Category Manager, Antifreeze, Appearance, Wipers and Lighting; Remote

Job Title:
Category Manager Antifreeze, Appearance, Wipers and Lighting

Description:

The Category Manager will act as the strategic and entrepreneurial general manager responsible for driving growth within their product category across all go-to-market (GTM) channels. This role is the owner of the Profit & Loss (P&L) for their category and will champion a cross-functional team including sales, finance, marketing, and supply chain to drive profitable growth and deliver superior customer outcomes.

The Category Manager will partner with product manager to be the subject matter expert for their products and market, devising and implementing strategies to enhance the company’s value proposition and strengthen its market position. This position is remote but the ideal candidate will be located in Memphis, Chicago, or Charlotte.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of the strategic direction for the category, incorporating an omnichannel merchandising strategy to achieve growth and market share expansion.
• Conduct market research and analysis to identify trends, assess the competitive landscape, and pinpoint growth opportunities within the product category.
• Manage the product lifecycle for products, from new product development to end-of-life disposition, ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including sourcing, inventory, marketing, and sales, to facilitate successful product launches and boost market presence.
• Develop and implement category strategies to optimize product assortment, pricing, and promotional activities, ensuring alignment with the company’s broader objectives.
• Foster and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, negotiating favorable terms and agreements to ensure a reliable and cost-effective supply chain.
• Monitor, analyze, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs), identifying areas for improvement and taking corrective actions to drive performance across all channels.
• Stay current on industry developments, technological advancements, and regulatory changes impacting the market, providing strategic insights and recommendations to the leadership team.
• Identify and leverage innovation within the category to drive new product development and capture additional market share.
• Be an example for others with a growth mindset, looking to help solve problems and being entrepreneurial in looking for new opportunities to grow assigned categories in partnership with sales.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrates strong ownership and an entrepreneurial mindset, with a willingness to dive into details and drive results.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity, making decisions with incomplete data, and managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective communicator capable of delivering concise updates to internal stakeholders and presenting value propositions to key customers.
• Self-motivated with a focus on prioritizing critical opportunities and deliverables.
• Curious and customer-focused, continuously seeking new ideas and opportunities for growth.
• Advocates for continuous improvement in processes, products, and team performance.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related field; MBA preferred.
• Proven experience in category management, engineering, or manufacturing experience within the chemicals, wipers, lighting or the automotive industry is strongly preferred.
• Strong financial and analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Strategic thinker with a track record of developing and executing successful category strategies.
• Effective leadership and team development skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Familiarity with key products and market dynamics, including trends, regulations, and supply chain considerations.