Senior Category Development Manager

Job Title: Senior Category Development Manager Location: Remote (Los Angeles, CA Is Preferred) Reports To: VP of Sales Strategy Are you passionate about transforming category insights into winning customer strategies? Archer Meat Snacks, one of the fastest-growing brands in the Natural and Specialty Channel, is looking for a Senior Category Development Manager to help shape category growth across our national retail partners while strengthening Archer's position as a trusted category advisor. Reporting to the VP of Sales Strategy, you will partner closely with Sales, Marketing, Revenue Growth Management, Finance, Supply Chain, and cross-functional teams to develop fact-based recommendations that drive assortment optimization, merchandising strategies, pricing decisions, innovation launches, and customer growth across Grocery, Mass, Natural, Club, Convenience, and E-Commerce channels. We're looking for someone who is strategic, customer-focused, highly analytical, and passionate about leveraging category insights to influence retailer decisions and accelerate business growth. If you're looking for an opportunity to make a measurable impact while partnering directly with some of the nation's largest retailers, we'd love to meet you. What You'll Own & ImpactCustomer Category Leadership • Serve as the primary category development partner supporting Archer's national retail customers across Grocery, Mass, Natural, Club, Convenience, and E-Commerce channels. • Translate Archer's national category strategy into customer-specific recommendations that support retailer objectives and accelerate category growth. • Develop customized selling stories using syndicated and customer-specific data to support line reviews, business reviews, innovation launches, assortment changes, and distribution opportunities. • Build trusted relationships with customer category managers, merchandising teams, and key retail stakeholders through regular engagement and strategic collaboration. • Lead customer-facing category presentations and represent Archer during retailer meetings, line reviews, and strategic planning sessions. Category Analytics & Insights • Analyze syndicated data, customer POS data, shopper insights, and marketplace trends to identify opportunities that improve category performance. • Develop assortment, shelving, merchandising, pricing, and promotional recommendations supported by fact-based insights. • Evaluate assortment productivity and identify opportunities for SKU optimization, distribution gains, and category expansion. • Monitor competitive activity, emerging consumer trends, and retailer strategies to proactively identify growth opportunities. • Develop customer scorecards, dashboards, and executive-ready presentations that communicate actionable business recommendations. Sales Partnership • Partner directly with National Account Managers and Sales Leadership to develop customer-specific business plans and growth strategies. • Support annual planning, customer business reviews, line reviews, innovation launches, and promotional planning initiatives. • Provide category expertise throughout customer planning sessions, negotiations, and strategic selling opportunities. • Develop compelling customer presentations that translate complex data into clear business recommendations. Cross-Functional Collaboration • Partner closely with Marketing, Revenue Growth Management, Finance, Supply Chain, and Innovation teams to ensure category recommendations align with business objectives. • Provide retailer feedback and marketplace insights that influence innovation, commercialization, assortment planning, and future category strategies. • Serve as the voice of the customer by sharing retailer needs, competitive intelligence, and category trends across the organization. Retail & Customer Engagement • Maintain a high level of customer engagement through regular retailer meetings, business reviews, and market visits. • Conduct retail audits and store walks to evaluate merchandising execution, assortment effectiveness, pricing, shelf positioning, and competitive activity. • Travel regularly to customer headquarters, national sales meetings, industry conferences, and trade events as business needs require. What Sets You Apart • Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Category Management, Economics, or a related field. • 6+ years of progressive experience in Category Management, Category Development, Shopper Insights, Sales Strategy, or a related Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) function. • Proven experience supporting national retail customers across Grocery, Mass, Natural, Club, Convenience, and E-Commerce channels. • Strong proficiency using Circana (IRI), SPINS, Numerator, NielsenIQ, or equivalent to develop actionable category insights and recommendations. • Demonstrated experience developing retailer category reviews, line reviews, assortment recommendations, merchandising and space planning strategies, pricing recommendations, and fact-based selling presentations. • Experience supporting Joint Business Planning (JBP), annual customer planning, retailer negotiations, and strategic sales initiatives. • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. • Excellent analytical, presentation, communication, and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence both internal stakeholders and external retail partners at all levels of the organization. • Proven ability to manage multiple priorities while working independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams. • Experience within the food, beverage, or broader Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry preferred. • Experience with retailer-specific analytics platforms such as Walmart Luminate, Retail Link, 84.51°, dunnhumby, or similar customer data platforms preferred. Why Join Archer Meat Snacks? Impact: Help shape category strategy and customer growth for one of the fastest-growing meat snack brands in the US Visibility: Partner closely with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, Innovation, and Executive Leadership while serving as a strategic advisor to national retail customers. Growth: Gain broad exposure to the top national Food, Mass, & Natural retailers as well as cross-functional leadership in a high-growth CPG environment. Culture: Collaborative, entrepreneurial, and fast-moving environment where your insights directly influence customer decisions and business performance. Benefits: Competitive compensation, PTO, and 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance. Apply Today If you're ready to help shape category strategy while driving customer growth for one of the fastest-growing consumer brands in the industry, we'd love to meet you. To learn more about Archer Meat Snacks, visit www.archerjerky.com Archer Meat Snacks is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.