Category Manager - Hardware

Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. is an industry-leading innovation company focused on creating smarter, safer and more beautiful homes and improving lives. Our driving purpose is that we elevate every life by transforming spaces into havens. We believe our work and our brands can have incredibly positive impacts for not just our business and shareholders, but for people and the planet, too. When you join Fortune Brands, you become part of a high-performing team who are empowered to think big, learn fast and make bold decisions. We support an inclusive and diverse culture where everyone is encouraged and empowered to be their authentic selves, and where our differences and unique perspectives are a key strength. Explore life at Fortune Brands here

As a Category Manager, you will be empowered and expected to grow margin and profitability of your product lines, enabling the BU to meet its overall financial objective. You will provide thought leadership and direction to ensure we have the right products, in the right channels, with the right pricing architecture. You will have a deep understanding of the market and target customer groups to recommend strategies that will increase market share and profitability throughout the product lifecycle.

YOUR ROLE:

The bullet points below reflect roughly 80% of your job. We are a fast-paced company, you may be pulled in a variety of different directions with tasks added or changed.

• In collaboration with the FBIN COE’s and functions, Create Product Strategies that align to and enable the BU’s strategic plan, utilizing both an 8020 and total product lifecycle management mindset. Articulate the strategy on what we should sell and innovate more or less of, and how we will position our products in the different channels to market.
• Develop and execute annual product plans to meet growth, market share and profitability goals. Manage trade-offs and balance conflicting demands to execute required initiatives to prune (exit), fix (cost, quality) and grow (marketing, product/omni channel strategy, new product introductions) the product lines profitably.
• Determine product line pricing architectures and lead annual pricing strategy to maximize our profitable share across channels. Partner with Revenue Growth Management, sales, analytics and finance teams to understand channel dynamics & competitive positioning, set list prices, and review the revenue and profit impact of price requests/changes.
• Influence and educate the business on how we go to market. Provide thought leadership and direction within and outside the organization for business, technical or competitive issues on assigned product line/s.
• Develop new product/solutions/services objectives, strategies and timelines to maximize market share growth.
• Champion the “Voice of the Customer & Consumer” by developing a thorough understanding of customer and market needs / trends. Conduct competitive analysis and gain insight to product gaps or advantages.
• Responsible for providing a regular profit review of product line results, with recommended actions, to accomplish attaining market share, revenue, and profitability targets for assigned product range.
• Effectively communicate and explain the rationale of product line strategies, positioning, channel needs, financial impact, priorities and customer requirements.
• Provide sales and product training support to drive revenue and profitability goals of product line. Attend industry-related trade shows, sales meetings, and maintain trade association contacts as needed. Maintain a general understanding of pertinent industry standards to best position assigned product line.
• Support brand marketing / marketing services with product knowledge, promotional strategies and tactics for assigned product lines. Review content and message of all collateral materials and communications for assigned product lines. Ensure the accuracy of product offering, descriptions, pricing, etc. in all company communications.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

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BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of product management experience in durable goods manufacturing.
• Various market segments and channel experience.
• Strong analytical skills, including ability to arrive at insights from analytical data, is essential for market and competitive evaluation, pricing, and line management.
• Demonstrated ability to be a team player with skills to lead/participate in cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated effective verbal, written and presentation skills.
• Advanced computer skills (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, SAP).
• Ability to travel approximately 25%, mainly to customer locations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• MBA in Marketing, Business, or related field.
• Prior consumer/durable goods experience.
• Experience with consumer package goods.
• Relevant experiences interfacing with large retail customers

Fortune Brands believes in fair and equitable pay. A reasonable estimate of the base salary range for this role is Hiring Pay Range: $90,000 USD - $143,000 USD. Please note that actual salaries may vary within the range, or be above or below the range, based on factors including, but not limited to, education, training, experience, professional achievement, business need, and location. In addition to base salary, employees will participate in either an annual bonus plan based on company and individual performance, or a role-based sales incentive plan.

At Fortune Brands, we support the overall health and wellness of our associates by offering comprehensive, competitive benefits that prioritize all aspects of wellbeing and provide flexibility for our teammates’ unique needs. This includes robust health plans, a market-leading 401(k) program with a company contribution, product discounts, flexible time off benefits (including half-day summer Fridays per policy), inclusive fertility / adoption benefits, and more. We offer numerous Employee Resource Groups to support inclusivity and our associates’ feeling of belonging at work.

Fortune Brands is a brand, innovation and channel leader focused on exciting, supercharged categories in the home products, security and commercial building markets. Our portfolio of brands includes Moen, House of Rohl, Aqualisa, SpringWell, Therma-Tru, Larson, Fiberon, Master Lock, SentrySafe and Yale residential.

Fortune Brands is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois and trades on the NYSE as FBIN

Equal Employment Opportunity:

FBIN is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic history or information, or any other legally protected characteristic.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply. To support our efforts, we invite you to voluntarily share your gender, ethnicity, and veteran status. This information is confidential and helps us ensure an inclusive hiring process and improve our diversity initiatives.

Reasonable Accommodations:

FBIN is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please contact us at [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request along with your contact information. Resumes submitted to this email address will not be responded to.