HQ Sr. Category Development Manager, Analytics and Capabilities

Kimberly-Clark • Chicago, IL

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

You’re not the person who will settle for just any role. Neither are we. Because we’re out to create Better Care for a Better World, and that takes a certain kind of person and teams who care about making a difference. Here, you’ll bring your professional expertise, talent, and drive to building and managing our portfolio of iconic, ground-breaking brands. The HQ Senior Category Development Manager, Analytics & Capabilities is responsible for elevating decision-making across Kimberly‑Clark by transforming complex data into clear, actionable insights and scalable capabilities. This role sits at the intersection of advanced analytics, category management strategy, and consultative partnership, requiring both strong technical proficiency and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders. This individual will gather, process, and interpret large, complex data sets, consult with internal partners to understand business needs, and design analytical tools, data files, and training that enable faster, more informed decisions. In addition, this role owns the ongoing management, enhancement, and adoption of the department’s analytical tools and capability development. This position is based in Kimberly Clark’s Chicago Commercial Center, located in Fulton Market and is required to be in office two days per week.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, post-graduate degree in business or analytics a plus.
• At least 6+ years of experience in the CPG industry analyzing/interpreting data, project management skills, and using data to inform recommendations.
• Familiarity with the following types of data and concepts to grow categories: RMS/Scan, household panel, macro-economic (e.g. birth rates), retailers’ planograms, shopper research, assortment analyses.
• Technical skills include a comprehensive understanding of MS Excel, visualization tools such as Power BI, space planning software (e.g. JDA); a scripting language (e.g. python) and ability to create queries in SQL a plus, including ability to create visualizations from scratch.
• Capability to cleanse and merge data from disparate sources to find relationships, patterns, and insights.
• Familiarity with planograms and experience using planogram software such as JDA.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex analyses into clear, actionable insights.
• Possess an understanding of the omni-channel environment, its drivers, and its impacts on the markets/categories Kimberly-Clark competes in.
• Effective communicator and influencer with senior leaders and/or internal executives, but also with business partners (i.e. IT).
• Capable of managing major projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Lead measurement and reporting of category and business performance against key objectives, including distribution, market share, share of shelf, and digital metrics, translating results into clear, actionable insights.
• Analyze and extrapolate data from multiple sources (e.g., Nielsen/Circana, retailer data, SAP S/4HANA, digital and shopper data) to support predictive planning processes such as Annual Operating Plans, Strategic Business Planning, category forecasts, new item forecasts, price pack architecture, and assortment reviews.
• Process, synthesize, and simplify large, complex data sets into intuitive data files, dashboards, and visualizations that enable faster, more confident decision-making across the organization.
• Demonstrate advanced technical and analytical expertise, leveraging tools such as Excel, Power BI, and other analytics platforms to solve business problems and create scalable, repeatable solutions.
• Serve as a consultative partner to stakeholders by understanding business needs, thinking creatively, and independently solving analytical and reporting challenges with practical, high‑impact recommendations.
• Own and manage the department’s analytical tools and capabilities, including back‑end management, enhancements, data integrity, and maximizing value from third‑party partners such as our planogram imaging partner.
• Champion the adoption of advanced analytics and visualization capabilities within Category Management, embedding insights into everyday business practices and leading training and enablement efforts as needed.
• Drive shelving, assortment, and space optimization strategies through analytics‑based insights that improve shopper outcomes and business performance.
• Establish high standards, standard work, and best practices for category analytics and reporting, driving efficiencies and elevating the capabilities of Field Category teams and cross‑functional partners.
• Collaborate across the Shopper Engagement and key cross functional partners (Field Category, BU Sales, Sales, Shopper Insights, Digital Commerce, and Commercial Analytics) to identify growth opportunities, align strategies, and influence decisions at all levels of the organization through clear communication and storytelling.

Benefits

• Great support for good health with medical, dental, and vision coverage options with no waiting periods or pre-existing condition restrictions.
• Access to an on-site fitness center, occupational health nurse, and allowances for high-quality safety equipment.
• Flexible Savings and spending accounts to maximize health care options and stretch dollars when caring for yourself or dependents.
• Diverse income protection insurance options to protect yourself and your family in case of illness, injury, or other unexpected events.
• Additional programs and support to continue your education, adopt a child, relocate, or even find temporary childcare.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level