Director of Category and Shopper Insights

THE OPPORTUNITY: 

Hint Inc. is a leading flavored water company dedicated to delivering high-quality products to consumers throughout the US. We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and highly analytical leader to elevate our category insight capabilities. This role is critical in shaping our Market position, driving actionable insights, and enabling both Sales and Brand teams to make informed decisions that accelerate growth.  

The Director of Category and Shopper Insights will serve as the go-to category expert for both internal teams and external retail partners, translating complex data into compelling narratives, recommendations, and strategies. This role is a key member of the Customer Development team while working closely with National Accounts, Brand Marketing, and revenue Growth Management to inform execution, guide priorities and identify growth opportunities across current and adjacent categories. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Own the category narrative: Transform data into compelling, actionable stores for Sales, Brand, and leadership teams.  

• Deliver insight-led recommendations: Provide credible, forward-looking insights that shape joint business planning, assortment strategies, pricing, and promotion guidance and revenue growth initiatives.  

• Enable Sales Excellence: Equip Sales teams with turnkey selling narratives, and dashboards to quickly act on insights and strengthen customer conversations.  

• Support Brand Strategy: Provide Category and shopper context to refine identify whitespace opportunities.  

• Synthesize data across sources: Consolidate syndicated data, internal sales data, shopper trends, panel metrics and market intelligence into single, actionable category point of view.  

• Drive Cross functional alignment: Partner closely with customer development, Sales, revenue growth management, finance, and brand marketing to ensure consistent execution and strategy alignment.  

• Advance category expertise: Serve as the internal expert, guiding decisions, and strategy as the business defends space and expands into adjacent categories.  

• Develop tools and frameworks: Improve and create reporting and analytical tools that allow teams to extrapolate insights efficiently, enhancing execution at national, regional, and channel levels.  

• Communication to influence: Prense complex analyses and recommendations clearly to leadership and retail partners. 

Requirements

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Analytics, or a related field (MBA preferred). 

• 7+ years of experience in Category Management, Category Insights, or Shopper Insights within the CPG or beverage industry. 

• Strong understanding of category management, shopper behavior, and retail market analysis. 

• Experience using syndicated data tools such as SPINS, IRI/Circana, Numerator, and Kroger Stratum/84.51°. 

• Advanced Excel skills (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, IF statements, SUMIFS). 

• Strong PowerPoint and data storytelling skills to turn data into clear insights and recommendations. 

• Experience supporting sales teams, customer development, and joint business planning with retail partners. 

• Ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and selling stories. 

• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills and ability to influence teams without direct authority. 

• Highly organized and able to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment. 

Benefits

• Base salary of $135,000-160,000. Actual salary offer may vary based on location and work experience. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.
• Bonus Eligible
• Unlimited Vacation
• Sick Days
• Up to 95% of the employee and dependent healthcare premiums paid for by the company
• Life insurance (company-paid and voluntary)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401K (regular and Roth)
• Up to $150/month health and wellness reimbursement
• Up to $100 monthly towards your cell phone and $50 monthly towards Internet (if applicable)
• Employee Discount on Hint Water