Category Manager

Arkema; Wauwatosa (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Arkema is seeking a Category Manager to lead strategic initiatives and optimize product categories for growth. This role involves analyzing market conditions, consumer behavior, and pricing dynamics to maximize profitability and customer satisfaction.

Requirements include 7+ years of experience in category management or merchandising, a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, strong analytical skills, and proven success in driving category growth. A hands-on approach with excellent stakeholder management abilities is essential.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in category management, product management, or merchandising.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in market research and pricing analysis.
• Proven track record of driving category growth and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Develop category plans including new product developments and annual promotions.
• Monitor market dynamics and end user behavior to drive strategies.
• Manage pricing strategy to ensure competitiveness while maximizing margins.
• Oversee product assortment and launches within the category.
• Partner with marketing, sales, and procurement for category initiatives.

Skills

Analytical skills

Market research

Communication

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decision-making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, economics, or related field

MBA

Job description

The Category Manager is a strategic and analytical leader responsible for managing their product category to drive business growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction. This role serves as the category expert, deeply understanding market needs, consumer behavior, competitive offerings, and pricing dynamics to drive business results. The Category Manager develops and executes strategies that align with company objectives, optimize product assortment, and enhance the overall value proposition to increase market share. Ensures that the category is positioned effectively in the market by analyzing performance metrics, identifying opportunities for innovation, and leading initiatives that support both short-term results and long-term strategic goals. The Category Manager plays a key role in shaping the customer experience and ensuring the company remains competitive in a dynamic marketplace.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Planning – (30%)

• Develop and implement comprehensive category plans aligned to drive category growth including new product developments, annual promotions, and marketing campaigns
• Identify growth opportunities through market trends, customer insights, and competitive analysis to drive market share growth
• Build relationships with channel category managers to gain real-time market insight and customer needs

Market & Competitive Expertise – (30%)

• Leverage knowledge of market and customer needs through VOC to represent the market and customer needs and driving results
• Continuously monitor market dynamics, end user behavior, and emerging trends to drive marketing strategy, pricing, promotions, and new product ideas.
• Benchmark competitive offerings and pricing to inform strategic decisions including marketing, promotions, and price
• Assess consumer needs to develop primary claims that drive increased market share performance

Pricing & Profitability – (10%)

• Manage MVC % contribution while driving sales and market share improvements including non-performing stock
• Lead pricing strategy development to ensure competitiveness while maximizing margins, product mix, and systems sales
• Monitor and adjust pricing based on market shifts and performance metrics

Product Lifecycle Management – (10%)

• Oversee product assortment, launches, and discontinuations within the category.
• Identify opportunities to improve product positioning
• Review assortment regularly to address underperforming SKUs
• Identify new product opportunities to fill the NPD pipeline

Stakeholder Collaboration – (10%)

• Partner with marketing, sales, and procurement to execute category initiatives.
• Contribute to marketing communications planning by clearly articulating the market segment objectives, competitive landscape, and target market/segments
• Present category performance and strategic plans to senior leadership

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in category management, product management, or merchandising
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, economics, or related field (MBA a plus).
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in market research and pricing analysis.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proven track record of driving category growth and profitability.
• Strategic mindset with a hands‑on approach to execution.
• Strong commercial mindset, data-driven decision-making, and the ability to influence stakeholders
• Prefer familiarity with retail, consumer goods, or industrial product categories