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For more than 115 years, Ferrara has created sugar confections that enable moments of sweetness, celebration, and connection for candy lovers of all generations. Today, the company is the #1 sugar confectioner in the United States. Ferrara boasts a passionate team of nearly 9,000 employees creating and delivering hundreds of products sold under 20 popular brands like Brach’s®, NERDS®, SweeTARTS®, Laffy Taffy®, and Trolli® to more than 66 million U.S. households annually and popular Dori snacking products under brands such as Dori, Gomets, Pettiz, and Yogurte 100 in Brazil. Additionally, Jelly Belly, known world-wide for its confections, was acquired in November of 2023.

Category Leadership Manager, C-Store

Job Location: ​Chicago​

Want to make an impact?

The Category Leadership Manager will establish and own the relationship with the assigned customers for all category management activities. Collaborating closely with the internal and field teams, the position is responsible for developing critical insights and solutions, including strategic and tactical category action plans, to address complex business opportunities. This requires triangulation of various data sets, leveraging analytical tools, and delivering succinct layered storytelling to transform category & shopper insights into impactful retailer activations.

This is a fully remote role that can be based anywhere in the United States near a major airport.  This role does require frequent (50%) travel.  
 

Ways you will make a difference

  • Synthesize multiple data sources (e.g., Syndicated data, retailer POS/loyalty gateways, 3P insights platforms) to drive category insights and/or address business trends.
  • Leverage customer and market data to deliver fact-based assortment and shelving recommendations to customers.
  • Provide leadership to the cross-functional customer team to identify opportunities and develop category solutions. 
  • Prepare and present compelling shopper and category stories to influence customer category activations.
  • Cultivate and manage relationship with category buyer(s)
  • Leverage JDA to build and optimize confection planograms, maximizing sales utilizing merchandising guidelines and multiple data sources

Skills that will make you successful

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  

  • Analytical
  • Collaborative/Team Oriented
  • Organized with strong planning skills 
  • High tolerance for ambiguity
  • Business Acumen
  • Innovative, agile, and creative 
  • Action-oriented 
  • Ownership mindset; Entrepreneurial by nature  

Experiences that will support your success

  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • 4-6 years of experience in commercial functions in consumer goods, preferably in confections or other high velocity impulse categories (FMCG); with 2+ years specifically in Category Management
  • Demonstrated success in developing, implementing, and executing category management activities
  • Knowledge/experience with POG tools a plus (JDA, etc.)
  • Strong project management abilities.  Capable of prioritizing and handling multiple projects simultaneously under tight time constraints and within budget parameters 
  • Solid knowledge of syndicated data sources (e.g. Circana, Nielsen, Mintel, Numerator, Kantar, Retailer Loyalty platforms, etc.)
  • High proficiency in MS Excel, MS PowerPoint
  • Up to 50% travel required

 

#LI-Remote

What We Offer

At Ferrara, we're proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO). 

Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. 

Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Candy-2025-OE-QR

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $110,000 - $153,000.

Ferrara’s success in industry-leading innovation has been driven by deep consumer insights, strong retailer co-creation and partnerships, and a dedication to diversity of thought, experience, and people. A privately held company, Ferrara has its global headquarters in Chicago and an operational network of more than 27 locations in North America, Brazil, and China that includes manufacturing, distribution, sales, and R&D facilities. Ferrara is a privately held Ferrero related company. Learn more at www.ferrara.com or www.linkedin.com/company/ferrara-.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, employment decisions and opportunities at Ferrara will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil union status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, military or veteran status, disability, handicap, genetic information, pregnancy (childbirth or related medical condition), or on any other basis prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.

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