Category Manager

Benchmade Knife Company, Inc; Oregon (WI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Benchmade Knife Company, Inc. seeks a Category Manager to lead one or more product categories, owning strategy, portfolio, commercialization and category P&L. You will balance strategic leadership with hands‑on product management, advocating for customers and driving innovation and prototyping.

You will manage a team of engineers and designers, partner with cross‑functional teams, and ensure successful product launches while achieving business results across your category.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred.
• 5+ years in Product, Category, or Product Line Management.
• 2+ years of direct people leadership.
• Demonstrated P&L ownership, budgeting, forecasting and executive presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Own long‑term category strategy and 3‑year roadmaps.
• Own category P&L, budgets, forecasts, pricing, and investments.
• Lead a team of engineers and designers to deliver products.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally to ensure successful commercialization and launches.

Skills

Product management

P&L ownership

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

Job description

Job Summary

The Category Manager serves as the business and product leader for one or more assigned product categories. They own category strategy, customer understanding, product portfolio, commercialization, and category P&L while leading their team of engineers and designers. They balance strategic leadership with hands‑on product management and determine what products Benchmade builds—and why. Category Managers are the company's foremost experts in their categories, advocating for customers, translating insight into products, creating demand for future technologies through innovation and prototyping, and being accountable for both business results and product execution.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Category Leadership
  • Own long‑term category strategy for one or more categories.
  • Develop rolling 3‑year category plans and product roadmaps.
  • Own category P&L, budgets, forecasts, pricing, and investment priorities.
  • Present category strategy and financial performance to leadership.
• Customer & Market Leadership
  • Serve as the primary voice of the customer.
  • Lead customer research, field engagement, and competitive analysis.
  • Translate customer needs into product strategy and validated opportunities.
• Product & Innovation Leadership
  • Lead products from concept through end‑of‑life.
  • Partner with Innovation and Advanced Prototyping to pull future technologies and capabilities into the category.
  • Balance innovation, lifecycle management, and commercial performance.
• People Leadership
  • Directly lead the team of engineers and designers.
  • Coach, develop, recruit, and evaluate team members.
  • Create an accountable, collaborative, high‑performing culture.
• Cross‑Functional Leadership
  • Partner with Brand, Marketing, E‑commerce, Sales, Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain.
  • Ensure successful commercialization and launch execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred.
• 5+ years in Product, Category, or Product Line Management.
• 2+ years of direct people leadership.
• Demonstrated P&L ownership, budgeting, forecasting, and executive presentation skills.

Working Conditions

Primarily an on‑site leadership role with hybrid flexibility as business needs allow. Office‑based with regular interaction across Design, Engineering, Operations, Marketing, Sales, and executive leadership. Travel as required (typically less than 10%).

Measures of Success

• Commercial performance (revenue, margin, P&L).
• Customer satisfaction and validated customer insight.
• Successful product launches and portfolio health.
• Team development and cross‑functional leadership.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Benchmade Knife Company, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Benchmade complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, benefits, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see this government poster: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact [e-mail] or 1-800-800-7427.