Category Manager, Target (JLB Agency)

About JLB

JLB is an award-winning, retail consulting firm that is passionate about helping brands succeed at Target and Target win in the Marketplace. From starting up to selling in, we deliver complete retail solutions that drive accelerated brand growth for our partners.

We offer Sales and Strategy, Business Insights, Consumer Research, Category Management, Digital Services, Trend, Creative, Shopper Marketing and Retail Services, delivering a customized approach based on the unique needs of your business. We’re not your typical manufacturer’s rep and are so much more than a broker. We’re your partner, helping brands big or small, emerging or established, build solutions that drive business growth at the world’s most innovative mass retailers.

The Team

Our Category Management Service at Target serves as a pivotal resource for the Target buying team, offering flawless day-to-day support and are entrusted with direct access to Target’s internal systems. This role is exclusively dedicated to Target, representing a collaborative and strategic partnership that seamlessly integrates with the Target buying team. The Category Manager is an experienced trusted advisor providing thought leadership and strategy direction with analytically based actionable insights addressing business goals and challenges.

The Role

The Category Manager works largely independent on their assigned category/categories of increased in complexity, servicing mid to high-level buyers. Complexities in categories may be driven by the number of times a category transitions/revises, the segmentation strategy, the digital strategy, the competitive retailers, and the off-shelf activity. They expertly analyze data from multiple sources, synthesized to deliver clear, tailored presentations to the Target buying team. They are entrusted with primary ownership of relationships at the Target buyer and senior buyer level and developing relationships at the Director level. They lead customized category reviews with insights & recommendations and drive short- & long-term strategy guidance for Target and manage the category transition and revision process with a focus on accuracy and efficiency. They anticipate business needs and proactively identify challenges and opportunities. The Category Manager mentors, develops, and trains teammates at junior levels. Expert analytical and problem-solving skills, advanced experience with Target’s internal systems, strong leadership and project management abilities, and excellent communication, and presentation skills are required.

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

Essential Responsibility

• Relationships: Independently manages day-to-day relationships with Target and cross-functional teams: including merchant, business analyst, inventory analyst, space & transition planning & pricing promo team, and developing relationships with Director merchant. Leads preparation and execution of client meetings, including weekly updates and ad hoc sessions, while driving collaborative problem-solving discussions. Provides strategic recommendations grounded in a deep understanding of category trends and client needs. Acts as a mentor for some junior team members, fostering professional growth and knowledge-sharing.
• Reporting: Owns the end-to-end reporting process, combining advanced data analytics with a deep understanding of business drivers. Integrates multiple data sources to deliver detailed weekly reports and strategic insights that highlight performance trends, opportunities, and risks. Incorporates insights on sales, promotions, inventory in multiple roll ups like brand, vendor, subcategory, and item. Develops and manages custom attributes, enabling deeper analysis and providing valuable insights into business performance. Supports ad hoc reporting needs, proactively identifying relevant data points to address client questions and guide decisions.
• Marketplace Insights/Competitive Shops: Manages in-depth analyses of competitive marketplace and retailer trends, including merchandising, pricing, brand, and SKU selection. Produces comprehensive reports on market share, competitive retailer performance, and industry trends. Identifies and capitalizes on emerging trends, opportunity items, promotional themes, and merchandising strategies. Provides strategic recommendations to Target merchant team.
• Category & Seasonal Reviews: Executes category and seasonal review utilizing some pre-established templates and creating custom outputs for their business. Gains a deep understanding of client strategies and analyzes: sales, space-to-sales, consumer behavior, and basket drivers, segmentation, pricing tiers, assortment gaps, white space, and merchandising. Provides actionable insights and strategic recommendations to enhance category performance and productivity. Is successful at synthesizing to create executive summaries and key recommendations summaries independently. Effectively presents to the client, utilizing advanced presentation techniques to convey complex data and insights, fostering client understanding and buy-in.
• Planogram Process: Own the transition & revision planogram process from start to finish. This includes managing T&A, confirming item images & attributes, merchandise planning, SVP walk-through support, planogram optimization and writing all planogram versions. Analyze merchandising and assortment to influence strategy. Develops strategic planograms that align with business objectives and enhance the customer experience. Efficiently writes up to 1,000 planograms, store ties, fixture placement, signage, and proofing. Provides guidance and mentorship to junior team members and collaborates with senior leadership to drive continuous improvement.
• Digital Support: Manages the development of comprehensive digital performance reports and seasonal analyses. Conducts in-depth analysis of channel sales performance, search behavior, purchasability, and site content and experience. Collaborates with internal digital category experts to identify correct tools to use for a business question before developing custom outputs. Develops and presents to Target strategic recommendations based on data analysis to support business objectives and improve digital performance.
• Macro & Micro Trends: Research trends and utilize internal resources to gain comprehensive insights. Identify emerging trends and apply these to current and forward-thinking category initiatives. Shares insights and presentations that are applicable to other categories at JLB to create efficiency and knowledge sharing. 
• Support in the Category Management team space: : Is a thought partner to junior team members in creating analyses and insights. Contribute to the development and dissemination of training materials, process improvements, and efficiency tips. Share knowledge and best practices with the team through both informal and formal channels.

