Customer Vice President, Category Leadership – Walmart
Position Summary
The Customer Vice President, Category Leadership serves as the senior category and strategic advisory leader for the Walmart business. This executive is responsible for driving category growth and strengthening the Walmart–Kraft Heinz partnership by translating consumer, shopper, marketplace, and operational insights into actionable business strategies.
As a trusted advisor to Walmart leadership and an influential leader within Kraft Heinz, this role shapes category strategy, drives fact-based decision making, and connects enterprise capabilities to customer opportunities. The Customer Vice President serves as the voice of the shopper, category, and marketplace while helping Walmart and Kraft Heinz win together in a rapidly evolving retail environment.
Key Accountabilities
Category Strategy & Advisory
Lead category growth strategies that create value for Walmart, shoppers, and Kraft Heinz.
Serve as the senior category advisor to Walmart merchants and leadership teams.
Influence decisions related to assortment, merchandising, pricing, promotion, innovation, and portfolio strategy.
Identify emerging trends, risks, and growth opportunities that shape future category performance.
Customer Partnership & Influence
Build trusted executive relationships across Walmart.
Position Kraft Heinz as a strategic category partner and thought leader.
Lead customer-facing strategic planning, category reviews, and growth initiatives.
Influence customer decisions through fact-based recommendations and category expertise.
Retail Intelligence & Data Strategy
Lead the integration of shopper, consumer, category, operational, and marketplace insights to drive business growth.
Champion the use of advanced analytics and Walmart's data ecosystem, including Scintilla, to identify opportunities and improve decision making.
Translate complex data into clear business implications and strategic actions.
Local Market & Shopper Leadership
Drive localized category recommendations that improve shopper relevance and category performance.
Leverage store-level, market-level, and regional insights to identify growth opportunities.
Ensure category strategies reflect evolving shopper needs, demographics, and economic conditions.
Retail Transformation & Future Store Strategy
Partner with Walmart's merchandising, store planning, retail design, and operations teams to support store remodels, new store openings, and future retail concepts.
Influence category strategies that enhance shopper experience, space productivity, and omnichannel integration.
Help shape how categories win within Walmart's evolving retail environment.
Enterprise Leadership & Connectivity
Serve as the strategic connector between Walmart and Kraft Heinz.
Mobilize expertise across Business Units (BUs), Business Unit Sales Strategy (BUSS), Revenue Growth Management, Insights, Supply Chain, Operations, Innovation, Marketing, and Analytics.
Ensure customer strategies leverage the full capabilities of the enterprise.
Foster cross-functional collaboration that accelerates growth and execution.
Team Leadership
Lead and develop a high-performing Category Leadership organization.
Build capabilities in category strategy, advisory, retail intelligence, and shopper insights.
Create a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Success Measures
Walmart revenue and share growth
Category growth versus market
Strength of customer relationships and influence
Adoption of strategic recommendations
Impact of local market and shopper insights
Utilization of Scintilla and advanced analytics
Effectiveness of cross-functional collaboration
Team capability and talent development
Qualifications
15+ years of progressive leadership experience in Category Leadership, Customer Strategy, Retail Intelligence, Shopper Insights, Sales Strategy, or Consumer Analytics.
Deep expertise working with Walmart and omnichannel retail environments.
Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and lead enterprise-wide initiatives.
Strong strategic, analytical, commercial, and leadership capabilities.
Exceptional communication, storytelling, and executive presence.
Leadership Profile
The Customer Vice President, Category Leadership is a strategic business leader who combines category expertise, shopper understanding, retail intelligence, and enterprise influence to drive growth for Walmart and Kraft Heinz. This leader is recognized as a trusted advisor, enterprise connector, and catalyst for category growth across the Walmart ecosystem
Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values.
New Hire Base Salary Range:
$220,800.00 - $276,000.00
Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors
Long-Term Incentive (LTI): In addition to base salary and bonus, this role is eligible for additional compensation in the form of equity.
Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.
Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.
You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:
Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability
Location(s)
Rogers Sales
Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer that prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants who require an accommodation to participate in the job application or hiring process should contact NAZTAOps@kraftheinz.com .
Major food company with Walmart vendor/category management office in Bentonville, AR.