Director, Category Strategy & Insights – Walmart, Sam’s and Value Channel

Job Description Summary:

At The Coca-Cola Company, we exist to refresh the world and make a difference through loved brands, done sustainably for a better shared future. Working here is more than working for the global beverage leader; it’s an opportunity to be a part of something that can positively impact the world. Our North America Operating Unit (NAOU) Advanced Hydration division is a dynamic, fast‑paced business unit at The Coca‑Cola Company where teams come together to lead what’s next in hydration. With a portfolio that includes BODYARMOR Sports Drink, Powerade, vitaminwater, and smartwater, the group is driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, strong collaboration, and shared ambition. This is a place for people who think differently, move with agility, challenge the status quo, and thrive in an ever‑changing category. Joining the team means helping shape the future of hydration alongside passionate, collaborative teams committed to winning.

The Advanced Hydration Division is looking for a Director, Category Strategy & Insights – Walmart, Sam’s and Value Channel to join our team.

This role is integral to our organization, directly managing the Walmart business strategy, while also managing a team that supports Sam’s Club and the Value channel (e.g. Dollar General, Family Dollar). As a Category Insights subject matter expert, this individual leverages our various knowledge sources and systems to provide robust and fact-based insights that influence decision making with our largest national retail customers. You will be expected to be a strategic partner to the sales team, to our retailer partners, and to key internal stakeholders, as well as be a leader & coach to your direct reports.

Role is located in Rogers, Arkansas and will report to the Senior Director, Category Strategic & Insights, Advanced Hydration.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Partnership and Leadership

• Strategic participant and major player in national account annual line review and Top to Top objective setting, meeting preparation, deck development and in-person meeting participation. Provide fact-based thought leadership to influence strategic and tactical decisions for customer planning and execution.
• As part of national account meeting preparation, find compelling fact-based insights to support a story line culminating in recommendations that highlight benefits for the retailer and shopper while supporting TCCC Advanced Hydration’s corporate objectives.
• This position plays a critical role during key national account meetings not only as the primary presenter, but to bring a category first mentality and make recommendations based on best practices from similar customers on how TCCC helped retailers achieve their goals.

Category Analytics

• Proactively & consistently analyze data to identify business opportunities & challenges to support our customer teams.
• Dive into the data and provide actionable insights back to the customer that drive Category growth and support key Advanced Hydration initiatives.
• Demonstrate thought leadership and enterprise mindset by providing insights & recommendations to key internal stakeholders to help drive visibility to on trends and ultimately impact wider business decisions.

Team Leadership & Relationship Management

• Oversee your team that supports their customers and account leads. Provide leadership and direction to ensure company strategy and plan are executed.
• Get the most of your team by educating, training and pushing individuals to strive for the highest work quality and expand skillsets to maximize team’s positive influence on the business and build bench strength with future company leaders.
• Serve as a key contact for Walmart merchants, understanding their needs, both tactical and strategic, to deliver tailored and custom solutions and strategies.
• Build strong connections within the greater Coca-Cola Walmart team.
• Act as brand champion for Coca-Cola by defining and driving overall brand objectives through the practice of category management techniques, delivering comprehensive category programs internally and across retail partners to drive product and brand initiatives.
• Build strong team-oriented relationships with other key internal business units and/or global partners that result in new business and/or cross-category opportunities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional departments (Channel Strategy, Marketing, RGM, etc.) on projects focused on becoming our customers’ most valued supplier.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Preferred: MBA or other graduate degree preferred
• 7 years+ CPG experience in sales, marketing, category management, or shopper insights & strategy required
• High level of experience & proficiency with syndicated data providers (Nielsen, Circana), Panel tools (e.g. NIQ Omnipanel, Numerator), and customer specific data sources (Walmart Luminate/Scintilla, Retail Link, etc.).
• High technical skill and aptitude with modular/planogram drawing process tools (e.g. JDA, Shelf IQ) preferred.
• Residence within the Bentonville, AR area (50 miles) required
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into actional insights.
• Strong story-telling capabilities required
• Demonstrated capacity for big picture, strategic thinking, creative thinking and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated reputation for customer engagement with ability to positively drive business results.
• Strong knowledge of category management principles and analytic techniques.

Skills:

Pay Range:

Base pay offered may vary depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position, is offered.

Annual Incentive Reference Value Percentage:

Annual Incentive reference value is a market-based competitive value for your role. It falls in the middle of the range for your role, indicating performance at target.

Location(s):

City/Cities:

Travel Required:

Relocation Provided:

Job Posting End Date:

Our Purpose and Growth Culture:

We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what’s possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years. Visit Our Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.