Category Manager, Project Freedom

About the role

The role of a Category Manager is pivotal in steering the direction and success of consumer-centric product solutions. This position demands a blend of strategic foresight and hands-on management through every phase of product development, from conceptualization to market launch. The core responsibility involves orchestrating annual line plans that are not only ambitious in terms of revenue, gross margin, and market share growth but also reflective of a deep understanding of market demands and consumer preferences.

Responsibilities

• Analyze target markets/segments and create a solid definition of the potential for new products.
• Position these new products in the marketplace, working closely with sales, marketing, and external experts to gain an in-depth understanding of each market/segment and the competition.
• Deliver clear communication and effective partnership to internal stakeholders, including design, development, marketing and sales team.
• Execute on the I2C pathway, preparing effectively for key waypoints, and delivering on follow up action items.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to innovate.
• Partner with internal teams to take innovative ideas from concept to implementation.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to align on deliver specific product development goals and timelines.
• Become a leading expert on Blackhawks competition and the overall marketplace, integrating this insight to support forward-looking decisions.
• Maintain all relevant line plans completely and accurately.
• Support the future implementation of new product line and product information management tools, including PLM and PIM.
• Drive towards seasonal and annual sales and margin objectives.
• Participate in the up front long range planning decisions, and deliver seasonal plans with a demonstrated path to achieving those goals.
• Monitor the actual progress towards those objectives, and participate in near-term tactics and problem solving as necessary.
• Develop strong working relationship with colleagues across teams, enabling and empowering others.
• Facilitate presentations and discussions with consumers and retailers to gather insights that inform product and collection development.
• Deliver effective sell-in presentations to individual customers and during larger global sales moments.
• Develop and maintain effective intellectual property strategies.
• Understand and comply with relevant policy and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• College degree desired.
• 5+ years sales, product or marketing experience in wholesale, retail or direct businesses.
• Proven track record of Product Line Management for Consumer Brands, Products or Categories.
• Experience with Outdoor Products categories a plus.
• Experience across different channels (outdoor products or specialty retail channel preferred), CPG categories (related category/products preferred), company sizes (large CPG and smaller company or division), low penetration brand/products.
• Knowledge of product development process, merchandising and assortment planning.
• Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to deliver presentations to large groups.
• Working knowledge of personal computers with experience in the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Strong quantitative/analytic skills.
• Extreme attention to detail and the ability to establish and maintain schedules.
• Ability to manage ambiguity and make decisions with incomplete or qualitative data.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to lead a collaborative results-oriented team.
• Ability to communicate effectively - verbally, written and visually - with a wide variety of people.
• Adaptable, resilient, flexible, fast-paced/sense of urgency, and a high level of multitasking ability.
• Demonstrated passion and personal commitment.
• Personal and professional values are aligned with company values and culture, high integrity.
• Able to handle pressure of deadlines, multiple projects and financial performance expectations.
• Fast-paced growing company experience and/or demonstrated effectiveness in a small company/location where role includes both strategic and hands-on responsibilities.

Pay

Annual Salary: $102,000.00 - $126,000.00. The actual annual salary offered to a candidate will be based on variables including experience, geographic location, education, and skills/achievements, and will be mutually agreed upon at the time of offer.

Benefits

We offer a highly competitive salary, comprehensive benefits including: medical and dental, vision, disability and life insurance, 401K, PTO, paid holidays, gear discounts and the ability to add value to an exciting mission!