Category Manager

Bel, makers of iconic brands including GoGo squeeZ, Babybel, The Laughing Cow, and Boursin is a growing global company that values your contributions, strives to create a sense of belonging for everyone and offers career growth and development opportunities, as well as competitive total compensation and meaningful well-being benefits from day one. For All, For Good, our company signature, reflects Bel’s commitment to sustainability and healthier and responsible food for all. The company has headquarters in Chicago (Bel Brands USA) and New York City (GoGo Squeez) and operates 4 manufacturing plants in Little Chute, WI; Brookings, SD; Traverse City, MI; and Nampa, ID.

 

Job Description Summary

The Category Manager plays a vital role in advancing GoGo squeeZ’s category vision by driving household penetration, increasing consumption, and expanding our retail footprint—all in support of purposeful snacking. This position is responsible for delivering best-in-class assortment and shelving strategies that meet both consumer needs and retailer objectives. Collaborating closely with Sales, Category, and Marketing teams, the Category Manager analyzes performance, identifies growth opportunities, and recommends actionable strategies to achieve measurable success.

 

Success in this role requires balancing multiple high-impact projects with composure and efficiency, adapting seamlessly to shifting priorities and a dynamic workload. By supporting GoGo squeeZ’s leadership in the pouch segment and contributing to our ongoing category development, this role strengthens our position as a partner of choice for purposeful snacking at retail.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Category Insights & Recommendations

• Build and deliver customer category reviews with actionable recommendations to support both retailer and organizational growth objectives.
• Provide compelling, data-driven insights—using robust analysis—to drive GoGo squeeZ’s distribution and category leadership across key customers.
• Conduct in-depth assortment analyses to inform recommendations, and actively scorecard and monitor category performance, proactively identifying and addressing opportunities for improvement.

Strategy, Tools Development & Process Improvement

• Develop and commercialize assortment and shelving guidelines, category 101 materials, and new item sell stories, ensuring best practices are implemented.
• Create tools and templates that enhance analysis efficiency and continuously improve the team’s insight capabilities.
• Collaborate across teams to identify process improvements, streamline workflows, and support the adoption of more effective practices.

Data Analysis, Reporting & Issue Resolution

• Leverage syndicated databases (e.g., Circana, 84.51, Numerator) to generate insights that inform both internal teams and external customer recommendations.
• Provide timely, ad-hoc business reporting to address urgent needs and support quick decision-making.
• Monitor performance drivers using scorecards, quickly identifying potential issues and leading corrective actions to optimize results.

Project Management, Prioritization & Adaptability

• Effectively manage multiple projects and competing priorities, consistently delivering high-quality work and actionable recommendations—even when under tight deadlines.
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills and adaptability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Use creativity and a solution-oriented approach to navigate challenges, adapt to changing business needs, and ensure the most pressing priorities are addressed efficiently.

 

Skills and Qualifications

 

• Bachelor’s degree required, with 3–6 years of category management experience in consumer-packaged goods, preferably working with major food or mass retailers.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional projects, build collaborative relationships, and influence others without authority.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills; able to synthesize data from multiple sources and translate insights into clear, visually compelling recommendations.
• Excellent communication skills, including verbal, written, and presentation abilities, with experience tailoring messages to diverse audiences.
• Solid understanding of retail dynamics, shopper behavior, and new product launches.
• Highly organized and resourceful, comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel an