Category Strategist Walmart

Position title: Category Strategist - Walmart

Location: Mississauga ON

Hershey Canada Company Information

Your career. Your ownership. Together well make more Moments of Goodness.

Hershey employees get to make real impactful changes daily. We are looking for thinkers leaders and challengers people who initiate and make a true impact. Here at Hershey Canada we strike the perfect balance between autonomy and support. Our managers are equipped to foster your career aspirations and empower your growth. With resources like e-learning coaching cross-functional projects your personal and professional growth is paramount to the team. Hersheys people-focused mindset is what makes our culture so sweet.

Major Canada brands include OH HENRY! HERSHEYS KISSES BROOKSIDE POT OF GOLD JOLLY RANCHER REESES TWIZZLERS HERSHEYS SKOR CHIPITS and ICEBREAKERS.

Hershey Canada is proud of our position as Forbes Canadas Top Employer. Weve been recognized as a Greater Toronto Top Employers for 5 consecutive years. Weve also been named as a Great Place to Work for 2025 - 2026!

At The Hershey Company were committed to making a difference in the communities where we live work and do business. This commitment dates from the earliest years of our company and is a vital part both of our heritage and of who we are today.

The Category Strategist Walmart serves as the primary category thought leader and vendor advisor for Walmart Canada responsible for developing and delivering fact-based category growth strategies across everyday and seasonal confectionery. This role translates shopper category and performance data into clear recommendations on assortment space merchandising and omni fundamentals partnering closely with Walmart and internal cross-functional teams to drive sustainable category growth and flawless in-store execution.

This role is accountable for delivering category leadership for Walmart Canada by identifying growth opportunities building retailer-ready strategies and enabling execution through clear insights and recommendations. The Category Strategist partners with the Walmart customer team and cross-functional stakeholders to influence decisions on assortment space merchandising seasonal activation and omni performance.

• Lead category growth strategy for Walmart Canada by developing insight-led shopper- and consumer-driven strategies that grow the total category and support Hershey priorities.
• Serve as the primary vendor advisor to Walmart category/merchandising teams providing fact-based recommendations on assortment space shelving seasonal strategy and emerging format opportunities.
• Own annual and in-year category planning including category diagnostics opportunity sizing strategic roadmaps and activation plans aligned to Walmarts business goals and calendar.
• Translate data into decisions by integrating multiple sources (e.g. retailer tools syndicated shopper research internal shipment/financials) to diagnose drivers quantify opportunities and recommend actions.
• Drive shelf and space optimization through modular analysis item productivity work planogram recommendations and post-implementation measurement.
• Lead seasonal category strategies for key moments (e.g. Easter Halloween Holiday) ensuring space protection promotional readiness and executional risk mitigation.
• Enable omni fundamentals by partnering with internal omni/eComm resources and Walmart teams to strengthen discoverability content and online shelf performance.
• Deliver high-impact storytelling through customer-facing and internal presentations (e.g. category reviews line reviews seasonal deep dives business reviews) that simplify complexity into clear choices.
• Coach and develop capability across the category team (direct and indirect) setting standards for outputs ways of working and best practices.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales Sales Strategy Marketing SRGM Supply Chain Finance and Analytics to ensure recommendations are aligned executable and measurable.

• Category leadership & commercial acumen: understands category dynamics retailer economics and growth levers.
• Analytical problem solving: frames questions triangulates data and builds fact-based recommendations.
• Influence without authority: builds trust and alignment across a matrix and with senior customer stakeholders.
• Executive communication: strong storytelling presentation and facilitation skills.
• Project leadership: prioritizes effectively and delivers quality outputs under tight timelines.
• People leadership & coaching: develops talent through feedback standards and capability building.

• External: Walmart Canada category merchandising and omni/eComm teams; data/insights partners supporting Walmart programs.
• Internal: Walmart Customer Sales team Sales Strategy Marketing/Brand SRGM Finance Customer Supply Chain/CPFR Omni/eComm Insights/Analytics and Category Management & Shopper Evolution.

• Retailer platforms and portals (e.g. Retail Link and Walmart reporting tools as applicable).
• Syndicated data and shopper insights (e.g. Nielsen/NIQ; shopper research/panels where available).
• Internal shipment financial and performance reporting.
• Standard productivity tools (Excel PowerPoint) and internal BI/reporting solutions.

• Hybrid work based in Mississauga with frequent collaboration across teams and deadlines tied to retailer asks and seasonal calendars.
• Occasional travel may be required for customer meetings store visits and internal planning sessions.

• Bachelors degree or equivalent of education and experience
• A minimum of 6 years experience in business/sales/insights (CPG preferred).
• Prior Category Management (Vendor Advisership) experience is required.

So what do you say Would you like to represent fun brands like Reeses Hersheys Kisses Twizzlers and Jolly Ranchers!

If soapply today! Wed love to hear from you!

The anticipated base salary range for this role is $89800 to $112300 annually. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of jobrelated factors including but not limited to experience skill set education and addition to a market-competitive base salary our Total Rewards package includes performancebased incentives and a comprehensive competitive benefits package designed to support overall physical mental and financial wellbeing (as applicable).

Hershey Canada is proud of being named to Forbes Canadas Best Employers 2021 List and Forbes 2021 Worlds Top Female Friendly Companies. We have also been recognized as one of Greater Torontos Top Employers for 2022 Canadas Top 100 Employers for 2022 and one of Canadas Most Admired Corporate Cultures 2021.

At Hershey Canada we seek the advancement of an inclusive and respective culture by having a diverseworkforce and inclusive environment to create more Moments of Goodness for our employees and Canada extends opportunities to qualified applicants and employees regardless of race national orethnic origin colour religion age sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression marital status familystatus genetic characteristics disability or any other protected status.

We will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment selection and/or assessment process to supportdiversity equity and inclusion in our hiring. Please inform the Talent Acquisition team if you requireaccommodation in order to participate in our hiring process.