Associate Director, Category Strategy & Insights Taste Elevation

Kraft/Heinz

Job Description
The Associate Director, Customer Category Strategy serves as a strategic leader connecting customer teams, category insights, retailer intelligence, and the broader commercial organization. Reporting to the Vice President of Customer Strategy & Retail Intelligence, this leader is responsible for transforming data, shopper insights, omnichannel trends, retailer feedback, and market intelligence into actionable category roadmaps that support category performance across physical and digital retail environments.

The role combines local-level space analytics, category performance data, consumer and shopper insights, retailer information, and macro and micro market trends to identify opportunities and develop compelling customer-specific stories. As a leader of a team of subject matter experts aligned to a business unit, the Associate Director will help shape category roadmaps, influence retailer decision-making, and uncover opportunities through innovation, collaboration, and disciplined execution.

This individual serves as a strategic category expert both internally and externally, partnering closely with Business Unit Sales & Strategy (BUSS) teams to provide retailer, category, and space insights that inform commercial decision-making. The role ensures category recommendations are grounded in retailer realities, future retail trends, and evolving shopper behaviors while advancing long-term category leadership.
The Associate Director will lead efforts to identify emerging retail opportunities, drive space and merchandising strategies, evaluate evolving omnichannel retail models, and develop recommendations that position the organization and its customers for success in the future retail environment.
Key Responsibilities
Customer Category Strategy
Develop and deliver customer-specific category roadmaps that support category performance and long-term retailer and business objectives.
Integrate multiple data sources-including space analytics, syndicated data, retailer data, shopper insights, consumer research, and market trends-to identify opportunities and develop actionable recommendations.
Translate complex analyses into compelling customer-facing stories that influence retailer decisions and strengthen category leadership.
Build strategic recommendations focused on assortment, shelving, merchandising, space productivity, omnichannel execution, and the future evolution of the retail environment.
Identify category opportunities at national, regional, and local market levels through advanced analytics, retailer insights, and changing consumer behaviors.
Leverage retailer strategies, category trends, and market intelligence to develop forward-looking category roadmaps aligned to customer and business priorities.
Omnichannel Strategy, Space & Retail Excellence
Lead the development of omnichannel category roadmaps that connect physical retail, e-commerce, click-and-collect, digital merchandising, and emerging retail formats.
Evaluate changing shopper behaviors, channel dynamics, and retailer strategies to ensure category recommendations remain relevant across all points of purchase.
Partner with customer teams to identify opportunities that improve category performance through optimized space, merchandising, and omnichannel execution.
Assess the impact of evolving retail models, store formats, digital capabilities, and emerging technologies to identify opportunities for category leadership and future store development.
Champion thought leadership around the future of retail, helping customers and internal teams understand how category strategies must evolve across physical and digital environments.
Incorporate emerging retail trends, technology, and shopper behaviors into category roadmaps and strategic recommendations.
Customer Partnership & Business Unit Support
Partner closely with Customer Teams and Business Unit Sales & Strategy (BUSS) teams to develop retailer-specific category strategies aligned with customer objectives.
Serve as the category, retailer, and space strategy subject matter expert for assigned business units and customer teams.
Provide category, retailer, and space insights that support commercial planning, strategic decision-making, and customer engagement activities.
Translate retailer feedback, category trends, space opportunities, and field insights into actionable recommendations that inform category roadmaps and business priorities.
Equip sales, BUSS, and customer teams with actionable insights, category stories, retailer intelligence, and space-based recommendations that can be effectively activated in-market.
Support key customer meetings, joint business planning sessions, category reviews, and executive business reviews through compelling, insight-based storytelling.