Minimum Qualifications

Education Level: (Required) Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field such as Business, Finance, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related discipline. 
     
Field of Study/Area of Experience: 
6+ years of experience in retail or brand background is a must.

3+ years of relatable Category Advisor or Captainship is preferred but not required.

Target specific Category Management experience is a plus.

Proficient in diverse tasks including reporting & analytics, setting planograms, planogram writing, creating presentations, and adept presentation delivery. Skilled in synthesizing multiple/extensive resources to craft compelling narratives and actionable insights, with a deep understanding of merchandising strategies and the ability to leverage and apply substantial datasets effectively.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports
- This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports

Indirect Reports
- Does not have direct reports, but may delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Strategic: Possesses a profound understanding of business strategy, initiatives, and processes. Driven by curiosity and self-motivation, this individual delves deeply to develop well-informed opinions. They have the unique ability to synthesize their findings with insights and trends, transforming them into actionable recommendations. They identify innovative ideas and provide clear direction for the category, aligning with Target’s vision for both short-term gains and long-term growth.
• Organized Excellence: Exceptionally organized with a proven ability to manage multiple priorities and consistently meet all deadlines. This individual proactively understands and anticipates deliverables from 2-3 buying teams and internal company needs, ensuring all workstreams are executed in a timely and efficient manner. Their meticulous planning and prioritization skills enable them to coordinate complex projects seamlessly, maintaining high standards of productivity and precision across all tasks.
• Advanced Analytical Expertise: Demonstrates superior analytical skills by objectively evaluating multiple data sources to solve complex problems. Utilizes a range of tools, techniques, and business inquiries to generate comprehensive and insightful presentations. Their ability to distill vast amounts of information into clear, actionable insights underscores their proficiency in data analysis and strategic thinking.
• Detail-Oriented Precision: Exhibits exceptional attention to detail in data attribution and maintaining data accuracy. Possesses the keen ability to identify discrepancies and flaws in data, as well as in Space Planning (JDA). Their meticulous approach ensures the integrity and reliability of all data-related processes, contributing to seamless and efficient operations.
• Expert in Resources: Proficient in the following tools & resources: Market Insights/Competitive Retail, Syndicated Data, Panel Data, Excel, Power Point, JDA (Merchandising), POS systems, Kantar, Mintel, Numerator, and Target specific tools (Vendor IQ, Partners Online, Domo, CKS)
• Exceptional Customer Service: Demonstrates outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, delivering concise, professional, and timely responses to clients, Target buyers, cross-functional partners, and internal team members. Their ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders ensures seamless collaboration and exceptional service, fostering strong relationships and enhancing overall satisfaction. Their commitment to excellence in customer service reflects a deep understanding of the importance of clear and responsive communication in driving business success.
• Unwavering Commitment: Exemplifies self-motivation and proactivity, demonstrating an unyielding dedication to delivering exceptional results. This individual consistently drives initiatives forward, approaching challenges with a solution-oriented mindset. Their relentless pursuit of excellence and innovative problem-solving abilities ensure the successful achievement of goals and the continuous improvement of processes.

Environmental & Physical Requirements
Typical office time spent for reporting, meetings and planogram writing. Monthly store walks/retailer visits. Bi-annual product unboxing & setting planograms live in the office for SVP walks (typically planograms are set for 8 weeks). Sales plan sets live in the office live 6-8 times per year.

Additional Information Regarding Job Duties and Job Descriptions

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by law.

