AddressJob Location: Parsippany
Company description
Ferrero is a family-owned company with a truly progressive and global outlook and iconic brands such as Nutella®, Tic Tac®, Ferrero Rocher®, Raffaello®, Kinder Bueno® and Kinder Surprise®. As the love for our brands continues to grow, so too does our global reach. Represented in more than 50 countries, with products sold in more than 170, the Ferrero Group is loved by generations around the world. The secret to our global success? 40,000 dedicated employees who celebrate care and quality to craft a business, careers and brands we are proud of. Join us, and you could be one of them.
About the Role:
The Director of Category Management for Cookies, Mints and Spreads categories will be responsible for developing Ferrero’s category growth strategy for the assigned categories. This position is responsible for driving both sales and growth for all products within their assigned categories. As the Director of Category Management for Cookies, Mints and Spreads, you'll be responsible for creating category based selling arguments to build the equity leadership of Ferrero brands within the U.S. marketplace.
This position will be based in our US Headquarters in Parsippany, NJ, and reports into the VP of Category Management.
Main Responsibilities:
- Develop, maintain, expand, and communicate Ferrero’s strategy on how to grow the category, focusing on Distribution, Merchandising, Shelving, and Pricing (DSMP) fundamentals
- Collaborate with the Consumer Shopper Understanding team to build the foundation of the category growth strategy in consumer and shopper insights
- Translate Category Management annual & long-term priorities to actionable sales stories & initiatives
- Work collaboratively with Field Sales, Trade Marketing, and Sales Operations to develop recommendations for aligned Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and ensure process integrity each session
- Responsible for the preparation of planogram recos at channel level with Category capabilities team, with guidelines for product placement on shelves, for the Mainstream and Premium Chocolate category
- Provide category input during Joint Business Planning (JBP) discovery process; support execution against strategic initiatives and commitments at key accounts in category
- Work collaboratively to develop innovative and insightful content to drive category growth
- Work collaboratively with Field Category Management and Field Sales to develop medium and long-term business opportunities at accounts in assigned category
- Develop category based selling stories for new product launches through commercial planning process
- Manage and maximize use & output of syndicated research resources, shopper insights platforms, Category Management teams, research projects in support of the sales organization and ensure linkage with the Category Management plan
- Monitor and analyze category, competition and consumer market data to identify business opportunities and develop new category development plans
Who we are looking for:
- 12+ years relevant experience required, CPG Foods experience is preferred
- Bachelor’s degree in a business/marketing discipline required; MBA a plus
- Prior Category Management role required; Additional insights experience preferred
- Customer facing sales or Category Management experience required; trade marketing and retail experience preferred
- Syndicated data required; IRI preferred
- Prior Experience managing a medium sized (3-5) team is required
- Interpersonal skills to interface effectively with the necessary internal and external stakeholders, building solid relationships and achieving brand sales goals
- Strategic and proactive thinking to develop category strategies and translate them into distribution, shelving, pricing and merchandising objectives
- Data analysis skills to monitor key accounts' performance in category and develop strategies to close gaps, increase sales, etc.
- Solid MS Office skills, especially Excel & PowerPoint, and Storytelling capabilities to translate data & insights into selling narratives
- Global mindset; desire to build a successful career with a growing global company
- Excellent written, oral and presentation skills
- 25% Travel required for customer meetings and industry events
How to be successful in the role and at Ferrero:
Consumers, quality and care are at the heart of everything we do. So, to be successful at Ferrero, you’ll need to be just as consumer and product centric as we are - dedicated to crafting brilliant results for consumers around the world.
#FNA
Diversity Statement
Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all of our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative and highly rewarding.
Ferrero U.S.A. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.