Establish feedback loops that continuously capture retailer and field perspectives to improve category recommendations, priorities, and execution.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Enterprise Collaboration
Lead strategic collaboration across Business Units (BU), Business Unit Sales & Strategy (BUSS), Commercial Capabilities, Retail Teams, Supply Chain, Marketing, Insights, Analytics, and Revenue Growth Management functions.
Align category roadmaps with broader commercial objectives while ensuring recommendations are operationally feasible, retailer-relevant, and grounded in category insights.
Partner with Commercial Capabilities teams to develop tools, frameworks, and best practices that strengthen category leadership and customer-facing effectiveness.
Collaborate with Supply Chain and business partners to ensure category recommendations consider inventory, fulfillment, and operational realities.
Influence innovation, assortment, merchandising, space planning, and go-to-market decisions through fact-based insights and retailer-informed recommendations.
Foster alignment across stakeholders to drive execution against shared business priorities.
Innovation, Test & Learn & Retail Solutions
Identify emerging retail opportunities, technologies, and industry trends that can unlock new sources of category value and competitive advantage.
Lead the development and coordination of test-and-learn initiatives designed to evaluate new retail solutions, merchandising concepts, space optimization approaches, future-store formats, and omnichannel execution opportunities.
Partner with customer teams and cross-functional stakeholders to design pilots, establish success metrics, measure results, and scale successful initiatives.
Create a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement by leveraging data and insights to validate new approaches and accelerate learning.
Share best practices, key learnings, and scalable retail solutions across business units and customer teams.
Monitor industry innovation and emerging retailer strategies to identify opportunities that shape the future of category management and retail execution.
Team Leadership & Development
Lead, coach, and develop a team of category strategy, insights, analytics, space planning, and retail intelligence subject matter experts aligned to a business unit.
Foster a culture of curiosity, innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
Establish clear priorities, development plans, and performance expectations that drive business impact and employee growth.
Promote analytical rigor, strategic thinking, thought leadership, and storytelling excellence across the team.
Build organizational capability in category strategy, retailer strategy, space analytics, omnichannel execution, and future-of-retail thinking.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, Analytics, Statistics, Consumer Behavior, or a related field.
8+ years of experience in category strategy, category management, category leadership, retail analytics, shopper insights, sales strategy, or related commercial functions.
3+ years of experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
Demonstrated ability to synthesize multiple data sources into actionable business recommendations and category roadmaps.
Strong understanding of retail, omnichannel commerce, category management principles, retailer strategies, and shopper behavior.
Experience working with syndicated data, retailer data, consumer insights, space analytics, and category performance metrics.
Proven success influencing senior leaders, cross-functional stakeholders, and external customer partners.
Exceptional communication, storytelling, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
Preferred
MBA or other advanced degree.
Experience working directly with national and regional retail customers.
Expertise in category strategy, omnichannel retail, space optimization, retail merchandising, future-store concepts, and advanced consumer insights.
Experience leading customer pilots, retail innovation initiatives, or test-and-learn programs.
Familiarity with Circana/IRI, NielsenIQ, retailer loyalty data, space planning tools, shopper panel data, and advanced analytics platforms.
Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz' strategy and values.
New Hire Base Salary Range:
$164,200.00 - $205,200.00 Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors
Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family's needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.
Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.
You'll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:
Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
Emotional - Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
Financial - 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability
Location(s)
Chicago/Aon Center
Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact View email address on jobs2careers.com for assistance.

