Category Manager - Packaged Beverages

The Category Manager – Packaged Beverages is responsible for driving sales growth and profitability by developing and executing strategic plans for the beverage category. This role requires a strong balance of analytical expertise, vendor management skills, and market insight to optimize product assortments, negotiate supplier agreements, and create impactful promotional strategies that align with consumer trends.

NOTE : This role is on-site Monday through Thursday, located in El Dorado, AR. Relocation assistance is available for highly-qualified candidates.

Key Responsibilities :

• Strategic Planning : Develop and implement category strategies, including assortment, pricing, and promotional plans, to achieve sales and margin goals.
• Data Analysis : Leverage POS, Nielsen, IRI, and other data tools to evaluate performance, identify growth opportunities, and provide actionable insights.
• Vendor Management : Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, negotiate contracts, and secure rebates / allowances to support category initiatives.
• Assortment Optimization : Design and maintain optimal product assortments and planograms to meet customer needs and maximize shelf productivity.
• Market Insights : Monitor industry trends, competitive activity, and new product launches to ensure the category stays relevant and competitive.
• Cross-functional Collaboration : Partner with merchandising, marketing, operations, and external stakeholders to align category strategies with business objectives.
• Any additional duties as assigned by leadership.

Required Skills and Qualifications :