Manager, Category Management - Food

SUMMARY

The Category Manager will report to the Director, Category Management and will be instrumental in identification, development, and implementation of strategic category opportunities for Buffalo Wild Wings. This role will help guide where and how BWW looks for growth opportunities to meet business needs and will work cross-functionally to understand food trends driving category growth, inform current and projected category performance, and develop strategies, products, and key initiatives to address identified opportunities. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partner with the Culinary teams to develop the innovation pipeline and commercialize new initiatives; including cross-functional teams such as Operations, Analytics, Supply Chain, Training, and Insights, and Marketing. 

• Work with Director to define and refine short and long-term menu strategies to meet brand and business objectives. 

• Partner with Insights team to gather information to understand current customer and growth target needs, market trends, competitive landscape, product screener results, and positioning and product testing to develop recommendations based on prioritized areas of focus 

• Analyze ongoing performance of the menu across channels (at the restaurant and in digital channels) to identify opportunities to optimize 

• Partner with cross-functional teams, including Brand Experience and Commercial Group, on pricing, promotion, and positioning recommendations across channels 

• Evaluate test and launch product and category results and develop recommendations on path forward for alignment across brand leadership and franchisees 

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EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

• Required minimum: bachelor’s degree within business, communications, marketing, project management, or other relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience. 

• 4+ years’ experience in brand strategy or category management 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, OR ABILITIES 

• Strong computer skills: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc. are required. Experience in work management tools like Asana and Confluence is preferred. 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 

• Strong communication, attention to detail and organizational skills. 

• Strong strategic thinking skills, including data-driven thinking with innate curiosity and growth mindset. 

• Understanding of how to take products or programs through a commercialization process. 

• Demonstrated project management capabilities including development/documentation of project plan, group leadership, and decision-making skills. 

• Ability to work cross-functionally to drive to a smart busine