New

Category Manager

Bimbo Bakeries
$91,500 - $119,000
paid time off, 401(k)
United States, Illinois, Chicago
Oct 10, 2025
Have you ever enjoyed Arnold, Brownberry or Oroweat bread? A Thomas' English muffin or bagel? Or perhaps snacked on a Sara Lee, Entenmann's or Marinela cake or donut? If the answer is yes, then you know Bimbo Bakeries USA! More than 20,000 associates in bakeries, sales centers, offices and on sales routes work to ensure our consumers have the freshest products at every meal. In addition to competitive pay and benefits, we *provide a safe and inclusive work environment that appreciates diversity, promotes development and allows our associates to be their authentic selves.* #LI-VB1 Come join the largest baking company in the world and our family of 20,000 associates nationwide! Top Reasons to Work at Bimbo Bakeries USA: Salary Range: $91,500 - $119,000 Annual Bonus Eligibility Comprehensive Benefits Package Paid Time Off 401k & Company Match Job purpose: The Manager of Category Management is a category management professional who is the subject matter expert on shelving/ assortment management and analytics and in understanding consumer and category trends.This role is grounded in insights and acts in the best interest of the category.The Manager of Category Management is part of a dynamic and diverse functional team working to increase the utility of various category management tools through training, establishing processes, and sharing of best practices . This job plays a critical role in BBU's broader Account Sales Team and will proactively influence how BBU Wins at the Shelf.Ultimately, this role exists to create short- and long-term value to its assigned retailers and BBU. Duties & Responsibilities: Proactively identify and lead category management initiatives that drive category growth while increasing BBU's sales, share, and profits. This should include interpreting shopper and category insights, optimizing product assortment, evaluating product placement, and proposing solutions to improve overall category performance. Serve as the Category Management expert and advisor to leadership. Influence decisions makers by reviewing and analyzing shelf space opportunities, as well as current business trends and category performance within the market and industry. Responsible for leading and delivering space management projects for all assigned customers. Proactively communicating and working with Account Sales Team, Brands, Business Units, and RGM on assortment opportunities, including void closures, at risk items, innovation, and core assortment Build and maintain long-term relationships with assigned retailers.Leverage insights and recommend action plans for assigned retailers by developing persuasive fact-based sales presentations that leverage customer, industry, market and competitive information Maintain frequent and fluid communication with internal and external stake holders regarding projects, insights, and/or opportunities, for self and for the team. Build and maintain reporting, as well as communicate findings gleaned from them. Other duties as assigned. Key Behavioral Competencies: Ability to proactively identify needs and opportunities, then establish a plan to meet those needs. Ability to effectively create and implement programs for area of responsibility. Collaborative and able to align with internal and external stakeholders. Curious and willing to investigate root causes of in market performance results. Requirements: Bachelor's Degree in Sales, Marketing or Business related field. Advanced degree preferred. A combination of education, training and experience that results in demonstrated competency to perform the work may be substituted. Ideal candidate will possess: 5+ years of customer facing experience in the CPG industry and Category Management.Grocery and Mass channel experience is preferred. Strong problem solving and analytical skills. Proven experience converting data into logical, actionable strategies. Effective written and verbal communication skills. Comfortable presenting to Customers and Senior Executives. Highly motivated self-starter with strong project management skills, capable of multi-tasking in a matrix organization. Thorough understanding of POS and Panel data, and experience with retailer shopper card data sets. Experience managing people, including the creation of development plans and defining accountabilities. Strong working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite of products, i.e. Excel and PowerPoint, and of space management software, i.e. JDA or Apollo. Travel up to 20% Physical Demands: Able to use a variety of communication methods on frequent basis. Use a notebook computer and standard office equipment printers, fax, phone etc. Able to sit, stand, stoop and have use of hand motor coordination regularly. Use various forms of transportation for extended periods of time on periodic basis. The physical and mental demands described in each job posting are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of each job. Reasonable accommodations may be requested to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of each job. Bimbo Bakeries USA is an equal opportunity employer with a policy that provides equal employment opportunity for applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, any other classification protected by law. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. >