Manager, Category Management

Manager, Category Management

Job Purpose

The Manager, Category Management is responsible for driving the growth and performance of their assigned menu category. Serving as the primary owner for one category (e.g., Beverage, Bakery, Salads), this role assists in developing strategies that drive guest relevance, transactions, profitability, and growth.

The Director partners closely with Culinary, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Consumer Insights, Finance, Digital, and Data & Analytics to ensure strategy translate into business results. This role is accountable for identifying opportunities that improve category performance and strengthen Panera's competitive position.

Location: This position is based in Newton, MA and requires in-office presence three days per week, transitioning to four days per week, Monday through Thursday, in Weston, MA beginning in July 2027.

Duties & Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of this job include, but are not limited to:

• Category Strategy & Ownership: Define vision, priorities, and innovation for assigned category. Own the profitability and performance of assigned category, ensuring each category contributes to enterprise growth and objectives.

• Business Performance: Monitor and drive performance across sales, transactions using data-driven insights for assigned category.

• Innovation Pipeline: Assist in building business cases and growth plans that support enterprise objectives. Contribute to developing 3-year pipeline, identifying white space opportunities and category expansion opportunities by analyzing market trends, consumer needs, and avenues for business growth.

• Pricing & Value: Support pricing and promotional recommendations, in partnership with Finance, to balance guest value and profitability.

• Consumer Insights: Translate guest, competitive, and market insights into actionable category strategies and growth opportunities.

Qualifications (Education & Experience)

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field.

• 3-5 years proven experience in marketing strategy, product innovation, campaign management, and cross-functional team collaboration.

• Preference for past experience in restaurant/retail and/or consumer goods industries.

• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and make data-driven decisions.

• Creative thinker with a passion for innovation and continuous improvement.

Working Conditions

• Required travel – as needed

• Position requires in-office presence consistent with Panera’s established hybrid work expectations.

Physical Requirements

• While performing this job, the incumbent is regularly required to stand, sit, talk hear & use hands and fingers to operate keyboards

Direct Reports

• N/A

Equal Opportunity Employer: Disabled/Veterans

Competitive Pay $104,942 - $125,930 annually

The actual pay offered will be determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and geographical location. Individual compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.

Newton Support Center

About Us

With more than 2,000 Panera LLC and independent franchise bakery-cafes in the Panera Bread® family, and more locations opening all the time, it’s no wonder our company has been an excellent source of career and personal growth opportunities for more than 25 years.

In neighborhoods across the U.S. and Canada, customers enjoy flavorful, handcrafted meals centered around freshly baked artisan bread. To us, that means serving food like we serve our own families – free of any of the items on our ‘No No’ List.

Along the way, we also like to give back to our community. We enjoy working together, shoulder to shoulder with our customers, to confront a serious problem plaguing communities across this country – Hunger. Through our Panera Cares community cafes, we offer a dignified dining experience in an uplifting environment. In addition, we support our communities through day-end donations at our bakery-cafe locations and partner with local non-profit organizations.

It’s this warmth that you’ll find when you join Panera Bread. From our competitive compensation and benefits packages to our unique cultural values, we’re confident you’ll find us a rewarding and fun place to work.

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