Manager, Category Marketing

The Manager of Category Marketing for White Knight is responsible for developing and executing global marketing strategies for the Division’s assigned market category. This role requires deep knowledge of target industries to develop a strong voice of customer (VOC), set market size, develop go-to-market (GTM) strategies, and drive growth through strategic marketing planning. The role encompasses typically leading a team of individual contributors to conduct category-specific market research, target customer identification, pricing strategy, and product branding to align with the specified categories and organizational global initiatives.  This leader must have the ability to see the bigger picture for the organization and correlate the tactical and executional KPIs to an ROI to reach the desired business outcomes.

What You Will Do at Graco

Strategic Marketing and GTM Strategy

• Develop and implement global 5-year strategic marketing roadmaps that aligns with division’s global business strategies.

• Lead in-depth research on divisional categories to understand market dynamics, customer needs, and competitive landscapes, and communicate customer engagement strategies to commercial and GTM teams.

• Develop and execute strategies to effectively segment the market and establish buyer insights to define market size and capture opportunities within the categories.

• Create and implement comprehensive category marketing strategies and GTM strategies that align with divisional goals and target customer personas.

• Create detailed business plans to support the introduction of new products within the categories.

• Lead team efforts in developing Customer Requirements Documentation (CRD).

• Identify opportunities for inorganic growth and adjacencies within the categories.

VOC and Value Proposition Development

• Lead the execution and analysis of VOC insights to inform marketing strategies and develop market segmentation to define the buyer journey map for target personas.

• Analyze VOC data to understand the customer's needs, preferences and pain points, and incorporate insights into marketing strategies.

• Develop compelling value propositions that resonate with target customers and address their specific needs.

Pricing and Forecast Strategy

• Develop and implement pricing strategies that reflect market conditions, customer value, and competitive positioning.

• Develop accurate product forecasts based on market analysis, VOC insights, and historical data.

• Use forecasting data to inform product development and marketing strategies.

Product Brand and Launch

• Define and manage product branding strategies to ensure consistency and alignment with company values and brand identity.

• Oversee product branding efforts, ensuring alignment with category strategies, market positioning, and global Graco brand strategy.

• Lead teams to manage new product trademarks and branding initiatives to enhance product visibility and recognition.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful product launches and market penetration.

• Lead team to determine the need for product-related events, such as trade shows, webinars, and industry conferences.

Team Leadership and Financial Management

• Lead, mentor, manage, and staff a team of marketing individual contributors, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and promoting a culture of excellence.

• Drive team performance by setting clear goals, providing ongoing feedback, and facilitating professional growth opportunities.

• Establish, manage, and be accountable for the annual marketing budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and alignment with