Apply

Vacancy posted 23 hours ago

Similar jobs that could be interesting for youBased on the Associate Director, Category Strategy & Insights Taste Elevation in Wilmette, IL vacancy

Associate Director, Category Strategy & Insights Taste Elevation
...Job Description The Associate Director, Customer Category Strategy serves as a strategic leader connecting customer teams, category insights, retailer intelligence, and the broader commercial organization. Reporting to the Vice President of Customer Strategy & Retail...
Suggested
Local area
Flexible hours
Kraft/Heinz
Winnetka, IL
1 day ago
Senior Associate Director, Major Gifts
$110k - $120k
...through business education. To sustain and elevate our ability to create positive impact,... ...a vital role on this team, a Senior Associate Director contributes to a best-in-class, highly... ...common goals & develop & execute strategies to increase integration. Prospects &...
Suggested
Work at office
Immediate start
Flexible hours
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
3 days ago
Strategic Sourcing Manager
$110k - $140k
...enterprise-wide sourcing and supply chain strategies. The Strategic Sourcing Manager... ...across direct and indirect raw material categories (e.g. resins and components) and suppliers... ...analyzing data; extracts meaningful insights to drive action. Business Acumen – Considers...
Suggested
Contract work
Temporary work
Local area
Remote work
Flexible hours
Shift work
ITW
Glenview, IL
5 days ago
Associate Category Manager
...Description Job Summary : Indirect Information Technology Sourcing with a category in Telecommunications, IT Hardware and Security. Implements procurement strategies, from initial identification of procurement needs through delivery, for indirect goods...
Suggested
Hourly pay
Temporary work
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Deerfield, IL
2 days ago
Associate Director, Global Sales, Inventory, and Operational Planning (SIOP)
$152k - $200k
...legacy, we are deepening our commitment to elevating the dialysis experience through... ...Reporting to the VP of Global SIOP, the Associate Director, Global Sales, Inventory, and Operational... ..., and inventory data into actionable insights that enables consistent and fact‑based...
Suggested
Temporary work
Local area
Worldwide
Flexible hours
Vantive
Deerfield, IL
3 days ago
Strategy Director
$150k - $170k
...Account Management Job Description: Strategy Director Who We Are IMS represents... ...that we serve. We know that when our associates are empowered to bring their whole selves... ...with the ability to translate market insights into actionable business initiatives...
Temporary work
Work at office
Local area
Adelphi Group
Skokie, IL
2 days ago
Senior Associate Brand Manager
$114k - $139k
...Job Title: Senior Associate Brand Manager – Kerrygold Function: Marketing Reports to: Senior... ...of the short‑term and long‑term brand strategy. Lead development and roll out of a monthly... ...mindset, ability to translate data into insights and actions. Financial acumen, ability...
Full time
Temporary work
Work at office
Local area
Monday to Friday
Flexible hours
3 days per week
Ornua
Evanston, IL
17 hours ago
HR Business Partner, Midwest
$75k
...market by connecting people strategy to real business outcomes. Success... ...operates, and using that insight to influence decisions around... ...it. This role reports to a Director of HR Business Partners who... ....00/Yr. ID 2026-21618 Category Human Resources Position...
Full time
Immediate start
Remote work
Shift work
Night shift
Crash Champions
Niles, IL
3 days ago
Business Manager - Strategic Risk: Insights & Analysis
$164.8k - $188.1k
...Business Manager - Strategic Risk: Insights & Analysis As a Business Analysis Manager... ...class professionals to develop and test strategies that ultimately impact the bottom line.... ...locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual...
Full time
Temporary work
Part time
Local area
Capital One
Deerfield, IL
2 days ago
Sr. Manager, Global Demand Planning
$136k - $180k
...As we build on our legacy, we are deepening our commitment to elevating the dialysis experience through digital solutions and advanced... ...capability and the ability to translate complex data into clear insights and executive‑ready materials. Hands‑on expertise with...
Temporary work
Worldwide
Flexible hours
Vantive
Deerfield, IL
3 days ago
Associate Manager, Product Management
$88.9k - $151.2k
...passionate about turning customer insights into products that help... ...collaborate? We're looking for an Associate Manager of Product Management... ..., market insights, business strategy, and engineering innovation.... ...of all competitors in the category. This role merges business needs...
Full time
Part time
Work at office
Worldwide
Work visa
Flexible hours
3 days per week
Shure
Niles, IL
17 hours ago
Director, Strategic Sourcing
$137.6k - $175k
...to build and lead our indirect sourcing strategy across enterprise services and technology... ...reactive procurement to a disciplined, category‑led model that shapes demand, drives enterprise... ...initiatives and critical negotiations Elevate the quality and consistency of...
Full time
Work at office
Shift work
UL Solutions
Northbrook, IL
3 days ago
Associate Manager, Commercial Operations & Analytics
...experience helping life sciences companies optimize their commercialization through strategic insight, advanced analytics, and technology. From developing go-to-market strategies and building foundational data analytics infrastructures to leveraging artificial...
Permanent employment
Work at office
Remote work
Relocation
Flexible hours
Beghou
Evanston, IL
5 days ago
Director, HR (Deerfield)
$140k - $220k
...purpose is that we elevate every life by... ...strength. As the Director of Human... ...in driving talent strategies, workforce planning... ...leveraging data and insights to drive HR strategies... ...together associates from across our U... ...exciting, supercharged categories in the home...
Full time
Summer work
Flexible hours
Fortune Brands Innovations
Deerfield, IL
1 day ago
Senior Hardware Program Manager
$90k - $143k
.... Our driving purpose is to elevate every life by transforming spaces... ...the correct risk mitigation strategy is developed. Be able to... ...health and wellness of our associates by offering comprehensive, competitive... ...within the high-growth categories of water, outdoors and...
