Job Description

Category Manager

Position Summary

The Category Manager is responsible for developing category strategy, optimizing the product portfolio, and driving commercial performance within a global industrial manufacturing organization. This role combines technical expertise, business acumen, and cross-functional leadership to align Engineering, Sales, Operations, and Supply Chain with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies that drive growth, profitability, and market competitiveness.
• Manage the complete product lifecycle, including new product development, portfolio optimization, and end-of-life planning.
• Establish product governance processes aligned with company standards and strategic objectives.
• Develop pricing, margin optimization, and value-based positioning strategies.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Sales, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure effective product execution.
• Analyze market trends, customer needs, and competitive activity to identify growth and innovation opportunities.
• Develop and maintain OEM relationships, particularly within transformer and switchgear markets.
• Ensure products and processes comply with applicable IEC, IEEE, and ANSI standards.
• Use business metrics and market data to support decision-making and track category performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Electromechanical, Industrial, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of product or category management experience in an industrial B2B environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of electrical equipment, including protection devices, relays, fuses, sensing, and monitoring systems.
• Proven experience with product lifecycle, pricing, and margin management.
• Experience working in structured, cross-functional manufacturing organizations.
• Strong ability to influence stakeholders and build alignment without direct authority.
• Familiarity with IEC, IEEE, and ANSI standards.
• MBA or Engineering Management degree preferred.

Core Competencies

• Strategic and commercial business acumen
• Pricing and profitability management
• Analytical and data-driven decision-making
• Cross-functional leadership and communication
• Market and competitive analysis
• Problem-solving and continuous improvement
• Results-oriented execution