Category Developer - United/Diageo Team

The Category Developer is the sales lead for their assigned portfolio within a targeted account base. They are focused against increasing share and velocity of their assigned commodity using tactics that help sell-in the right brands to customers and sell-out to consumers via planning and execution of brand activations. This role must maintain strong relationships with the key stakeholders/gatekeepers of the supplier accounts and be the 'go-to' consultant for the accounts. The Category Developer will be active with in-market events and education., Our Category Developers will be required to participate in a two-week 'in-person' Academy Category Training., Drive and delivery on sales and marketing goals of assigned category and brands

• Serve as the expert and resource for the division or group in developing beverage and marketing strategies and plans for growth of assigned category.

• Research trends, category, and portfolio to ensure that the group or division and company meet supplier goals as established.

• Present new products and beverage offerings and conduct monthly business reviews.

• Plan high-end consumer activations within key accounts to elevate category awareness based on customer needs.

• Drive real time market insights to inform, apply, unlock and accelerate growth.

• Lead, organize, report, field intel and insights for assigned territory and categories.

Collaborate with on-premise & retail sales teams, developing creative solutions to help drive business and growth in assigned categories across their assigned territory

• Develop and deliver training modules to the sales team, customer, and supplier regarding sales trends

• Determines specific areas in which the category has opportunity for growth (Territories, Accounts, etc)

• Establishes merchandising objectives relative to brand priority for each account by understanding company priorities and defining POS needs to the supplier

• Focus on increasing share and velocity of assigned category.

• Ownership of account plan and execution based on brand plans

• Obtains appropriate distribution of category throughout account base by presenting and selling based on the brands' features and benefits

• Conduct staff educations and building of the category.

Maintain and build strong relationships with the key stakeholders/gatekeepers of the assigned accounts

• Participate in supplier and category specific work-with sales calls.

• Attend educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks to build and maintain industry knowledge.

• Maintains customer confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.

• Maintains a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations.

Other duties, as assigned by the jobholder's supervisor, may also be required.

• Bachelor's degree in related field and/or equivalent training and work experience

• Minimum of 3 years in sales or industry related experience

• Deep knowledge of category or responsibility that this role will support

• Must have a valid driver's license and be able to operate a motor vehicle

• Proficient PC skills using MS Office and other various computer programs including presentation software

• Must be a results-oriented professional with verbal/written communication skills using diplomacy and discretion as well as customer service skills

• Ability to multi-task, work independently and/or within a team, pay attention to detail and meet deadlines

• Analytic and Reporting skills

• Utilize sound judgement and problem-solving skills

• Ability to work in fast-paced, high-volume, team environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5 years' experience in industry or related and category expertise experience; such as:

• CSS Certification or WSET Spirits level 2; or

• Category specific certifications (Whiskey or Tequila)

• On-premise/hospitality experience

• Strong understand or background of consumer engagement mechanics

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone

• Required to be able to operate a motor vehicle and possess a driver's license.

Competencies:

• Accountable for results which impact the department.

• Selects best option from a set of defined procedures/ solutions using common sense and experience of similar situations.