Category Strategy Manager at Conagra Brands in Chicago, IL

Category Strategy Manager Location: Chicago, Illinois Reporting to the Director of Category Strategy, you will lead the development and execution of category growth platforms for our Snacks, Sweet Treats, and Baking portfolio. You will integrate shopper, customer, and brand insights to guide category strategy and influence customer decisions. You will partner closely with field sales, Category Leadership, and brand teams to translate insights into actionable plans that drive sustainable growth. A Taste of Your Responsibilities Lead the development and implementation of category growth platforms across your assigned portfolio in partnership with the Director of Category Strategy. Integrate shopper insights, customer analytics, and brand insights to inform category strategies and guide Category Leadership and field sales execution. Own and advance category strategies across assigned categories, supporting innovation launches and customer‑specific growth opportunities. Partner with field sales and Category Leadership to support joint business planning through actionable insights, analysis, and category recommendations. Conduct category business reviews that highlight performance, trends, key business drivers, and incremental growth opportunities. Identify, standardize, and commercialize best practices from field Category Leadership teams into scalable national growth opportunities. Serve as a strategic partner to brand teams by proactively delivering value‑added category and customer work. Develop category strategies, tools, and playbooks that can be efficiently customized for priority customers using scalable resources. Interface regularly with customer teams, delivering category tools and analysis that support customer decision‑making. Act as the subject matter expert for Category Leadership tools across assigned categories, including Circana Scan & Panel, Circana Always-on Assortment, NIQ, 84.51, and JDA Space planning Build strong working relationships with cross‑functional partners across business development, demand and behavioral science, brand, category, and sales teams. Establish merchandising standards aligned with brand strategies and customer needs. Monitor category and industry trends, translating insights into clear points of view that inform internal and external growth plans. Manage multiple workstreams, setting priorities, providing timelines, and ensuring delivery against commitments. Lead and develop one direct report. Ingredients Required for Your Success Bachelor’s degree required. 5+ years of related consumer packaged goods industry experience, including category management, sales or a combination of sales and syndicated data roles. Strong working knowledge of Circana, Nielsen, syndicated data, space management, category management tools,visualization tools,spreadsheets and databases. Strong communication, presentation, and negotiation skills with experience influencing customers and cross‑functional partners. Demonstrated expertise integrating and interpreting data to support category and customer decisions. Proven problem‑solving skills with a focus on identifying growth opportunities and developing practical solutions. Strong collaboration skills and experience working effectively in a highly matrixed environment. Demonstrated flexibility and responsiveness to changing business priorities and customer needs. Strong time management and prioritization skills across multiple initiatives. Leadership capability with experience guiding work through others. Action‑oriented, results‑focused mindset. Strategic, proactive self‑starter who anticipates needs and acts with minimal direction. Commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive culture. Number of Days in Office: 4 #LI-Hybrid #LI-PM1 #LI-MSL Compensation Pay Range:$107,000-$156,000 The annual salary listed above is the expected offering for this position. An employee’s actual annual salary will be based on but not limited to: location, relevant experience/level and skillset, while balancing internal Conagra employees’ equity. Conagra Brands will comply with applicable law regarding minimum salaries for exempt employees. Our Benefits We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role: Health: Comprehensive healthcare plans, wellness incentive program, mental wellbeing support and fitness reimbursement Wealth: Great pay, bonus incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan Growth: Career development opportunities, employee resource groups, on-demand learning and tuition reimbursement Balance: Paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role) and volunteer opportunities Our Company At Conagra Brands, we have a rich heritage of making great food. We aspire to have the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in food. As a member of our 18,000+ person team across 40+ locations, you are empowered to reach your potential, make an impact and own your career. We're in the business of building champions – within our people and our iconic brands like Birds Eye®, Slim Jim® and Reddi-Wip®. Our focus on innovation extends beyond making great food, it also reflects our commitment to embracing new solutions that positively impact our team, the communities we serve and the health of our planet. Foodies Welcome. Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.