Category Manager - This role blends deep category analytics, trade optimization, and retail strategy with storytelling that drives better decisions internally and with key partners. You will transform complex datasets syndicated data (SPINS, Nielsen, IRI), retailer portals (e. G., 84. 51°), distributor reporting, and internal systems into actionable insights that meaningfully improve velocity, trade efficiency, pricing, and distribution performance. This person is the strategic partner to Sales, Marketing, Ops, Finance, and Leadership. Strategic Importance- As we scale nationally and deepen relationships with major retailers and distributors (UNFI, KeHE, C&S, Dot), this role is critical to commercial success by:- Elevating category insights as a competitive advantage- Strengthening sales pitches with data-backed stories that win distribution- Increasing promo ROI through rigorous trade and lift analysis- Driving cross-functional alignment on strategy via clear analytics narratives- This role is not just about dashboards its about impact and influence across the business. Key Responsibilities- Syndicated Data Retailer Insights- Own analysis of SPINS, Nielsen/IRI and retailer portal data to understand:- Category growth drivers- Competitor dynamics- Velocity and share trends- Translate data into retailer-specific insights for buyers and commercial teams. Promotion & Trade Effectiveness- Measure incremental lift, promo effectiveness, and trade ROI. - Partner with Sales and Finance to improve TPM discipline, promotional forecasting and post mortems. - Create frameworks to compare promo results vs. baseline and forecast. Assortment, Pricing, and Space Strategy- Recommend SKU rationalization, pricing strategies, and assortment optimization. - Partner with Sales/Category buyers on planogram space recommendations. Distributor & Retail Performance TrackingTrack performance across key channels and distributors (UNFI, KeHE, C&S, Dot), including:- Fill rates- Retail sell-through- Inventory health and void riskProvide early-warning signals and corrective action recommendations. Forecasting & Demand Planning Support- Improve forecast accuracy and alignment with Supply Chain and Finance. - Provide insights that enhance S&OP and promotional planning. Cross-Functional Analytics & ReportingBuild and maintain executive-ready dashboards in Power BI / Tableau. Provide cadence reporting (weekly, monthly, quarterly) tailored to:- Sales- Marketing- Finance- OperationsExecutive Storytelling & Data Communication- Translate analytics into structured business narratives that inform strategy and execution. - Support pitch materials, competitive heatmaps, and retailer presentations. Required Experience & SkillsExperience- 38 years in CPG analytics, category management, revenue management, or related retail strategy roles. Proven track record with:- Syndicated data platforms (SPINS, Nielsen/IRI)- Retailer portals (84. 51°, Luminate)- Commercial analytics in a growth CPG environmentTechnical Skills- Advanced Excel (modeling, pivot tables, data transformations)- Power BI / Tableau dashboard creation- Familiarity with trade spend economics, TPM, and promotional lift frameworksCapabilities- Strong analytical rigor and ability to build structured insights- Excellent communication and executive presence- Storytelling that transforms data into selling narrativesPreferred Experience- Experience in frozen or high-velocity CPG categories- Prior work with national retailers and major distributors- Startup or high-growth CPG environment