SUMMARY
The Associate Category Manager is a highly collaborative role that supports and
influences cross-functional teams. This role develops and executes category
strategies and trade marketing plans that drive growth, enhance market share,
and maximize profitability. This position owns the narrative for customer
meetings and coaches the sales team, leveraging market trends, category
performance, and trade activities to optimize performance and strengthen our
position as a category leader.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be
assigned.
Category Management Leadership
Serves as a trusted partner to sales representatives, working to establish
our position as a category leader within Specialty Cheese.
Analyzes market trends, consumer insights, and the competitive landscape to
identify opportunities for category growth.
Builds and communicates selling narratives that align with overall business
objectives.
Develops relationships with our retail customer category management or
merchant teams.
Establishes, tracks, and communicates category performance metrics and
adjusts strategies as needed.
Synthesizes syndicated and proprietary data (IRI, Nielsen, Numerator, 84.51,
POS) to recommend assortment optimization, pricing architecture, and shelving
solutions that maximize total brand and category performance.
Trade Marketing Strategist
Supports the Director of Sales Strategy in the evaluation and optimization of
all trade promotions and recommends improvements.
Guides annual promotional planning process with the sales team.
Designs, tracks, and optimizes omnichannel trade initiatives that elevate
brand visibility and deliver positive ROI.
Analytic Expertise
Demonstrates expertise in various analysis tools and interprets sales data
into actionable strategies and tactics.
Builds dashboards and owns the delivery of insights related to brand,
category, shopper, and trade marketing.
Provides actionable insights to leadership based on data findings.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Collaborates with sales, marketing, supply chain, and finance teams to ensure
work connects to the overall company objectives.
Coordinates with external partners, including retailers and distributors, to
optimize product placement and promotions.
Builds an understanding of other departments, their roles, and their
processes to support the broader organization with ideas and fact-based
narratives.
AI and Innovation Advocate
Leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies to
transform how we approach category management and trade marketing, pushing
our organization forward—even into uncharted, potentially uncomfortable
areas.
Champions a growth mindset, continually seeking ways to integrate, measure,
and refine these new tools and approaches to drive sustainable growth and
efficiency for Sartori.
DIRECT REPORTS
This position is not responsible for leading team members.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each
essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative
of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may
be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
functions.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Business Analytics, Economics,
Finance, Food Marketing, or related field required. Master's Degree in
Business Administration (MBA) preferred.
Minimum 2 years’ experience in Category Management, Trade Marketing, or
similar role within the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Industry required.
Expert level in retail data analytics and visualization leveraging Scan,
Panel, and other data sources required.
Experience in presenting to internal and retail customer teams required.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
Information Seeker: Proactively gathers relevant information to inform
decisions.
Innovative: Applies original thinking to develop practical improvements.
Articulate: Communicates clearly and effectively in written and verbal
formats.
Customer Focused: Understands and responds effectively to stakeholder needs
Collaborative: Partners with others to realize better results.
Handles Ambiguity: Remains effective in unclear or changing conditions.
Problem Solver: Identifies root causes and recommends effective solutions.
Adaptable: Adjusts easily to new or changing circumstances.
Organized: Structures work and information in a logical, efficient, manner.
Results-driven: Focuses on achieving results that promote business success.
CERTIFICATIONS
None.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WORK LOCATION
This role is primarily remote, with onsite presence required at our Pleasant
View location in Plymouth, WI based on business needs. Remote work must be
performed within Wisconsin or another approved state in accordance with company
policy.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
Periodic Travel (up to 35%) – Regular travel to other Sartori facilities,
customer, or vendor sites.
Driving Requirement: This role requires a valid driver’s license, proof of
insurance, and reliable transportation for work-related travel.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met
by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to
perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the Team Member is regularly required
to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The Team Member
is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop,
kneel, crouch, or crawl. The Team Member must occasionally lift and/or move up
to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close
vision, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those
a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to
perform the essential functions.
This role is primarily performed in an office or administrative environment. The
work environment is generally quiet to moderate in noise level.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of
work being performed by Team Members assigned to this work. This is not an
exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Sartori Company reserves
the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational and
business needs as necessary.