Director of Category Management

Company Description

At Link Snacks, we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don’t hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago.

We’re everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren’t buzzwords, they’re expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands—Jack Link’s®, Lorissa’s Kitchen®, Golden Island®, BiFi®, and Peperami® and KOOEE!® to name a few—there’s nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it.

Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that’s full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks.

Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks.

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Category Management will lead the transformation of category management into a strategic growth engine for the organization and its customers.  This role owns the development and delivery of best-in-class category insights, shelving strategies, and customer engagement models that drive mutually beneficial growth. 

This leader will elevate how the organization leverages data, shopper insights, and category expertise to influence decisions, strengthen customer partnerships, and secure Category Captain, Advisor, or Validator roles across key accounts.  Success in this role requires combining analytical rigor with compelling storytelling and strong cross-functional leadership.

The Director will build, develop, and lead a high-performing team of Category Managers and Analysts, setting the standard for insight quality, execution excellence, and customer impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead Category Captainships, Advisor, and Validator Relationships

• Own and expand Category Captain, Advisor, and Validator roles across priority customers, positioning the company as a trusted category authority.
• Develop customer-specific category strategies grounded in shopper, consumer, and market insights.
• Lead joint business planning inputs through category perspectives that shape assortment, shelving, pricing, and promotion decisions.
• Establish governance and best practices for engagement, ensuring consistent, high-quality delivery across all customer interactions.
• Partner with Sales to proactively identify opportunities to deepen influence and unlock incremental category growth.

Execute Gold Standard Plan-O-Grams

• Define and institutionalize “Gold Standard” planogram principles that balance shopper needs, category growth, and brand performance.
• Lead the development and deployment of data-driven shelving solutions using best-in-class space management tools.
• Ensure planograms are insight-led, customer-relevant, and aligned with strategic growth priorities.
• Drive continuous improvement through test-and-learn approaches and post-implementation performance tracking.
• Partner with Sales and customers to ensure execution compliance and maximize in-store impact.

Category and Customer Thought Leadership

• Serve as the voice of the category internally and externally, translating data into actionable, forward-looking insights.
• Develop compelling, insight-led narratives that influence customer decision-making and strengthen credibility.
• Identify emerging category, consumer, and shopper trends to shape strategic recommendations.
• Elevate the organization’s category management capabilities through tools, frameworks, and best practices.
• Represent the company in key customer meetings, industry forums, and strategic discussions as a category expert.

Analytics & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead the synthesis of synd