Category Growth Consultant - Serveware & Buffetware

Libbey; Toledo (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Libbey seeks a Category Growth Leader for Serveware & Buffetware to accelerate market expansion and profitable growth. You will define category strategy, guide assortment and pricing, and partner with Sales, Marketing, Product Development, and Supply Chain to win in the US market.

As a trusted advisor to senior leaders, you will analyze market opportunities, build a roadmap for growth, and drive initiatives from concept through execution while traveling 40%+ to support customers and teams across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Business/Marketing or related field.
• 10+ years in foodservice, serveware, hospitality, or related industries.
• Proven success in category growth and go-to-market strategies.
• Experience in assortment planning, pricing strategy, and competitive analysis.
• Influence senior leaders across multiple functions.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent presentation and stakeholder management.
• Ability to drive initiatives from concept through execution with measurable outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of Libbey's Serveware & Buffetware category growth strategy, establishing a clear roadmap for market expansion and profitable growth.
• Validate and refine category opportunities through market analysis, customer insights, competitive intelligence, and industry trends.
• Define category positioning, assortment architecture, pricing strategy, and product portfolio priorities.
• Develop and launch a comprehensive "How to Win" strategy, including target segments, value propositions, and go-to-market recommendations.
• Partner with Product Development, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, and Leadership teams to align category objectives and execution plans.
• Serve as the organization's subject matter expert on Serveware & Buffetware, providing strategic guidance and category insights.
• Evaluate competitive offerings and identify opportunities to strengthen Libbey's market position and differentiation.
• Establish growth metrics, monitor category performance, and recommend actions to drive revenue and market share growth.
• Build commercial capabilities by developing category education, training, and sales enablement programs.
• Influence and drive cross-functional decisions that support long-term category growth and customer success.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Market analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing or related field

Job description

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS

At Libbey, we are MAKERS. No matter what you do at Libbey, you contribute to the making of the finest glass and tabletop products in the world. At Libbey, your valuable impact makes a difference and together we live our legacy while shaping our future to win as one!

LIBBEY: For Makers, By Makers. Since 1818!

Serveware & Buffetware – Category Growth Consultant

Libbey is committed to expanding its presence and accelerating growth within the Serveware & Buffetware category. To support this strategic initiative, we are seeking a Category Growth Leader who will serve as the organization's subject matter expert and strategic leader for the category.

As Libbey continues its meaningful entrance into the Serveware & Buffetware market, this role will be responsible for accelerating category knowledge, informing critical strategic and commercial decisions, and establishing a roadmap for sustainable growth. This leader will leverage deep industry expertise to identify market opportunities, guide assortment strategy, strengthen competitive positioning, and help build organizational capabilities within the category.

This leader will partner closely with Sales, Marketing, Product Development, Supply Chain, and Executive Leadership to define where Libbey will compete, how Libbey will win, and how success will be measured.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of Libbey's Serveware & Buffetware category growth strategy, establishing a clear roadmap for market expansion and profitable growth.
• Validate and refine category opportunities through market analysis, customer insights, competitive intelligence, and industry trends.
• Define Libbey's category positioning, assortment architecture, pricing strategy, and product portfolio priorities.
• Develop and launch a comprehensive "How to Win" strategy, including target segments, value propositions, and go-to-market recommendations.
• Partner with Product Development, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, and Leadership teams to align category objectives and execution plans.
• Serve as the organization's subject matter expert on Serveware & Buffetware, providing strategic guidance and category insights.
• Evaluate competitive offerings and identify opportunities to strengthen Libbey's market position and differentiation.
• Establish growth metrics, monitor category performance, and recommend actions to drive revenue and market share growth.
• Build commercial capabilities by developing category education, training, and sales enablement programs.
• Influence and drive cross‑functional decisions that support long‑term category growth and customer success.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Hospitality, Culinary Management, or a related field – preferred
• 10+ years of experience within foodservice, serveware, buffetware, hospitality, tabletop, housewares, or related industries.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing category growth, commercial, or go‑to‑market strategies.
• Strong expertise in market assessment, customer segmentation, assortment planning, pricing strategy, and competitive analysis.
• Experience influencing and partnering with senior leaders across multiple functions.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Excellent presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to drive initiatives from concept through execution and deliver measurable business outcomes.

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS

Behavioral Competencies

• Strategy: Consistently share the importance of connecting your functional strategy to Libbey's strategy, leading to successful completion of business goals. Create engagement and understanding by communicating a clear and compelling vision with a concise roadmap and expectations. Live One Libbey, investing in planning and collaboration across functions for the greater good of the company.
• Influence: Be a leader who is self‑aware, transparent, inclusive, encouraging, and supportive, prioritizing the company's needs. Be a steward of engagement and utilize influence to drive actions that align with Libbey's values. Champion engagement, creating an inclusive, positive, and meaningful experience for all Makers. Develop a legacy of great talent within your function and understand the importance of investing in associates.
• Lead & Develop: Coach, mentor, and motivate others to drive high levels of productivity, ongoing learning, and achievement. Inspire and empower others to achieve organizational goals and confidently challenge the status quo. Foster an environment of creativity and encouragement to think outside the box, leading to new ideas and innovations.

Sales Functional Competencies

• Customer & Market Understanding: Demonstrates a strong understanding of customers, end users, and the broader market, including key trends, competitive dynamics, and business drivers. Anticipates customer needs by proactively identifying challenges and uncovering opportunities that lead to future projects. Uses insights into customer behavior, product usage, and buying patterns to position Libbey solutions in a way that delivers value beyond the immediate order.
• Analysis, Insights & Data-Driven Decision Making: Continuously monitors market conditions, category trends, competitive activity, customer performance, and business trends to anticipate opportunities and risks. Uses insights to inform category strategy, identify growth opportunities, and avoid reactive, short-term decision-making. Leverages strong commercial insight to strengthen business recommendations, prioritize opportunities, and improve outcomes. Balances profitability, competitiveness, customer value, and business objectives when making strategic decisions.
• Cross-Functional Partnership, Negotiating & Communication: Partners effectively across Sales, Sales Operations, Marketing, Customer Service, Supply Chain, Product Development, and other internal teams to deliver a consistent, high-value customer experience. Aligns resources and expertise to execute category strategies, solve business challenges, and drive coordinated outcomes. Demonstrates a One Commercial mindset by ensuring alignment across functions in planning and execution. Leverages Libbey's operating rhythms to drive alignment, accountability, and effective solutions.

Assignment Details

• This is not a direct hire position. This person will not be classified as a Libbey employee.
• This is a consultant role and requires the individual to work as an independent contractor (1099).
• The estimated length of the contract assignment is 12 months.
• This position will require 40%+ travel (to/from Toledo, OH corporate office, customer visits, territory training, tradeshows, etc.).
• This position will report to the Vice President of Foodservice Sales for the United States and Canada, with high levels of engagement with the Vice President of Marketing for the United States and Canada, and the enterprise’s Chief Commercial Officer.

Libbey is an Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) Employer. We are committed to an inclusive workplace, free of harassment and discrimination.