Associate Category Manager - Retail Sales

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.