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Essential Responsibility

• Relationships: Independently manages day-to-day relationships with Target and cross-functional teams: including merchant, business analyst, inventory analyst, space & transition planning & pricing promo team, and developing relationships with Director merchant. Leads preparation and execution of client meetings, including weekly updates and ad hoc sessions, while driving collaborative problem-solving discussions. Provides strategic recommendations grounded in a deep understanding of category trends and client needs. Acts as a mentor for some junior team members, fostering professional growth and knowledge-sharing.
• Reporting: Owns the end-to-end reporting process, combining advanced data analytics with a deep understanding of business drivers. Integrates multiple data sources to deliver detailed weekly reports and strategic insights that highlight performance trends, opportunities, and risks. Incorporates insights on sales, promotions, inventory in multiple roll ups like brand, vendor, subcategory, and item. Develops and manages custom attributes, enabling deeper analysis and providing valuable insights into business performance. Supports ad hoc reporting needs, proactively identifying relevant data points to address client questions and guide decisions.
• Marketplace Insights/Competitive Shops: Manages in-depth analyses of competitive marketplace and retailer trends, including merchandising, pricing, brand, and SKU selection. Produces comprehensive reports on market share, competitive retailer performance, and industry trends. Identifies and capitalizes on emerging trends, opportunity items, promotional themes, and merchandising strategies. Provides strategic recommendations to Target merchant team.
• Category & Seasonal Reviews: Executes category and seasonal review utilizing some pre-established templates and creating custom outputs for their business. Gains a deep understanding of client strategies and analyzes: sales, space-to-sales, consumer behavior, and basket drivers, segmentation, pricing tiers, assortment gaps, white space, and merchandising. Provides actionable insights and strategic recommendations to enhance category performance and productivity. Is successful at synthesizing to create executive summaries and key recommendations summaries independently. Effectively presents to the client, utilizing advanced presentation techniques to convey complex data and insights, fostering client understanding and buy-in.
• Planogram Process: Own the transition & revision planogram process from start to finish. This includes managing T&A, confirming item images & attributes, merchandise planning, SVP walk-through support, planogram optimization and writing all planogram versions. Analyze merchandising and assortment to influence strategy. Develops strategic planograms that align with business objectives and enhance the customer experience. Efficiently writes up to 1,000 planograms, store ties, fixture placement, signage, and proofing. Provides guidance and mentorship to junior team members and collaborates with senior leadership to drive continuous improvement.
• Digital Support: Manages the development of comprehensive digital performance reports and seasonal analyses. Conducts in-depth analysis of channel sales performance, search behavior, purchasability, and site content and experience. Collaborates with internal digital category experts to identify correct tools to use for a business question before developing custom outputs. Develops and presents to Target strategic recommendations based on data analysis to support business objectives and improve digital performance.
• Macro & Micro Trends: Research trends and utilize internal resources to gain comprehensive insights. Identify emerging trends and apply these to current and forward-thinking category initiatives. Shares insights and presentations that are applicable to other categories at JLB to create efficiency and knowledge sharing. 
• Support in the Category Management team space: : Is a thought partner to junior team members in creating analyses and insights. Contribute to the development and dissemination of training materials, process improvements, and efficiency tips. Share knowledge and best practices with the team through both informal and formal channels.

Minimum Qualifications

Education Level: (Required) Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field such as Business, Finance, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related discipline. 
     
Field of Study/Area of Experience: 
6+ years of experience in retail or brand background is a must.

3+ years of relatable Category Advisor or Captainship is preferred but not required.

Target specific Category Management experience is a plus.

Proficient in diverse tasks including reporting & analytics, setting planograms, planogram writing, creating presentations, and adept presentation delivery. Skilled in synthesizing multiple/extensive resources to craft compelling narratives and actionable insights, with a deep understanding of merchandising strategies and the ability to leverage and apply substantial datasets effectively.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports
- This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports

Indirect Reports
- Does not have direct reports, but may delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Strategic: Possesses a profound understanding of business strategy, initiatives, and processes. Driven by curiosity and self-motivation, this individual delves deeply to develop well-informed opinions. They have the unique ability to synthesize their findings with insights and trends, transforming them into actionable recommendations. They identify innovative ideas and provide clear direction for the category, aligning with Target’s vision for both short-term gains and long-term growth.
• Organized Excellence: Exceptionally organized with a proven ability to manage multiple priorities and consistently meet all deadlines. This individual proactively understands and anticipates deliverables from 2-3 buying teams and internal company needs, ensuring all workstreams are executed in a timely and efficient manner. Their meticulous planning and prioritization skills enable them to coordinate complex projects seamlessly, maintaining high standards of productivity and precision across all tasks.
• Advanced Analytical Expertise: Demonstrates superior analytical skills by objectively evaluating multiple data sources to solve complex problems. Utilizes a range of tools, techniques, and business inquiries to generate comprehensive and insightful presentations. Their ability to distill vast amounts of information into clear, actionable insights underscores their proficiency in data analysis and strategic thinking.
• Detail-Oriented Precision: Exhibits exceptional attention to detail in data attribution and maintaining data accuracy. Possesses the keen ability to identify discrepancies and flaws in data, as well as in Space Planning (JDA). Their meticulous approach ensures the integrity and reliability of all data-related processes, contributing to seamless and efficient operations.
• Expert in Resources: Proficient in the following tools & resources: Market Insights/Competitive Retail, Syndicated Data, Panel Data, Excel, Power Point, JDA (Merchandising), POS systems, Kantar, Mintel, Numerator, and Target specific tools (Vendor IQ, Partners Online, Domo, CKS)
• Exceptional Customer Service: Demonstrates outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, delivering concise, professional, and timely responses to clients, Target buyers, cross-functional partners, and internal team members. Their ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders ensures seamless collaboration and exceptional service, fostering strong relationships and enhancing overall satisfaction. Their commitment to excellence in customer service reflects a deep understanding of the importance of clear and responsive communication in driving business success.
• Unwavering Commitment: Exemplifies self-motivation and proactivity, demonstrating an unyielding dedication to delivering exceptional results. This individual consistently drives initiatives forward, approaching challenges with a solution-oriented mindset. Their relentless pursuit of excellence and innovative problem-solving abilities ensure the successful achievement of goals and the continuous improvement of processes.

Environmental & Physical Requirements
Typical office time spent for reporting, meetings and planogram writing. Monthly store walks/retailer visits. Bi-annual product unboxing & setting planograms live in the office for SVP walks (typically planograms are set for 8 weeks). Sales plan sets live in the office live 6-8 times per year.

Additional Information Regarding Job Duties and Job Descriptions

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by law.