Category Manager

About Zep Inc.

Zep Inc. is a leading manufacturer of cleaning solutions for businesses and consumers with operations across the U.S, Canada, and Europe. Our purpose is to make the planet cleaner, safer, and more productive. To fulfill our purpose, we focus on understanding and solving cleaning needs for consumers, as well as business customers across a variety of segments including transportation, industrial, institutional, and food & beverage. We also have a strong presence in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) segment, where we develop products to help consumers and businesses maintain a clean and safe environment. Our products can be found online and at retail shelves at outlets like Home Depot, Amazon, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, Grainger, HD Supply, Walmart, and many others. We market our products under well recognized and established brand names, such as Zep®, Enforcer®, Misty®, TimeMist®, TimeWick, and Country Vet®. Zep was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. In 2021, Zep became the official cleaning partner of Atlanta United FC.

Job Description:

This newly created position of Category Manager will be an integral part of the Zep marketing team with a dedicated focus is to grow customer category through the Zep brand. They will manage different product categories that contribute to profitable sales growth by developing and executing strategies for the retail business units focusing on various household cleaning categories.   This person will Category be the subject matter expert with retail partners, lead planogram, and merchandising execution. 

 Roles and responsibilities include:

• Portfolio mapping, product gap analysis, special planning.
• Develop a strategy for differentiation and competition.
• Identify correct assortment for each retailer or channel.
• Analyze product performance to guide assortment planning, rationalization, and lifecycle decisions that improve mix and profitability.
• Automate syndicated reporting - define and implement data-driven strategies to optimize category sales and market share. 
• Use insights (POS data, market research, shopper behavior, etc) to identify trends, measure performance, inform strategic decisions and drive category growth initiatives. 
• Work cross-functionally with sales, product, sales ops, finance, procurement, manufacturing and channel/shopper to bring product solutions to market.

Qualifications: 

• You are consumer focused and live by the 4Ps.
• Bachelor’s Degree, preferred focus in Marketing, Business Administration, or relevant field.  MBA will be considered a plus.
• 5-7+ years of experience in category management across multiple categories. 
• Ability to budget and forecast.
• Ability to manage cross-functional teams and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in problem solving and analytical skills at both a strategic and tactical level.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communications skills.
• Very comfortable with Circana and Nielsen
• Strong time-management skills, including ability to prioritize your time.
• Retail CPG marketing experience preferred.
• Experience presenting internally and externally, comfortable working with retail customers.
• Roll-up your sleeves, entrepreneurial nature.

Our Values

At Zep, we have developed a set of values focused on bringing even greater cohesion to our workplace. As part of this plan, we introduced a values framework called S.P.E.E.D. to align with our purpose of making the planet cleaner, safer, and more productive.

• Stewardship: We continuously improve the safety of our people and products, and we protect the planet by innovating solutions to reduce our environmental impact.

• Passion for Problem Solving: We listen to our customers and actively work to find solutions for unique situations. We think creatively to innovate and seize opportunities that will drive growth and make all our customers’ and consumers’ lives better.

• Empowerment: We encourage and lead our people to be accountable by equipping them to make decisions and own the outcome

• Expertise: We create innovative solutions and partnerships that are relevant to service our communities and customers.

• Doing the Right Thing: We expect our people to understand ethical boundaries and be inclusive of other backgrounds, ideas, and perspectives. Demonstrating honesty, respect and integrity in all actions is always expected.

Zep Inc. is an organization that is committed to diversity within its workforce and encourages all interested candidates, including women, minorities, & former military personnel to apply.  It is the policy of Zep Inc. that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation.

As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, Zep Inc. provides full employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, ancestry, or veteran status or any other distinction outlined in all applicable federal, state, and local laws.