Manager, Category at Nissin Foods in Gardena, California

Job Description:

Nissin Foods

Summary: We are looking for a talented Category Manager to join our team. The Category Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to drive growth and profitability within the Instant Noodle category. The Category Manager will create and manage customer-specific category management deliverables for the Sales Team and directly to Customer Buyers. The position is expected to be the go-to category management expert, to include in-depth category, consumer, and shopper expertise. There is specific emphasis on actionable category and shopper insights that drive the business for both Nissin and our customers. This role requires strong analytical skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners.

Essential Functions – Job Duties: The following duties are considered essential to the job. Qualified individuals must have the ability – with or without reasonable accommodation – to perform the following duties but not limited to:

• Develop and execute category strategies to achieve sales, margin, and market share targets.

• Conduct market research and analysis to identify trends, consumer preferences, and competitive landscape within Soup category.

• Monitor and analyze category performance metrics, including sales, profitability, and inventory levels, and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, operations, and finance, to align category strategies with overall business objectives.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including field sales, brokers, and retail partners.

• Stay informed about industry trends, regulatory changes, and consumer preferences to anticipate market shifts and proactively adjust category strategies.

• Lead product assortment decisions, including SKU rationalization, new product introductions, and discontinuations, to optimize category assortment and drive sales growth.

• Collaborate with marketing teams to develop effective promotional campaigns, merchandising strategies, and product launches to drive category sales.

• Partner with Sales team for customer development, retail execution, insight activation and cross-functional collaboration.

• Requires both data and business savvy, as well as effective communication and problem-solving skills to provide consultative category management to both internal and external customers.

• This role is expected to present to and influence the customer.

• Identify OOS and non-compliance to planogram and items authorization.

• Translate category and shopper insights into customer implications and opportunities.

• Act as category advisor identifying ideas for total category growth.

• Gather and share competitive intelligence information and implications.

• Provide Merchandising, Assortment, Pricing and Shelving insights and recommendations.

• Ensure recommendations adhere to shelving and assortment principles.

• Support delivery of formal category reviews to the customer, identifying current state, business drivers and opportunities for growth.

• Lead in the assessment of shelf layout and productivity, develop shelving recommendations to optimize category performance, manage schematic development and distribution.

• Create and deliver fact-based presentations that compel customer(s) to take action against opportunities to improve their performance with Nissin’s solutions.

• Actively participate in the improvement of retail MAPS (Merchandising, Assortment, Pricing and Shelving) execution.

• Share best practices and successful retail execution examples such that others can adopt and replicate with their customers.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below are representative to the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience: Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred. Minimum of 5 years of experience in category management, merchandising, or related roles in the food industry.

Management Skills: Ability to motivate, and successfully work with internal and external customers.

Analytical / Data Skills: Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify insights, and make data-driven decisions aided by AC Nielsen / Circana expertise.

Communication / Presentation Skills: Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex concepts to diverse audiences. Comfort around senior management of both Nissin Foods and customers when presenting.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, and margins. Ability to accurately utilize syndicated, panel, shipment data or industry information to develop world class insights and category selling stories.

Negotiation Skills: Excellent negotiation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders.

Computer Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and other data analysis tools.

Thought Leadership: Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and execute category plans that align with business objectives.

Other Skills: Knowledge of food industry trends, consumer behavior, and competitive landscape.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.

Work Environment: This is a home office based job. Requires airplane and car travel for customer meetings. Significant time spent sitting behind a desk while performing administrative tasks.

About Us:

It started with the inspiration of the creator of instant noodles, founder Momofuku Ando, in 1958. Since we entered the U.S. in 1970, our flagship brands, Cup Noodles, and Top Ramen have maintained a firm foothold in U.S. pop culture. We invite you to join Team Nissin to support this legacy of innovation and to deliver noodle happiness to consumers, employees, partners, and the community in a meaningful and sustainable way. Let’s evolve how people think about instant ramen as you discover opportunities for professional growth while being part of this $4 billion global company built from a simple block of noodles.

Nissin Foods (USA) Co., Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, or sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

As a federal contractor, Nissin Foods participates in the federal government’s E-Verify program, which confirms employment authorization of all newly hired employees through an electronic database maintained by the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security. The E-Verify process may be completed in conjunction with the Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification to check the work authorization status of persons who have been offered employment at Nissin Foods. E-Verify is not used as a tool to pre-screen candidates. For up-to-date information on E-Verify, go to www.uscis.gov.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request accommodation, contact Nissin Foods (USA) Co., Inc. Human Resources.

PI256879877

Salary:

$135,000.00

Apply Now