Advantage Sales and Marketing
Posting Job Category Manager JLB
Advantage Sales and Marketing, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55401
Category Manager, Target (JLB Agency)
JLB is an award-winning, retail consulting firm that is passionate about helping brands succeed at Target and Target win in the Marketplace. From starting up to selling in, we deliver complete retail solutions that drive accelerated brand growth for our partners. We offer Sales and Strategy, Business Insights, Consumer Research, Category Management, Digital Services, Trend, Creative, Shopper Marketing and Retail Services, delivering a customized approach based on the unique needs of your business. We're not your typical manufacturer's rep and are so much more than a broker. We're your partner, helping brands big or small, emerging or established, build solutions that drive business growth at the world's most innovative mass retailers. The Category Manager works largely independent on their assigned category/categories of increased complexity, servicing mid to high-level buyers. Complexities in categories may be driven by the number of times a category transitions/revises, the segmentation strategy, the digital strategy, the competitive retailers, and the off-shelf activity. They expertly analyze data from multiple sources, synthesized to deliver clear, tailored presentations to the Target buying team. They are entrusted with primary ownership of relationships at the Target buyer and senior buyer level and developing relationships at the Director level. They lead customized category reviews with insights & recommendations and drive short- & long-term strategy guidance for Target and manage the category transition and revision process with a focus on accuracy and efficiency. They anticipate business needs and proactively identify challenges and opportunities. The Category Manager mentors, develops, and trains teammates at junior levels. The essential responsibilities of the Category Manager include: Relationships: Independently manages day-to-day relationships with Target and cross-functional teams: including merchant, business analyst, inventory analyst, space & transition planning & pricing promo team, and developing relationships with Director merchant. Leads preparation and execution of client meetings, including weekly updates and ad hoc sessions, while driving collaborative problem-solving discussions. Provides strategic recommendations grounded in a deep understanding of category trends and client needs. Acts as a mentor for some junior team members, fostering professional growth and knowledge-sharing. Reporting: Owns the end-to-end reporting process, combining advanced data analytics with a deep understanding of business drivers. Integrates multiple data sources to deliver detailed weekly reports and strategic insights that highlight performance trends, opportunities, and risks. Incorporates insights on sales, promotions, inventory in multiple roll ups like brand, vendor, subcategory, and item. Develops and manages custom attributes, enabling deeper analysis and providing valuable insights into business performance. Supports ad hoc reporting needs, proactively identifying relevant data points to address client questions and guide decisions. Marketplace Insights/Competitive Shops: Manages in-depth analyses of competitive marketplace and retailer trends, including merchandising, pricing, brand, and SKU selection. Produces comprehensive reports on market share, competitive retailer performance, and industry trends. Identifies and capitalizes on emerging trends, opportunity items, promotional themes, and merchandising strategies. Provides strategic recommendations to Target merchant team. Category & Seasonal Reviews: Executes category and seasonal review utilizing some pre-established templates and creating custom outputs for their business. Gains a deep understanding of client strategies and analyzes: sales, space-to-sales, consumer behavior, and basket drivers, segmentation, pricing tiers, assortment gaps, white space, and merchandising. Provides actionable insights and strategic recommendations to enhance category performance and productivity. Is successful at synthesizing to create executive summaries and key recommendations summaries independently. Effectively presents to the client, utilizing advanced presentation techniques to convey complex data and insights, fostering client understanding and buy-in. Planogram Process: Own the transition & revision planogram process from start to finish. This includes managing T&A, confirming item images & attributes, merchandise planning, SVP walk-through support, planogram optimization and writing all planogram versions. Analyze merchandising and assortment to influence strategy. Develops strategic planograms that align with business objectives and enhance the customer experience. Efficiently writes up to 1,000 planograms, store ties, fixture placement, signage, and proofing. Provides guidance and mentorship to junior team members and collaborates with senior leadership to drive continuous improvement. Digital Support: Manages the development of comprehensive digital performance reports and seasonal analyses. Conducts in-depth analysis of channel sales performance, search behavior, purchasability, and