Remote work
Monday to Friday
Flexible hours
Fortune Brands
Deerfield, IL
3 days ago
Associate Director of Education Programs
...The Center: Resources for Teaching is seeking an Associate Director to enhance educational services and manage program deliverables. This full-time role is based in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and involves supervising staff while ensuring high-quality professional learning...
Full time
The-Center-Resources-For-Teaching-
Arlington Heights, IL
2 days ago
Associate Director, Supply Chain Development
$152k - $190k
...0 years, our team has driven meaningful innovations in kidney care. As we build on our legacy, we are deepening our commitment to elevating the dialysis experience through digital solutions and advanced services, while looking beyond kidney care and investing in transforming...
Temporary work
Work at office
Worldwide
Flexible hours
Vantive
Deerfield, IL
5 days ago
Senior Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis
$103.1k - $165.71k
...projects that will enable leadership to make insightful business decisions.* Works... ...partnering with each Community’s Executive Director to help prepare and coordinate the monthly... ...satisfaction and team efficiency**Account Strategy**Define and execute strategies to drive...
Full time
Work experience placement
Work at office
Local area
Covenant Retirement Communities & Covenant Care
Skokie, IL
1 day ago
Senior Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis
$103.1k - $165.71k
...propositions and special projects to enable leadership to make insightful business decisions. Collaborate with the Operations AVP to... ...meet targeted goals. Partner with each Community’s Executive Director to prepare and coordinate the monthly forecast and the Annual...
Work experience placement
Work at office
Local area
Covenant Living of Colorado
Skokie, IL
4 days ago
Associate Director
$85k
...Company Overview Shine on as an Associate Director. In special education and alternative education settings nationwide, the team members of Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI) shine a positive light on students who need academic, emotional, social, and behavioral...
Work at office
Local area
Specialized-Education-Services,-Inc.-3
Arlington Heights, IL
2 days ago
Senior Associate Director, Major Gifts
$25k
...National Jewish Health is seeking a Senior Associate Director, Major Gifts to join the Chicago Regional Office in Northbrook. This role supports... ...of $25,000 and above Develops and executes fundraising strategies to meet or exceed revenue goals Identifies, cultivates, and...
Full time
Part time
Work experience placement
Work at office
Local area
Remote work
National Jewish Health
Northbrook, IL
17 hours ago
Sr. Program Manager
$80 - $85 per hour
...providing clear updates, decisions needed, risks, and executive-level insights. Drive cross-functional collaboration across onshore and... ..., and seamless operational handoffs. Monitor progress, elevate blockers, and ensure appropriate mitigation steps. Build compelling...
Contract work
Remote work
Optomi
Rosemont, IL
3 days ago
Enterprise Program Manager
$143k
...results. Project Artifacts: Accountable for program artifacts (strategy, benefits, scope, schedule, budget, risk, quality, project... ...origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr...
Permanent employment
Temporary work
Local area
Flexible hours
Woodward
Niles, IL
4 days ago
Director Total Rewards
$200k - $240k
...Director Total Rewards About the Company We’re partnered with a globally... ...everything from compensation strategy and benefits design to HR... ...Build dashboards and insights that inform business and talent... ...team Set clear expectations and elevate performance Build capability...
Work experience placement
Local area
Crucial Hire
Northbrook, IL
2 days ago
Sr. Manager, Global Supply Planning
$136k - $180k
...legacy, we are deepening our commitment to elevating the dialysis experience through digital... ...of major risks, alignment on mitigation strategies, and integration with demand and... ...ability to translate complex data into clear insights and executive‑ready materials. Hands‑on...
Temporary work
Worldwide
Flexible hours
Vantive
Deerfield, IL
4 days ago
Associate Marketing Manager, Lifecycle
...Collaborate on the planning and execution of the email personalization strategy, email versioning and dynamic content plans. Partner with the e... .../campaign reporting, identifying and applying actionable insights, as well as deep dives into customer segmentation and email...
Remote work
Monday to Thursday
Crate&Barrel
Northbrook, IL
4 days ago
Associate Product Manager — Global Lifecycle, Remote
$133.18k - $136k
PowerToFly seeks an Associate Manager for Product Management in Niles, IL. This full-time role involves leading product maintenance and lifecycle management projects, requiring significant customer analysis. The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing or...
Remote job
Full time
PowerToFly
Niles, IL
2 days ago
Director, Strategic Sourcing
Wesco is seeking a Specialist – Supplier Relations to serve as the primary liaison between external suppliers and Wesco. You will manage national supplier partnerships, ensure accurate data, track performance metrics, and support programs affecting availability, cost, ...
Wesco
Glenview, IL
3 days ago
Director, Metrics Strategy and Reporting
$209.5k - $239.1k
...Director, Metrics Strategy and Reporting Capital One is one of the fastest growing organizations in the world today, powered by our passion... ...and data risk information they need to make good decisions. Associates within TDRM are highly-skilled information security,...
Full time
Part time
Local area
Capital One
Deerfield, IL
1 day ago
Director, Enterprise Applications & ERP Strategy (Rosemont)
...Midera Food Processing, Inc. is seeking a strategic Director, Enterprise Applications & ERP to lead governance, modernization, and the long-term ERP roadmap across a global, multi-company manufacturing landscape. Reporting to the VP of Information Technology, the role...
Full time
MIDERA Food Processing
Rosemont, IL
1 day ago

Do you want to receive more vacancies?

Subscribe and receive similar vacancies to Associate Director, Category Strategy & Insights Taste Elevation. Be the first to apply!