Space Planning & Insights Manager

Sazerac Company • Minneapolis, MN

3d • $108,475 - $162,713

About The Position

As a Space Planning Manager, you will act as a pivotal link between data and the shelf, developing strategies that enhance category performance within the alcohol industry. This role goes beyond planogramming alone; it leverages deep shopper insights and analytical tools to consult on product placement and support key retailer initiatives. Success requires a blend of technical precision and the ability to partner cross-functionally to ensure optimal shelf execution and measurable results.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Analytics, or related field.
• 5–7 years of relevant experience in space management, space planning, category management, merchandising, or retail analytics.
• 2+ years in consumer-packaged goods, beverage alcohol, or retail industry experience
• Experience leading projects and influencing cross-functional stakeholders.
• Advanced knowledge of space planning tools such as JDA/Blue Yonder, Shelf IQ, or similar platforms.
• Experience with Circana, NielsenIQ, and other syndicated data sources.
• Strong Excel and Power BI, Tableau, or similar analytical skills.
• Strong project management, communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
• Ability to translate data into actionable customer and merchandising recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.
• Valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

• Alcohol Beverage or broader CPG experience.
• Experience with Grocery, Mass, Liquor, or similar retail channels (Kroger, Albertsons, Walmart, Target, Total Wine & More, etc.)
• Experience leading category captaincies or strategic retailer partnerships.
• 2+ years of people management experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of space planning analysts, setting priorities and developing capabilities.
• Lead space management initiatives across National Large Format and Control State retailers.
• Lead category captaincies and strategic customer engagements, developing merchandising strategies aligned to retailer and Sazerac priorities.
• Build trusted relationships with retail partners and internal stakeholders to influence decisions through fact-based recommendations.
• Translate shopper insights, syndicated data, and category strategies into actionable shelf and merchandising recommendations.
• Develop strategies that optimize assortment, share of shelf, adjacencies, shopper flow, and space productivity.
• Evaluate planogram effectiveness to identify opportunities for optimizing share of shelf, product adjacencies, and shopper flow.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in space planning, merchandising, and shelf strategy.
• Lead planogram development, optimization, and reset projects from strategy through execution.
• Drive planogram reset projects by managing timelines, coordinating resources, and aligning cross-functional teams for successful execution.
• Oversee data integrity, planogram libraries, imagery, and compliance with customer and category guidelines.
• Establish best practices and improve processes, tools, and capabilities to increase efficiency and scalability.
• Partner with the Category Leadership Team in executing space management initiatives to deliver best-in-class planograms for retail and wholesale partners.
• Deliver persuasive reporting and presentations to both internal and external stakeholders, providing high-level communication and professional service.
• Partner cross-functionally to lead retailer discussions with fact-based shelving recommendations, professional visuals, and category insights.
• Clearly articulate insights to identify opportunities and provide recommendations, evaluating how shelving strategies drive measurable results for strategic accounts.

Benefits

• Competitive Pay
• Comprehensive Benefits from Day One including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Family Coverage: Options to cover family members, including domestic partners.
• 401(k) Plan: Immediate access to a matching 401(k) plan.
• Flexible Time Away: Enjoy paid time off (PTO), holidays, and parental leave.
• Mental Health and Wellness: Access to mental health care and wellness incentive programs.
• Educational Support: Benefit from tuition reimbursement and our scholarship program for dependents of Sazerac team members.
• Fun Extras: Enjoy branded apparel, fun events, and a team member bottle purchase program.
• Training and Development: Opportunities for professional growth and development.

What This Job Offers

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