site content and experience. Collaborates with internal digital category experts to identify correct tools to use for a business question before developing custom outputs. Develops and presents to Target strategic recommendations based on data analysis to support business objectives and improve digital performance. Macro & Micro Trends: Research trends and utilize internal resources to gain comprehensive insights. Identify emerging trends and apply these to current and forward-thinking category initiatives. Shares insights and presentations that are applicable to other categories at JLB to create efficiency and knowledge sharing. Support in the Category Management team space: Is a thought partner to junior team members in creating analyses and insights. Contribute to the development and dissemination of training materials, process improvements, and efficiency tips. Share knowledge and best practices with the team through both informal and formal channels. Minimum qualifications include: Education Level: (Required) Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field such as Business, Finance, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related discipline. Field of Study/Area of Experience: 6+ years of experience in retail or brand background is a must. 3+ years of relatable Category Advisor or Captainship is preferred but not required. Target specific Category Management experience is a plus. Proficient in diverse tasks including reporting & analytics, setting planograms, planogram writing, creating presentations, and adept presentation delivery. Skilled in synthesizing multiple/extensive resources to craft compelling narratives and actionable insights, with a deep understanding of merchandising strategies and the ability to leverage and apply substantial datasets effectively. Skills, knowledge, and abilities include: Strategic: Possesses a profound understanding of business strategy, initiatives, and processes. Driven by curiosity and self-motivation, this individual delves deeply to develop well-informed opinions. They have the unique ability to synthesize their findings with insights and trends, transforming them into actionable recommendations. They identify innovative ideas and provide clear direction for the category, aligning with Target's vision for both short-term gains and long-term growth. Organized Excellence: Exceptionally organized with a proven ability to manage multiple priorities and consistently meet all deadlines. This individual proactively understands and anticipates deliverables from 2-3 buying teams and internal company needs, ensuring all workstreams are executed in a timely and efficient manner. Their meticulous planning and prioritization skills enable them to coordinate complex projects seamlessly, maintaining high standards of productivity and precision across all tasks. Advanced Analytical Expertise: Demonstrates superior analytical skills by objectively evaluating multiple data sources to solve complex problems. Utilizes a range of tools, techniques, and business inquiries to generate comprehensive and insightful presentations. Their ability to distill vast amounts of information into clear, actionable insights underscores their proficiency in data analysis and strategic thinking. Detail-Oriented Precision: Exhibits exceptional attention to detail in data attribution and maintaining data accuracy. Possesses the keen ability to identify discrepancies and flaws in data, as well as in Space Planning (JDA). Their meticulous approach ensures the integrity and reliability of all data-related processes, contributing to seamless and efficient operations. Expert in Resources: Proficient in the following tools & resources: Market Insights/Competitive Retail, Syndicated Data, Panel Data, Excel, Power Point, JDA (Merchandising), POS systems, Kantar, Mintel, Numerator, and Target specific tools (Vendor IQ, Partners Online, Domo, CKS) Exceptional Customer Service: Demonstrates outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, delivering concise, professional, and timely responses to clients, Target buyers, cross-functional partners, and internal team members. Their ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders ensures seamless collaboration and exceptional service, fostering strong relationships and enhancing overall satisfaction. Their commitment to excellence in customer service reflects a deep understanding of the importance of clear and responsive communication in driving business success. Unwavering Commitment: Exemplifies self-motivation and proactivity, demonstrating an unyielding dedication to delivering exceptional results. This individual consistently drives initiatives forward, approaching challenges with a solution-oriented mindset. Their relentless pursuit of excellence and innovative problem-solving abilities ensure the successful achievement of goals and the continuous improvement of processes. Environmental & Physical Requirements include typical office time spent for reporting, meetings and planogram writing. Monthly store walks/retailer visits. Bi-annual product unboxing & setting planograms live in the office for SVP walks (typically planograms are set for 8 weeks). Sales plan sets live in the office live 6-8 times per year. Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one's supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be
