Category Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL
Category Manager jobs in Chicago are concentrated in the Loop, River North, and the Fulton Market corridor, with strong demand across retail, consumer packaged goods, and healthcare supply chain. Leading employers right now include Motorola Solutions, Google, and Vizient. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 19+ Category Manager jobs
Mark Anthony Group is an entrepreneurial drinks company, built from the ground up by thinking differently, innovating and doing the unexpected. Our company is rooted in family values, a bold vision and relentless determination to continuously raise the bar and make a positive difference in consumers' lives. Founded in 1972, we’ve grown organically from a one-person import wine business into an international drinks company whose hallmarks include a portfolio of luxury wineries and iconic beverage brands, including White Claw® Hard Seltzer, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, and Cayman Jack.
The role is responsible for analyzing point-of-sale scan and household panel data across total US, markets, and retailers. This role will work with the manager to develop fact-based data presentations and reports that lead to better assortment and merchandising decisions for national accounts and key regional retailers. Supporting category management and shelf validation tasks on an ad-hoc basis.
Accountabilities:
- Market Trend Analysis: Analyzing market trends to identify emerging segments, consumer preferences, and shifts in the market.
- Sales Data Analysis: Interpreting sales data to provide insights on performance metrics.
- Data Management & Analytics: Use various data sources, including retail sales data, household panel data, syndicated and custom research, and market analysis. Work with manager to interpret and translate complex data sets into clear and actionable recommendations for the business.
- Competitive/Predictive Analysis: Monitoring and analyzing competitors' strategies, market positioning, trends, sales performance.
- Category Management Strategies: Developing strategies for category management, including product assortment and pricing strategies.
Key Metrics & Financial Targets:
Volume (40%)
Distribution (30%)
Budget Management (15%)
Off-premise share (15%)
Own:
- Data analysis and insights
- Reporting and dashboards
- Tracking and monitoring performance
Influence:
Category Insights: impacts retailer decisions, such as product assortment, shelf placement, and merchandising strategies. Collaborate w/Sales on strategies tailored to region or territory, considering local market conditions/customers.
Veto:
Role is more about influencing decisions through insights and recommendations rather than having direct authority to veto initiatives or decisions.
Critical Relationships:
Sales, National & Key Account Team, Regional Account Teams, etc CS&I
Third Party Data Providers
Curating Insight stories
Sales Reporting: Retailer gateway
Up to date Shopper metrics in category and studies on Flavor
Skills Needed To Be Successful:
- Preferably 1 + years of proven category insights experience in the Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) industry, leveraging syndicated scan & household panel data platforms (Circana, Numerator)
- Strong technical skills in Microsoft Excel (Pivot Tables, V-Lookups, formulas) and other Third-Party software applications (Qlikview)
- Strong data visualization skills in PowerPoint
- Eagerness to learn new concepts, analytics, and technical applications
Compensation:
Compensation offered to prospective Team Members has taken internal equity into consideration and can vary depending on a positions’ location. The final agreed upon wage may vary based on the job-related knowledge, skills, and experience of the individual.
- Competitive annual salary from $70,000 to $80,000 based in Chicago, IL
- Bonus plan designed to recognize company performance and individual contributions
- Comprehensive health and welfare benefits
- Company matching 401(k) contributions
- Paid time off including annual leave, paid sick time and holidays
- Extensive opportunities for training, development, and career growth
At Mark Anthony, we exist to Unearth the Extraordinary:
Our Purpose is not just a statement; it is a call to action that binds us together and ignites our passion for making a difference. It is the driving force behind why we do what we do every single day, connecting our global organization across all business units, roles, and locations. We are:
Best in Our Craft
We set the standard with a pursuit of excellence that can be found in everything from our products and processes to our plants and people.
Ambitiously Curious
We stay curious, dreaming big and navigating the unknown with an enduring belief in better.
Made With Humility
We bring humility, authenticity, fun, and support to every collaboration and celebrate wins as a team.
Daringly Disruptive
We disrupt the status quo, moving fast to seize opportunities and acting scrappy to stay ahead of industry giants.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
Mark Anthony Group is an entrepreneurial drinks company, built from the ground up by thinking differently, innovating and doing the unexpected. Our company is rooted in family values, a bold vision and relentless determination to continuously raise the bar and make a positive difference in consumers' lives. Founded in 1972, we’ve grown organically from a one-person import wine business into an international drinks company whose hallmarks include a portfolio of luxury wineries and iconic beverage brands, including White Claw® Hard Seltzer, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, and Cayman Jack.
The role is responsible for analyzing point-of-sale scan and household panel data across total US, markets, and retailers. This role will work with the manager to develop fact-based data presentations and reports that lead to better assortment and merchandising decisions for national accounts and key regional retailers. Supporting category management and shelf validation tasks on an ad-hoc basis.
Accountabilities:
- Market Trend Analysis: Analyzing market trends to identify emerging segments, consumer preferences, and shifts in the market.
- Sales Data Analysis: Interpreting sales data to provide insights on performance metrics.
