Associate Category Manager

National Nail; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

National Nail in Grand Rapids, MI, is seeking a growth-minded specialist to drive private label and branded products across Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Menards. You will own the product lifecycle from concept to shelf, using market research, data-driven strategy, and compelling retail presentations to scale our innovations.

As part of a fast-paced, employee-owned team, you will conduct competitive research, build persuasive decks, coordinate go-to-market plans, and support showroom and program

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field.
• At least 2 years of business experience.
• Align with our purpose, 8 character traits, and cornerstones.

Responsibilities

• Conduct competitive research including pricing, product features, stocking locations.
• Identify competitive advantages within the landscape and National Nail’s product/program.
• Understand go to market strategy to pinpoint gaps.
• Assist in building slide decks to articulate data and stories visually.
• Prepare for the pitch/program by gathering materials and facilitating logistics to customer presentation location.
• Assist, as needed, with onsite setup and presentation.
• Maintain showroom and POP inventory.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Highly organized

Excellent communication

Problem solving

Smartsheets

Retail sales knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in business or related field

Job description

You are a vital member of our growth-minded, industry-leading, innovative, brand-driven, global employee-owned company. You are challenged to grow, expected to challenge others, are part of something much bigger than yourself, and leave an indelible legacy through the people your life has impacted.

You have the opportunity to drive the retail growth and market adoption of National Nail’s core brands and private label portfolios across major home improvement channels, including Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Menards. Collaborating closely with the Home Center team in a fast-paced environment, you will own the product lifecycle from concept to shelf—utilizing competitive market research, data-driven strategy, and compelling retail presentations to scale our innovative products.

Your assignment

This role is responsible for supporting either private label or National Nail branded products within Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Menards stores. Key responsibilities include conducting competitive research and preparing presentations for new retail programs and existing program revisions.

As a key contributor from ideation through post-launch, the specialist helps build a superior customer experience. This is a fast-paced role supporting some of the largest retailers in the U.S. and working closely with our leadership to drive growth.

• Conduct competitive research including pricing, product features, stocking locations.
• Identify competitive advantages within the competitive landscape and National Nail’s product / program.
• Understand go to market strategy to pinpoint gaps.
• Assist in building slide decks to articulate data and stories visually.
• Prepare for the pitch / program by gathering and sometimes building demo sets, gathering materials and facilitating logistics to customer presentation location.
• Assist, as needed, with onsite setup and presentation.
• Become an expert on what it takes to deliver a new program within the customer and National Nail’s systems.
• Preliminary planning for shelf space (POGs), test, and hand-off to customer for implementation.
• Build project implementation instructions, monitor and resolve issues in partnership with the customer.
• Post-program implementation troubleshooting.
• Maintain showroom and POP inventory.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required skills:

• Highly organized and motivated to drive timelines and program deliverables.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, willing to ask good questions.
• Problem-solving skills to address customer issues and find solutions to challenges.
• Functional knowledge and capability in Smartsheets.
• Strong understanding of the retail sales process and account management principals.

Success criteria:

• Assigned projects ≥98% complete and on time.
• Help drive the sales and margin plan by hitting deadlines and driving timelines.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in business or related field.
• At least 2 years of business experience.
• Align with our purpose, 8 character traits, and cornerstones.

About us

We are an employee-owned company and a proud part of the American building materials industry for nearly 75 years. We have a storied history of innovation, which many say is in our DNA. We agree. From product to brand, to sourcing to customer-centric solutions, we constantly ask the “what, why and how” questions that many are afraid to ask.

Our core brands of CAMO, PRO‑FIT, and STINGER are the “asked for brands” in their respective segments and can be found at the finest names in the LBM, Roofing, Home Center, Distribution and STAFDA channels of the building industry and more recently, through our E-Commerce presence.

Our brand users are the hardworking folks who build things with their hands, and just like us, are business owners. They build our homes, our decks, install our roofs, and depend on our brands to support them in delivering a job well done.

Our company's reason for existing

Whether supporting our customers, suppliers, employee-owners and their families or the communities in which we live and work, our purpose is simple; inspire whoever we engage with to help them become better. Better people, families, businesses, and ultimately leave better the communities in which we live. We get this is a moonshot reason for existing. Yet it is one we are committed to.

Our culture is characterized as

• Founded on Four Cornerstones, 8 character traits, and a simple operating philosophy of Serve Better Value Fun.
• High standard, embraced by a dedicated team of employee-owners who enjoy the fruits of hard work while having a “bit of fun” along the way.
• Growth-minded, driving intentional investments in developing our people, our customers, and our communities.

So, if this is an assignment, culture, brands, and industry you desire to explore further, contact us. Your new adventure awaits.