Minimum of 10 years in sales and sales management; 11+ years preferred.
4-year degree in Business, Marketing or related field; MBA preferred.
Strong communication and business presentation skills.
Proven leadership skills and experience managing cross-functional teams.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
Strong negotiation skills and ability to maintain supplier relationships.
Ability to evaluate customer needs and analyze sales reports.
Responsibilities
Direct and manage the Product Management team for specific categories.
Define supplier strategy to enhance market share and profitability.
Oversee product line lifecycle from planning to execution.
Ensure category development plans align with overall strategies for growth.
Collaborate with sales leadership to align business development with regional goals.
Provide category knowledge through tracking, reporting, and insights.
Develop and evaluate marketing strategies for product categories.
Benefits
Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug options.
Life Insurance coverage for employees and their families.
Flexible Spending Accounts to help manage expenses.
Disability benefits at no cost to employees.
Profit Sharing Plans to share in the company's success.
401(k) with company match for retirement savings.
Paid Vacation and Sick Days for personal time off.
Paid Holidays and Wellness Days for health prioritization.
Community Time Off for volunteering.
Predictable Work Schedules, generally with no nights or weekends.
Employee Recognition Program for celebrating achievements.
Educational Reimbursement and Career Development Programs for growth.
Full Job Description
As a Product Category Manager, you will be responsible for driving, supporting, and providing assistance in the category strategy business plan implementation and execution across the organization. Lead the strategic development of product-specific category plans, identify new growth opportunity category initiatives, and provide robust analytics for category platform.
In this role you will:
Direct and manage the Product Management team with dedicated team members aligned with product-specific categories
Define supplier strategy to improve market share and profitability; develop and maintain relationships with suppliers and functional business managers
Oversee the product line lifecycle for driving growth from strategic planning to tactical execution
Direct and lead the Product Management team to ensure that product-specific category development plans are aligned with overall strategies to drive profitable growth of the category
Collaborate with field sales leadership to ensure that business development plans for the category are aligned with regional growth and profitability goals
Establish, maintain and provide knowledge of assigned product category through national sales tracking and reporting, product category insights and market trends
Develop, implement and evaluate product category marketing strategies
Facilitate the periodic evaluation of supplier performance
Identify and execute appropriate action plans for improvement when results are below expectations with assigned suppliers
Initiate and negotiate distributor and incentive agreements with suppliers that provide protection and profitability for the Company
What you bring to the table:
Minimum of ten years experience in progressively responsible direct sales and sales management experience required; 11+ years experience preferred
4 year degree in Business, Marketing or related field required; Master's in Business Administration preferred
Ability to quickly learn assigned products and product marketing plans acquired through Company and supplier training programs
Excellent communication and business presentation skills
Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage cross-functional initiatives
Strong problem solving and analytical skills
Strong negotiation skills
Ability to maintain positive ongoing business relationships with assigned suppliers
Ability to build, manage and foster a team-oriented environment
Ability to evaluate customer needs, analyze sales reports and statistics
Ability to think strategically and develop sales strategies to improve product penetration
Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate marketing plans
Occasional travel required
Compensation Details: The expected base salary for this position is starting at $113,000 annually depending on experience. This position is also bonus eligible - based on specific and relevant business metrics.
The Value of Graybar:
At Graybar, we are known for our comprehensive benefits and our employee stock ownership plan! Most regular, full-time employees at Graybar may be eligible for a variety of benefits like:
Multiple plan options for Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug benefits.
Life Insurance coverage for you and options for your family.
Save on expenses with Flexible Spending Accounts.
Enjoy our Disability Benefits at no cost to you.
Share in our success with Profit Sharing Plans.
401(k) Savings Plan with company match to help secure your future.
Paid Vacation & Sick Days to spend time away from work or in case of an illness.
Rest and recharge during our Paid Holidays throughout the year.
Take advantage of our Paid Wellness Day to focus on preventive care and prioritize your health.
Volunteer with Community Time Off to give back to the community.
Predictable Work Schedules to plan your life: no weekends or nights for most roles.
Celebrate your and others' achievements with our Employee Recognition Program.
Reach your career goals with our Educational Reimbursement and Career Development Programs.
And More Perks that support your well-being and career growth.
Benefit eligibility may vary across locations and roles, so be sure to check in with your recruiter for more information.
