Job Title: Category Management Consultant/Vendor Advisor
Location: Mississauga, ON
The Hershey Company
Your career. Your ownership. Together, we’ll make more Moments of Goodness.
Hershey employees get to make real, impactful changes daily. We are looking for thinkers, leaders and challengers – people who initiate and make a true impact. Here at Hershey Canada, we strike the perfect balance between autonomy and support. Our managers are equipped to foster your career aspirations and empower your growth. With resources like e-learning, coaching, cross-functional projects, your personal and professional growth is paramount to the team. Hershey’s people-focused mindset is what makes our culture so sweet.
Hershey Canada is proud of our top 100 position on Forbes Canada’s Best Employers 2021 List and Forbes 2021 World’s Top Female Friendly Companies. We have also been recognized as Greater Toronto Top Employer’s for 2023 and Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2023, and Great Places to Work Canada 2023-2024.
How will you fit in the big picture?
As a critical member of Hershey’s Category Management and Shopper Evolution team, the Consultant is responsible for bringing the power of insight to the organization and external stakeholders in a meaningful and accessible way. The Consultant shapes future growth through analytics and an innovative approach to deeply understand shoppers, category performance, retailer dynamics, and broader macro trends. This knowledge and insight are leveraged to drive influence and solutions with internal and external stakeholders.
In this role you will partner with key stakeholders to provide thought leadership and subject matter expertise. You will be responsible for managing insights and data from multiple sources and evolving priorities to build efficient solutions and capabilities rooted in data-driven insights and shopper behavior. We are not looking for just a category manager, we are looking for a holistic insight professional.
You will work cross functionally with internal and external stakeholders to unlock category growth by retailer within your assigned portfolio. You will provide full category insights, planogram support, strategy recommendations, and in-depth understanding of the confectionary shopper to drive category leading growth.
What will you do?
- Function as vendor advisor/category advisor to and collaborate with large Canadian retailers to propel category growth
- Lead the development and assessment of Planograms across various store formats and sizes.
- Deliver best-in-class insights and recommendations as an indispensable strategic partner to our stakeholders
- Execute solutions in-line with the short and long-term vision for Category Management & Shopper Evolution
- Develop actionable recommendations for key stakeholders. Present them with confidence in a clear, concise manner.
- Leverage multiple data sources (including custom research, industry reports, loyalty data, Nielsen data, retailer POS, etc.) to answer ad-hoc questions about category performance and shopper behavior.
- Effectively communicate with all levels of the organization and retail partners
- Play a leadership role for external communication with a critical retail partners, providing ad hoc insights, reporting, strategy reviews, and Planogram support.
Education, Experience and Skill Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree required in Business or closely related field; MBA is an asset.
- A minimum four years’ experience of sales, category management, or business analysis, preferably in CPG
- Experience with Nielsen Data analysis and Nielsen Discover
- Experience with Shelf Management software (JDA ProSpace)
- Category management and/or previous vendor advisor experience is an asset
- Experience across multiple retail channels/classes of trade considered an asset
- Experience with Retailer Loyalty Systems (LDIA, Retail Link, Circana, Dunhumby, 1screen) considered an asset
- Experience with Business Intelligence Tools (Alteryx, Tableau and Power BI) considered an asset
- Previous Shopper Insights experience and tools (Shopper Intelligence, Numerator) considered an asset
- Experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders
- Excellent presentation skills with experience presenting to internal stakeholders and retail partners
- CMKG Certification is an asset
Benefits & Perks of working with us:
- Of course… exposure to some of the finest chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products.
- Health and Wellness Reimbursement program as well as other great employee benefits.
- Corporate social responsibility programs - because we should leave the world a little better than we found it
- Strong work-life balance values (flextime and work from home options available)
- Flexible dress policy – this includes jeans!
- Fantastic reward and recognition programs.
- Working in a LEED certified and open concept environment.
- Working for a company recognized as one of the best in the GTA!
Together, we’ll make more Moments of Goodness.
Get to know us more on our LinkedIn: Hershey Canada Inc.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the Ontario Human Rights Code, Hershey Canada, Inc. will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities. If selected to participate in the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, please inform the Talent Acquisition team of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require in respect of any materials or processes used to ensure your equal participation
Hershey Canada is proud of being named to Forbes Canada’s Best Employers 2021 List and Forbes 2021 World’s Top Female Friendly Companies. We have also been recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for 2022, Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2022, and one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures 2021.
At Hershey Canada, we seek the advancement of an inclusive and respective culture by having a diverse workforce and inclusive environment to create more Moments of Goodness for our employees and consumers. Hershey Canada extends opportunities to qualified applicants and employees regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, disability, or any other protected status.
We will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in our hiring. Please inform the Talent Acquisition team if you require accommodation in order to participate in our hiring process.
