Product Category Manager - Power Distribution

Graybar Management Services LLC; Chesterfield (MO); On-site; USD 102,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation and sick days

Paid holidays and wellness day

Educational reimbursement

Job summary

Graybar seeks a Product Category Manager to drive category strategy, lead the Product Management team, and deliver growth through strategic planning and execution. You will work with suppliers and field sales to align development plans with regional goals and manage the category lifecycle.

You will help develop category marketing strategies, analyze market trends, and negotiate distributor and incentive agreements to ensure profitability for the company.

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten years experience in progressively responsible direct sales and sales management.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing or related field; MBA 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Cross-functional leadership

Business acumen

Product knowledge

Relationship building

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Marketing or related field

MBA preferred

Job description

Become part of the excitement. 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:

Responsibilities

• 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.

Qualifications

• 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.

Compensation

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.

Benefits

• 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.

Why Join Us

At Graybar, we believe that employees with diverse perspectives bring the ideas and innovative thinking we need to solve our biggest challenges and compete in an ever‑changing world. Consistent with our values, we welcome people from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences into our company because we believe it’s the right thing to do and the right way to run our business. We want each of our employees to know that they matter and to feel a sense of belonging, ownership and inclusion at Graybar. We believe that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect, and we work to build a collaborative environment where our employees have the opportunity to grow, learn and make a difference, both as individuals and as part of the team. That’s what our employee ownership culture is all about: working as one team and moving forward together, while honoring the unique value each person brings to our company.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Vet/Disabled

About the Company

Graybar, a Fortune 500 company, specializes in supply chain management services, and is a leading North American distributor of high quality components, equipment, and materials. We serve the construction market, the commercial, institutional, and government (CIG) market, and the industrial and utility markets. Graybar products and services support new construction, infrastructure updates, building renovation, facility maintenance, repair and operations, and original equipment manufacturing.