Category Director, Branded Fresh

Job Description

• Department: Marketing
• Reports to: Chief Marketing Officer
• Location: Philadelphia

Make a greater impact at Bonduelle Americas!

Bonduelle Americas is a certified B Corp inviting people to embrace a flexitarian lifestyle with an expanding portfolio of plant-rich products available in and beyond the produce aisle. We operate four facilities and employ nearly 3,000 Associates in the US.

Bonduelle Americas is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Groupe Bonduelle (BON.PA), an established global brand with more than 170 years of family heritage bringing the joy of plants to tables around the world. Globally, our ready-to-eat plant-rich food products are grown on 173,000 acres by our grower partners and marketed in nearly 100 countries. Our mission is to inspire the transition toward a plant-rich diet to contribute to people's well-being and planet health.

Join us at Bonduelle Americas for an opportunity to advance your career in a culture that places people first. As a valued member of our company, you will work in a mission-driven environment aimed at preserving the planet’s resources while providing healthy plant-based products to millions of consumers around the world.

Position Summary:

Bonduelle Americas is seeking a Category Director, Branded Fresh to own the product strategy and business performance of the established Branded Fresh portfolio. Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, this role operates like the general manager of the business — setting the annual business plan and product strategy, then marshaling support across Product Development, Marketing, Sales, Customer Sales Planning, and Shopper Marketing to bring that strategy to life in retail and online. The Category Director will lead one direct report, a Senior Brand Marketing Manager, and will be a key architect of Bonduelle's branded fresh growth agenda, including new item innovation and the ongoing success of the Lunch Bowls platform.

Key Responsibilities:

Business & Portfolio Strategy

●Own the annual business plan for Branded Fresh, including volume, revenue, and margin objectives, acting as general manager for the category's product strategy and performance.

●Set portfolio strategy and priorities across the Branded Fresh line, balancing core business protection with new-item growth.

●Build the business case and go-to-market plan for new products and platform extensions, in partnership with Product Development and Marketing.

●Monitor category, competitive, and consumer trends, including key competitors, and translate them into action.

Innovation & Product Development

●Partner closely with Product Development on the innovation pipeline for Branded Fresh, from concept through commercialization.

●Champion new product launches, ensuring each is grounded in a clear business case and aligned to annual plan targets.

●Coordinate cross-functional readiness (packaging, artwork, formulation, sourcing) to keep innovation timelines on track.

Retail & Commercial Activation

●Work closely with Brand Management, Digital Activation & eCommerce, and Public Relations to secure the activation support Branded Fresh needs at retail and online.

●Ensure brand positioning, packaging, and content translate effectively into in-store execution and digital shelf presence.

Sales & Commercial Partnership

●Partner with Sales leaders, the Customer Sales Planning team, and Shopper Marketing to build account-level plans that support annual business objectives.

●Align product strategy with trade investment, DSMP guidelines, and category captain positioning to protect and grow distribution.

●Support key customer and business review meetings, providing category and product expertise to strengthen retailer partnerships.

Team Leadership

●Manage, coach, and develop the Senior Brand Marketing Manager, ensuring brand execution is tightly aligned to category strategy.

●Direct the Senior Brand Marketing Manager on day-to-day brand execution for the Branded Fresh portfolio.

●Represent Branded Fresh in cross-functional and leadership planning forums, including business reviews with the CMO and CEO.

Minimum Qualifications:

●8–12+ years of CPG experience with progressive responsibility across brand management, category leadership, or general management, ideally including P&L ownership.

●Demonstrated ability to set and execute a product/category strategy and translate it into a cross-functional business plan.

●Experience partnering with Product Development or R&D on new product innovation from concept through launch.

●Strong commercial acumen, with experience partnering directly with Sales, Customer Sales Planning, and Shopper Marketing.

●Track record managing and developing direct reports.

●Comfort operating in a fast-paced, resource-lean environment typical of PE-backed or turnaround CPG businesses.

●Fresh produce, perishables, or shelf-stable food category experience strongly preferred.

●Bachelor's degree required; MBA a plus.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first year, this role will have delivered the Branded Fresh business plan against target, driven a well-coordinated innovation pipeline, grown retail distribution and revenue to at least $10M, and be viewed by Sales, Marketing, and Product Development as the clear owner and decision-maker for the category's product strategy.

ABOUT BONDUELLE AMERICAS

Bonduelle Americas is part of the global Bonduelle Group, a leader in plant-based food. The Americas business is executing a national growth strategy anchored by shelf-stable and produce innovation, including the launch of the Lunch Bowls platform, with a focus on building durable, profitable partnerships across grocery, mass, and club retail channels.