Sr. Category Manager

The Sr. Category Manager / Product Manager is the champion for assigned product categories and plays a pivotal role in managing the portfolio as a business. The ability to create and execute successful strategies, build narratives around those strategies, and influence multiple stakeholders internally and externally are necessary for success.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or Engineering OR an MBA with at least 7 years experience inproduct management, marketing, or engineering, preferably in a manufacturing and/or consumer durables industry. You will be a people person who loves building relationships with internal and external customers and be available to travel up to 15%.

Location: This role is eligible for a hybrid schedule based in our headquarters in Deerfield, IL, at least 3 days per week (Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday).

What you'll be doing:

• Develop long-range strategic plans with annual updates for product, channel, process, and business opportunities. Focus needs to be on leveraging existing and creating new protected value 
• Plan and manage new product development projects through the entirety of a stage-gate process. Develop new product development objectives, strategies, and timelines to maximize market share growth and profitability 
• Drive category captain leadership with external customers by leveraging analytics and/or insights for our markets, end users, and channels. Collaborate with sales, finance, and revenue growth management teams to execute product line reviews and assortment updates. 
• Deliver on P&L targets for assigned product categories 
• Manage the full lifecycle for the assigned portfolio from NPD through obsolescence and inventory disposition 
• Leverage and drive market research and consumer understanding to identify new product opportunities, willingness to pay, positioning, purchase triggers, and decision-making. Market research spans qualitative and quantitative from customer VOC to segmentation studies to concept testing and field trials. 
• Plan product line pricingand pricing strategy to manage profitability in line with business objectives 
• Collaborate with Brand, Channel Marketing, Digital, and Commercialization teams to support the development of sales assets, public relations campaigns, and advertising activities 
• Train internal and external customers on products, marketing programs, and business developments. Communicate regularly with field sales associates includingoccasional travel to key accounts and end users. 
• Respond to daily customer and field sales inquiries, requests, and concerns. 
• Develop a library and database of relevant markets,competitors, and complimentary offerings to identify and assess potential acquisitions or market expansions

Basic Qualifications:

• 7+ years of in product management, marketing, or engineering, preferably in a manufacturing and/or consumer durables setting 
• Practical knowledge and experience with the new product development process 
• Ability to interpret and leverage insights from pro forma and other financial analysis tools 
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills including ability to speak and present for groups of all sizes 
• Well-versed in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

Nice to Have:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or Engineering OR Master's Degree in Business Administration 
• Experience driving eCommerce and omnichannel marketing 
• Experience with connected products/IoT products