JLB is an award-winning, retail consulting firm that is passionate about helping brands succeed at Target and Target win in the Marketplace. From starting up to selling in, we deliver complete retail solutions that drive accelerated brand growth for our partners. We offer Sales and Strategy, Business Insights, Consumer Research, Category Management, Digital Services, Trend, Creative, Shopper Marketing and Retail Services, delivering a customized approach based on the unique needs of your business. We're not your typical manufacturer's rep and are so much more than a broker. We're your partner, helping brands big or small, emerging or established, build solutions that drive business growth at the world's most innovative mass retailers. The Category Manager works largely independent on their assigned category/categories of increased complexity, servicing mid to high-level buyers. Complexities in categories may be driven by the number of times a category transitions/revises, the segmentation strategy, the digital strategy, the competitive retailers, and the off-shelf activity. They expertly analyze data from multiple sources, synthesized to deliver clear, tailored presentations to the Target buying team. They are entrusted with primary ownership of relationships at the Target buyer and senior buyer level and developing relationships at the Director level. They lead customized category reviews with insights & recommendations and drive short- & long-term strategy guidance for Target and manage the category transition and revision process with a focus on accuracy and efficiency. They anticipate business needs and proactively identify challenges and opportunities. The Category Manager mentors, develops, and trains teammates at junior levels. The essential responsibilities of the Category Manager include: Relationships: Independently manages day-to-day relationships with Target and cross-functional teams: including merchant, business analyst, inventory analyst, space & transition planning & pricing promo team, and developing relationships with Director merchant. Leads preparation and execution of client meetings, including weekly updates and ad hoc sessions, while driving collaborative problem-solving discussions. Provides strategic recommendations grounded in a deep understanding of category trends and client needs. Acts as a mentor for some junior team members, fostering professional growth and knowledge-sharing. Reporting: Owns the end-to-end reporting process, combining advanced data analytics with a deep understanding of business drivers. Integrates multiple data sources to deliver detailed weekly reports and strategic insights that highlight performance trends, opportunities, and risks. Incorporates insights on sales, promotions, inventory in multiple roll ups like brand, vendor, subcategory, and item. Develops and manages custom attributes, enabling deeper analysis and providing valuable insights into business performance. Supports ad hoc reporting needs, proactively identifying relevant data points to address client questions and guide decisions. Marketplace Insights/Competitive Shops: Manages in-depth analyses of competitive marketplace and retailer trends, including merchandising, pricing, brand, and SKU selection. Produces comprehensive reports on market share, competitive retailer performance, and industry trends. Identifies and capitalizes on emerging trends, opportunity items, promotional themes, and merchandising strategies. Provides strategic recommendations to Target merchant team. Category & Seasonal Reviews: Executes category and seasonal review utilizing some pre-established templates and creating custom outputs for their business. Gains a deep understanding of client strategies and analyzes: sales, space-to-sales, consumer behavior, and basket drivers, segmentation, pricing tiers, assortment gaps, white space, and merchandising. Provides actionable insights and strategic recommendations to enhance category performance and productivity. Is successful at synthesizing to create executive summaries and key recommendations summaries independently. Effectively presents to the client, utilizing advanced presentation techniques to convey complex data and insights, fostering client understanding and buy-in. Planogram Process: Own the transition & revision planogram process from start to finish. This includes managing T&A, confirming item images & attributes, merchandise planning, SVP walk-through support, planogram optimization and writing all planogram versions. Analyze merchandising and assortment to influence strategy. Develops strategic planograms that align with business objectives and enhance the customer experience. Efficiently writes up to 1,000 planograms, store ties, fixture placement, signage, and proofing. Provides guidance and mentorship to junior team members and collaborates with senior leadership to drive continuous improvement. Digital Support: Manages the development of comprehensive digital performance reports and seasonal analyses. Conducts in-depth analysis of channel sales performance, search behavior, purchasability, and site content and experience. Collaborates with internal digital category experts to