The Manager, Category Development is responsible for providing strategic insights and recommendations based on detailed analysis of market trends, consumer behavior, competitive landscapes, and sales data. Based in our Chicago office (hybrid), Manager, Category Development plays a crucial role in driving strategic decision-making and supporting the growth and profitability of the company's brands and products.

Accountabilities & Impact:

• Market trend analysis/Data needs: Analyzing market trends to identify emerging segments, consumer preferences, and shifts in the market. Makes recommendations for growth.
• Storytelling: Turn insights & analysis into meaningful, impactful stories for retail partners bringing the opportunity to life by integrating multiple datasets.
• Category deep dives: Analyzing all available data to evaluate brand positioning of new products.
• Data Management & Analytics: Utilizing various data sources, including retail sales data, consumer research, and market analysis to generate actionable insights. To be able to interpret complex data sets and translating them into clear, strategic recommendations for the business.
• Competitive/Predictive Analysis: Monitoring and analyzing competitors' strategies, market positioning, trends, and sales performance.
• Category Management: Developing strategies for category management including product assortment and pricing strategies.
• Leadership: Hire, cultivate and retain top talent.
• Cross-functional projects: Lead cross-functional work.

Skills & Experiences Needed:

• Preferably 5-10 years of proven category insights experience in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry, leveraging syndicated scan & household panel data platforms (Circana, Numerator)
• Strong technical skills in Microsoft Excel (Pivot Tables, Vlookups, formulas) and other 3 rd party software (QlikView)
• Strong data visualization skills in PowerPoint.
• Strong presentation/communication skills (internally & externally)
• Ability to effectively manage associates (motivate, coach, get the most from their talents, and help them along in their career path.

At Mark Anthony, we live by our 5 Core Values every day:

Sense of Urgency

• We value sense of urgency because we are a fast-paced company in a fast-paced industry
• You act as if there is no tomorrow and get it done today

Authenticity

• We value authenticity because we need to stay real
• You are authentic, diplomatic, respectful, thoughtful and you always have the best intentions

Simplicity

• We value simplicity; why use 50 words when you can use 5?
• You thrive in ambiguity, are comfortable with change and bring simplicity to complex situations or grey area

Humility

• We value humility; there is no room for egos here
• You're not stubborn, you listen, take feedback/direction and respond quickly to changing direction. We are a team that supports each other

Trust

• We value trust because unless we are both trusted and trusting, we will not succeed as a team
• You put trust in others and do your best to never let anyone down