Customer Category Specialist (6‑month contract)

About the role

Join Mars New Zealand as a Customer Category Specialist on a 6‑month contract. You will act as the pet‑food category expert, partnering with key retail customers to drive growth, improve shopper experience and deliver mutual business objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Lead insight‑driven category growth plans aligned with Mars’ vision and retailer strategies.
• Monitor market, shopper and competitor trends and share actionable insights.
• Conduct customer category reviews using Nielsen, Circana and Quantium/Dunnhumby data.
• Develop range, space and distribution solutions that increase category and brand performance.
• Champion the Mars Perfect Store programme to ensure strong in‑store and omnichannel execution.

Required profile

• Degree qualified in a relevant discipline.
• Proven FMCG category management experience, preferably in grocery retail.
• Strong commercial acumen with advanced analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to influence and build trusted partnerships internally and externally.
• Passion for pets and category excellence.

Required skills

• Nielsen analytics
• Circana analytics
• Quantium analytics
• Dunnhumby analytics

What we offer

• Career progression with focus on personal goals.
• Learning and development through Mars University.
• Global health and wellbeing programme.