- Data Management & Analytics: Use various data sources, including retail sales data, household panel data, syndicated and custom research, and market analysis. Work with manager to interpret and translate complex data sets into clear and actionable recommendations for the business.
- Competitive/Predictive Analysis: Monitoring and analyzing competitors' strategies, market positioning, trends, sales performance.
- Category Management Strategies: Developing strategies for category management, including product assortment and pricing strategies.
Key Metrics & Financial Targets:
Volume (40%)
Distribution (30%)
Budget Management (15%)
Off-premise share (15%)
Own:
- Data analysis and insights
- Reporting and dashboards
- Tracking and monitoring performance
Influence:
Category Insights: impacts retailer decisions, such as product assortment, shelf placement, and merchandising strategies. Collaborate w/Sales on strategies tailored to region or territory, considering local market conditions/customers.
Veto:
Role is more about influencing decisions through insights and recommendations rather than having direct authority to veto initiatives or decisions.
Critical Relationships:
Sales, National & Key Account Team, Regional Account Teams, etc CS&I
Third Party Data Providers
Curating Insight stories
Sales Reporting: Retailer gateway
Up to date Shopper metrics in category and studies on Flavor
Skills Needed To Be Successful:
- Preferably 1 + years of proven category insights experience in the Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) industry, leveraging syndicated scan & household panel data platforms (Circana, Numerator)
- Strong technical skills in Microsoft Excel (Pivot Tables, V-Lookups, formulas) and other Third-Party software applications (Qlikview)
- Strong data visualization skills in PowerPoint
- Eagerness to learn new concepts, analytics, and technical applications
Compensation:
Compensation offered to prospective Team Members has taken internal equity into consideration and can vary depending on a positions’ location. The final agreed upon wage may vary based on the job-related knowledge, skills, and experience of the individual.
- Competitive annual salary from $70,000 to $80,000 based in Chicago, IL
- Bonus plan designed to recognize company performance and individual contributions
- Comprehensive health and welfare benefits
- Company matching 401(k) contributions
- Paid time off including annual leave, paid sick time and holidays
- Extensive opportunities for training, development, and career growth
At Mark Anthony, we exist to Unearth the Extraordinary:
Our Purpose is not just a statement; it is a call to action that binds us together and ignites our passion for making a difference. It is the driving force behind why we do what we do every single day, connecting our global organization across all business units, roles, and locations. We are:
Best in Our Craft
We set the standard with a pursuit of excellence that can be found in everything from our products and processes to our plants and people.
Ambitiously Curious
We stay curious, dreaming big and navigating the unknown with an enduring belief in better.
Made With Humility
We bring humility, authenticity, fun, and support to every collaboration and celebrate wins as a team.
Daringly Disruptive
We disrupt the status quo, moving fast to seize opportunities and acting scrappy to stay ahead of industry giants.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
See All 19 Category Manager Jobs in Chicago
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Find Category Manager JobsCategory Manager Job Market in Chicago
Who's Hiring
- Motorola Solutions3
- Google2
- Vizient2
- Grant Thornton2
- Northern Trust2
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing3
- Consulting & Professional Services3
- Accounting & Auditing2
- Technology & Software2
- Artificial Intelligence2
Category Manager Jobs in Chicago: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a category manager job in Chicago?
The strongest path is targeting Chicago's dense retail and consumer goods ecosystem, where companies in the Loop and Fulton Market district actively recruit category talent with supplier negotiation and assortment planning experience. Candidates with CPG, grocery, or foodservice backgrounds stand out locally. Familiarity with Chicago's distribution infrastructure and relationships with Midwest regional vendors gives applicants a practical edge over generalist candidates.
Which companies hire category managers in Chicago?
Chicago category manager roles are posted by Motorola Solutions, Google, and Vizient and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. Chicago's market includes a mix of national retailers headquartered downtown, large healthcare systems, and food and beverage companies with regional procurement hubs in the metro area.
Are there remote category manager jobs in Chicago?
Yes, though availability depends on the role: strategic and analytical category work is more remote-friendly, while hands-on merchandising or store-facing positions typically require on-site presence. About 40% of category manager openings tied to Chicago are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, with the largest share concentrated in corporate retail and healthcare procurement roles rather than field-based positions.
How can I get a category manager job in Chicago with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Chicago is through buyer assistant or category analyst roles at the city's large retail and grocery headquarters, which regularly promote from within. Chicago-area companies in consumer packaged goods and foodservice distribution also hire junior category coordinators with strong data and vendor communication skills. Building experience with planogram tools and retail analytics used by Chicago employers accelerates the move into a full category manager title.
Which industries hire the most category managers in Chicago?
The sectors hiring the most category managers in Chicago are Manufacturing, Consulting & Professional Services, and Accounting & Auditing, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. Chicago's status as a national hub for retail headquarters, food manufacturing, and large integrated health systems creates consistent, year-round demand across all three sectors.
Related Jobs in Illinois
See All 19 Category Manager Jobs in Chicago
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