Job Summary:
The Category Space Manager will serve as a key liaison across retailers, distributors, internal sales teams, and category leadership, helping to optimize assortment, shelving, facings, adjacencies, and in-store execution consistent with Trinchero Brand Standards and Retailer Guidelines. This role requires a blend of analytical capability, category management expertise, retailer-facing communication skills, strong project management, and merchandising execution discipline. The Category Space Manager will coordinate and oversee all Space Management projects across all commercial departments, with an emphasis on supporting our National Retail Sales Team. The position will manage our corporate merchandising guidelines, develop planograms to support customer presentations, work directly with distributor/retailer customers, and be responsible for maintaining/publishing our space management libraries and space management reports to select internal & external customers. Success in the position requires a self-motivated, entrepreneurial mentality while also possessing strong commitment to team environment dynamics and collaboration across multiple departments. The Category Space Manager will report to the Vice President of Customer Development.
Essential Functions:
The following reflects management’s definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.
- Responsible for building & maintaining Trinchero merchandising guidelines, planograms, schematics, and shelf sets for retail execution across all channels and publication to Trinchero’s distributor network.
- Work closely with sales, customer development, shopper marketing, commercial strategy, and distributor partners to align space recommendations with broader business priorities.
- Create retailer specific merchandising guidelines and offer assortment, space reporting, and schematic validation/development support, assortment optimization, as requested and approved by supervisor.
- Capable of building shelves, schematics, and planograms with Blue Yonder / JDA software, including uploading movement data, updating product & image libraries, merchandising approved assortment.
- Create, consolidate, and publish distribution grids, add/delete lists, space-to-sales analysis, and planograms to internal and external customers.
- Analyze internal and external sales data to identify trends, whitespace, assortment gaps, and shelf productivity opportunities
- Optimize shelf productivity, balancing retailer objectives, category growth, consumer demand and brand priorities
- Present planogram recommendations and category space solutions in a clear, credible, and persuasive manner.
- Support key sales initiatives, presentations, and customer meetings with schematic visuals, assortment recommendations, and data-backed category insights.
- Assist in development of retailer-specific selling stories and reset materials.
- Track completion and implementation status of major shelf resets and category projects.
- Continuously improve tools, templates, and processes related to space planning and merchandising.
- Track, measure, and support NRD space management KPIs, TTT actions, ABP prep and other initiatives.
- Maintain and update product and image libraries; actively collaborating and sharing with distributors.
- Engage distributors to drive TFE standards and guidelines, to learn about distributor space management initiatives, and to partner on retailer merchandising guidelines.
- Provide ad-hoc assistance as needed.
Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s degree required; equivalent experience may be considered.
- 3–7+ years of experience in category management, space planning, shelf merchandising, beverage alcohol, CPG, or retail analytics.
- Proficiency with space planning and category management tools (e.g., JDA/Blue Yonder Space Planning, Apollo, Spaceman, Mission Control, syndicated data, etc..) to create planograms/schematics for retail environments.
- Adept at learning new systems and technologies that support space management.
- Experience working with or supporting retailers and distributor partners.
- Strong computer skills are required; strength in Excel, PowerPoint, and ability to report, graph and present information
- Excellent communication and technical skills with the ability to translate schematics into clear, actionable insights to influence business strategy
- Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret and apply syndicated data, shopper insights data, and retailer sales information.
- Self-motivated, self-starting, entrepreneurial approach while also possessing strong commitment to team environment dynamics
- Strong project management skills and ability to plan and prioritize work effectively in a fast- paced environment
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Preferred:
- Experience in Wine, Spirits, Beer, or non-alcoholic beverage categories.
- Familiarity with beverage alcohol category structure, segmentation, and shopper decision trees.
- Experience using syndicated data sources such as Circana/IRI, NielsenIQ, or retailer POS data.
- Experience supporting reset execution, assortment reviews, merchandising guidelines, product/image libraries, and retailer category reviews.
- Knowledge of channel-specific merchandising requirements for grocery, drug, and convenience.
Working Conditions:
- Hybrid, home office and business office.
- Fast-paced with varying degrees of complexity
- Some travel, limited to meetings with retailers or headquarters
- High personal ownership role
- Extensive computer work
- Frequent Phone Calls
- Deadline pressures
- Multiple projects in progress at any given time
- Comply with company safety regulations
Salary Range: $85,000.00 - $130,000.00
The starting pay will be based on several factors, including but not limited to experience, training, education, and geographic location. TFE offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, disability benefits, PTO, wellness programs and fertility and family building benefits. We also provide a 401(k) plan where TFE may make a discretionary profit-sharing contribution.
