Senior Manager, Category Leadership
Smucker Foods of Canada Corp. is a subsidiary of The J.M. Smucker Co. For more than 125 years, The J.M. Smucker Co. has been trusted to deliver quality food consumers trust for themselves and their families. Guided by a vision to engage, delight, and inspire consumers by building brands they love and leading in growing categories, Smucker has grown to be a well-respected North American marketer and manufacturer with a balanced portfolio of leading and emerging, on-trend brands. This includes offering beloved brands such as Jif®, Folgers® and Milk-Bone® as well as leading brands exclusive to Canada including Robin Hood®, Five Roses®, and Carnation®.
At Smucker, we provide a nurturing, collaborative and inclusive environment giving each employee the opportunity to contribute and thrive in their own unique way. We want you to become part of the Smucker Family; to become part of our journey of growth and thriving together. Join Smucker and experience a place where everyone can be their whole self, is respected, included and treated equitably, has a voice and can make an impact.
Position Title:
Senior Manager, Category Leadership
Reports To:
Director, Customer and Category Strategy
Location:
Markham, Ontario (Hybrid)
POSITION SUMMARY
The Senior Manager Category Leadership is a strategic and transformational leader with superior leadership skills and a passion for lifelong learning.
The incumbent will deliver on JMS vision to become industry thought leaders by creating innovative solutions to complex business challenges. They will lead the team in effectively leveraging multiple sources of data to uncover unique shopper and category insights that drive mutual growth and support the execution of our strategic initiatives.
They will focus on identifying team efficiencies, optimizing capabilities, and fostering continuous learning while challenging the status quo to deliver exceptional category stewardship.
The Senior Manager will oversee the execution of Joint Business Plan materials, collaborating with internal cross-functional teams and external stakeholders to elevate the impact of Category Leadership and support our long-term vision.
Additionally, the incumbent will strengthen relationships with business partners, staying up to date with advancements in analytics and seeking the best value for JMS.
Success in this role is defined by the Senior Manager's ability to elevate Category Leadership's strategic impact while inspiring their team to transform, develop, and grow. This requires a unique balance of visionary thinking and team leadership.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS SUMMARY
Oversee strategic category work to ensure alignment with category objectives and JMS ambition.
Lead and coach team members to maximize their potential, identify learning opportunities and leverage tools efficiently.
Help prioritize workload to align with strategic priorities and key customers.
Support internal stakeholders during the annual planning cycle, providing market and category insights to help drive JMS growth ambition and strategic objectives.
Acts as a close partner with Insights to create data-driven category growth strategies.
Oversee the development of key retailer specific shelving & assortment principles.
Manage relationships and budgets with data partners (Circana, NIQ, Dunnhumby, among others) to optimize investments and value.
Identify requirements for tool development and data supporting systems.
Strengthen relationships with US counterparts to leverage their scale and expertise for greater impact.
Proactively builds future talent pipeline, ensuring a steady stream of skilled professionals to support long-term growth.
QUALIFICATIONS
University Degree/College Diploma or relevant experience – MBA is a plus.
7-10 years of experience in Sales and/or Category Management & Analytics
Proficient in storytelling best practices with the ability to translate insights into actionable strategies.
Strong leadership, communication and presentation skills.
Proven experience in people management, coaching, and talent development.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities with a creative mindset.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain attention to detail with a bias for action.
Proficiency in NielsenIQ Panel and RMS data.
Strong understanding of retailer third-party data (Dunnhumby, Circana, LDIA).
Experience negotiating vendor contracts is an asset.
Advanced skills in Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel.
Proven experience with Copilot 365, leveraging AI for data mining and efficiencies.
Salary Range:
$130,500 - $179,900 annually
The above reflects the target compensation range for the position at the time of posting. Compensation will be determined based on numerous factors including, but not limited to, skills, work experience, and internal equity considerations.
Additional Information:
This job posting is for an existing vacancy within the organization
Smucker Foods of Canada Corp. does not utilize any artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in any phase of the recruitment process.
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We are looking for varied perspectives which include diverse experiences that can add value to our team. We encourage you to apply even if you are unsure whether your experience matches every requirement above.
The Right Place for You
We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.
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