experience working across category, customer, and shopper insights with 1-3 years supervisory experience.
Advanced knowledge and analysis of consumer-packaged goods (CPG) data inclusive of Nielsen, SPINS, Stackline
Advanced skills using Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Power BI
Broad experience across Natural Channel, Mass, and eCommerce channels
Ability to conduct and interpret shopper/category insights via exceptional storytelling.
Proven experience working in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
Persuasive and effective communicator both verbal and written across all levels, including executive leadership.
Excellent internal customer service skills and ability to lead cross-functional teams.
Demonstrated creative, strategic, and highly organized thinking.
Ability to proactively identify potential issues and develop solutions.
Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to synthesize findings into actionable processes.
Bias for action with a history of influencing and aligning business stakeholders.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver projects within defined timelines.
Exceptional attention to detail, customer focus, and quality while managing concurrent projects.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in VMHS preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute strategic plans for the assigned product category to drive profitable growth and market share.
Analyze market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive activities to identify merchandising and assortment opportunities and gaps.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams (marketing, sales, product development) to provide category and consumer insights related to innovation, services, and initiatives.
Lead channel-specific assortment strategies across Retail and Amazon/ defining SKU roles and pricing ladders by channel to maximize incremental growth while minimizing cannibalization and channel conflict.
Lead and develop the insights team, setting the research agenda and quality standards; partner cross functionally to translate findings into commercially actionable strategies.
Act as partner to sales in preparation and delivery of data driven selling stories ensuring insights are practical, persuasive and clearly tied to customer objectives, supporting sales initiatives through profitable growth opportunities.
Maintain and create robust suite of category management tools and processes to ensure seamless execution.
Monitor category and brand performance across Retail and Amazon/eCommerce using KPIs such as distribution, velocity, share, conversion, and digital shelf metrics; identify opportunities and recommend corrective actions to drive sales growth.
Continuously monitor market, consumer, and technology trends, advising senior leadership with strategic guidance that shapes long term commercial direction.
Distill emerging trends and competitive shifts, advising senior leadership on RGM opportunities including pricing, promo efficiency, pack strategy, and channel mix to maximize category performance.