Sr. Director Space & Category Assortment

Red Bull•Santa Monica, CA

About The Position

Category Space & Assortment is a strategic and tactical function within the broader Insights & Category Development team, serving stakeholders both inside and outside the organization. Externally, the CS&A team represents over 20 retailer category captaincies, where retailers rely on Red Bull to design and execute their core placement flow, space allocation, and assortment strategies. Internally, the CS&A team uses the latest shopper and category insights to develop annual planogram standards, advise product marketing through advanced assortment analytics, and support global category space planning training initiatives.

Requirements

8–10 years of work experience in the CPG/FMCG or beverage industry; category management experience is preferred.
4+ years of experience in space planning, preferably within the CPG or beverage sector.
4+ years of experience in category management, preferably within the CPG or beverage sector.
Broad knowledge of CPG industry data sources and applications, vendors, and their tools and capabilities, including but not limited to syndicated sales data (IRI/Nielsen), JDA/Blue Yonder, SMSB, and Cantactix.
Ability to integrate disparate data sources, interpret analytical results, formulate recommendations, develop impactful presentations, and present effectively to diverse audiences.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proven track record of converting insights into actionable selling tactics.
Experience in managing and developing people.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Strong customer-service orientation.
Demonstrated ability to think using both analytical and creative approaches (“whole brain” thinking).

Responsibilities

Develop a Red Bull space-planning methodology and process to present to key retailers in order to secure category captaincy.
Implement the category captaincy plan for each retail partner.
Design a tailored roadmap for the evolution of the partnership in year two and beyond for each retail partner.
Collaborate with sales teams to identify, prioritize, and plan for the retailers best suited for Red Bull category captaincy.
Source and manage tactical vendors, including planogram software and productivity tools, product libraries, and planogram services (such as JDA/Blue Yonder, Cantactix, SMSB/Maxerience, and others).
Source and manage strategic vendors providing advanced analytics for non-alcoholic beverage assortment (e.g., Hivery).
Manage an annual budget of approximately $1 million.
Create annual Red Bull planogram standards, review them cross-functionally, and deliver them to the Sales and Distribution organization.
Develop and deliver training on Red Bull global category space-planning modules for use in international markets.
Select, develop, and continuously improve core suppliers for planogram creation and assortment analytics.
Anticipate business needs, identify partnership opportunities, and deliver cutting-edge space-planning solutions in collaboration with Shopper and Category Insights and the Category Development team.
Manage relationships with buying and merchandising leaders at key retail partners to promote Red Bull’s capabilities and influence decision-making in favor of the Energy Drinks category, and consequently Red Bull.
Negotiate and agree on planogram delivery timelines, planning the most efficient and effective allocation of resources for each project.
Build and nurture relationships with key internal stakeholders (such as Channel Leads, VPKA, DKA, etc.) as retailers are prioritized and category captaincy is proposed and secured.
Gather and synthesize key insights into compelling opportunities tailored to each audience: key retailer leadership, Red Bull category development managers, Red Bull sales and distribution, and Red Bull product marketing.
Coach and motivate direct reports to increase their productivity and sense of responsibility.
Develop globally relevant content for use across international markets.
Manage a team of future Category Space and Assortment leaders and provide coaching, covering everything from general CPG industry practices to Red Bull–specific resources, methods, and winning approaches.