Customer & Category Insights Manager (Target Team)

Customer & Category Insights Manager, Target Team, Minneapolis, MN

GENERAL SUMMARY:

Responsible for the development and successful execution of category objectives and strategies aligned with the Customer and Crayola corporate priorities. This will be accomplished through the identification of shopper insights that will influence and align the Crayola brand with Customer Marketing and Branding strategies. This person will also be responsible for the development of Customer Category Management team.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Charged with developing the annual "Go to Market" category management plan and platform for Crayola and D3 Learning and CAS categories at the Customer.
• Accountable for achieving category budgets on annual and quarterly basis.
• Leads category management discussions across the Customer organization on key strategies such as Destination, consumer insights, category performance, and seasonal performance, in addition to modular strategy.
• Charged with identifying gaps in Customer shopper knowledge; identification of the most effective and efficient research methodologies to close the learning gap; development of actionable category and Crayola branded initiatives leveraging shopper insights.
• Leverage category management expertise and account knowledge to build a dynamic customer relationship.
• Utilizes category knowledge to influence selling strategies, promotional support, and new item distribution.
• Proactively identifies category risks and opportunities, while also developing resolution plans within the Customer's business requirements.
• Ensure Customer's corporate strategy/objectives align with Crayola emerging category plans.
• Charged with developing category outputs/results in the areas of Crayola Destination, packing modularity, environmental sustainability, consumer insights, modularity, schematic shop ability, creating the optimal store environment, and Store of the Community.
• Strategic voice of Crayola in the areas of category management and consumer research. Accountable for driving Crayola goals and objectives through the direction of the team and development of critical relationship programs.
• Accountable for new item distribution placement and category promotional strategies.
• Assist in penetration of the Customer's marketing department and senior marketing management.
• Find and exploit alignment between Crayola shopper insights and Customer's marketing strategy.
• Works closely with sales personnel to manage category project work and provides sound input on how to profitably grow category sales.
• Has the ability to navigate through multiples POS and consumer technology tools to garnish deeper business insights that will lead to actionable category plans.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree with a business concentration and 7 years of CPG industry experience in category management or sales; or 10 years CPG marketing and/or sales experience with a minimum of 5 years of Category Management Experience.
• Ability to work in conditions, which include multiple and sometimes conflicting priorities, extended work schedule, and specific time constraints.
• Ability to draw conclusions and address key opportunities.
• Ability to work across multiple teams and functions with unique goals.
• Experience in managing and developing category strategies with a proven ability to lead multiple projects, set priorities and meet aggressive timelines.
• Proficient in MS Office Applications particularly PowerPoint, Excel and Word
  MS Project & Access experience a plus.
• Strong competencies in IRI, AC Nielsen, Spectra, Retail Link, and space management concepts are required.
• Significant interaction with CLC HQ staff, sales, MRD, and Marketing.
• Lead professional development of direct reports and execute team priorities.
• Self-directed, detail & team oriented with highly developed problem solving and analytical skills
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, coupled with strong organizational, planning and interpersonal skills
• Significant experience in dynamic, fast paced environment

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands and fingers to operate, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WHY CRAYOLA?

• Kid Inspired Culture
• Free Admission to Crayola Experience for Employees
• Community Volunteerism Opportunities
• Annual Bonus Potential for all Full-Time Employees
• Company Matched 401k & Employee Value Sharing Plan
• Comprehensive Healthcare Benefits for Eligible Employees
• Education Assistance Program
• Wellness Programs
• Employee Resource Groups
• Generous Product Discounts Onsite & Online
• Company Sponsored Employee Events
• Discounts on a wide variety of products and services - automotive, electronics, fitness, travel and entertainment

Green is our favorite color! Crayola cares about the environment and responsibly makes the products you love. Learn more about Crayola's creative solutions for greener tomorrows: https://aut.crayocom.cloud.sitefinity.com/about-us/sustainability

We offer competitive salary, outstanding benefits and the potential for advancement through the use of creative abilities. No phone calls please.

Search Firm Representatives - Please Read Carefully:
Crayola LLC is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practice, all resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Crayola LLC via e-mail, the Internet, or directly to hiring managers at Crayola LLC in any form without valid written search agreement in place for that position will be deemed the sole property of Crayola LLC, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Crayola LLC as a result of the referral or through other means.

Search firms are essential to the recruitment and staffing efforts at Crayola LLC, and we value the partnerships we have built with our vendors. For this reason, Crayola LLC has established and regularly maintains a preferred vendor list. Please note that even preferred vendors need to have a written search agreement signed by Human Resources at Crayola LLC in place for the specific position in order for a fee to be paid for any candidate referrals.