identify correct tools to use for a business question before developing custom outputs. Develops and presents to Target strategic recommendations based on data analysis to support business objectives and improve digital performance. Macro & Micro Trends: Research trends and utilize internal resources to gain comprehensive insights. Identify emerging trends and apply these to current and forward-thinking category initiatives. Shares insights and presentations that are applicable to other categories at JLB to create efficiency and knowledge sharing. Support in the Category Management team space: Is a thought partner to junior team members in creating analyses and insights. Contribute to the development and dissemination of training materials, process improvements, and efficiency tips. Share knowledge and best practices with the team through both informal and formal channels. Minimum qualifications include: Education Level: (Required) Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field such as Business, Finance, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related discipline. Field of Study/Area of Experience: 6+ years of experience in retail or brand background is a must. 3+ years of relatable Category Advisor or Captainship is preferred but not required. Target specific Category Management experience is a plus. Proficient in diverse tasks including reporting & analytics, setting planograms, planogram writing, creating presentations, and adept presentation delivery. Skilled in synthesizing multiple/extensive resources to craft compelling narratives and actionable insights, with a deep understanding of merchandising strategies and the ability to leverage and apply substantial datasets effectively. Skills, knowledge, and abilities include: Strategic: Possesses a profound understanding of business strategy, initiatives, and processes. Driven by curiosity and self-motivation, this individual delves deeply to develop well-informed opinions. They have the unique ability to synthesize their findings with insights and trends, transforming them into actionable recommendations. They identify innovative ideas and provide clear direction for the category, aligning with Target's vision for both short-term gains and long-term growth. Organized Excellence: Exceptionally organized with a proven ability to manage multiple priorities and consistently meet all deadlines. This individual proactively understands and anticipates deliverables from 2-3 buying teams and internal company needs, ensuring all workstreams are executed in a timely and efficient manner. Their meticulous planning and prioritization skills enable them to coordinate complex projects seamlessly, maintaining high standards of productivity and precision across all tasks. Advanced Analytical Expertise: Demonstrates superior analytical skills by objectively evaluating multiple data sources to solve complex problems. Utilizes a range of tools, techniques, and business inquiries to generate comprehensive and insightful presentations. Their ability to distill vast amounts of information into clear, actionable insights underscores their proficiency in data analysis and strategic thinking. Detail-Oriented Precision: Exhibits exceptional attention to detail in data attribution and maintaining data accuracy. Possesses the keen ability to identify discrepancies and flaws in data, as well as in Space Planning (JDA). Their meticulous approach ensures the integrity and reliability of all data-related processes, contributing to seamless and efficient operations. Expert in Resources: Proficient in the following tools & resources: Market Insights/Competitive Retail, Syndicated Data, Panel Data, Excel, Power Point, JDA (Merchandising), POS systems, Kantar, Mintel, Numerator, and Target specific tools (Vendor IQ, Partners Online, Domo, CKS) Exceptional Customer Service: Demonstrates outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, delivering concise, professional, and timely responses to clients, Target buyers, cross-functional partners, and internal team members. Their ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders ensures seamless collaboration and exceptional service, fostering strong relationships and enhancing overall satisfaction. Their commitment to excellence in customer service reflects a deep understanding of the importance of clear and responsive communication in driving business success. Unwavering Commitment: Exemplifies self-motivation and proactivity, demonstrating an unyielding dedication to delivering exceptional results. This individual consistently drives initiatives forward, approaching challenges with a solution-oriented mindset. Their relentless pursuit of excellence and innovative problem-solving abilities ensure the successful achievement of goals and the continuous improvement of processes. Environmental & Physical Requirements include typical office time spent for reporting, meetings and planogram writing. Monthly store walks/retailer visits. Bi-annual product unboxing & setting planograms live in the office for SVP walks (typically planograms are set for 8 weeks). Sales plan sets live in the office live 6-8 times per year. Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one's supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be