Director, Category Management

Novolex is a leader in packaging innovation, choice and sustainability. We manufacture products in paper, plastic and sustainable materials for the food, retail, health and industrial markets.

• Salary range* from $165,000 to $210,000
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  Medical, dental and vision options

  
  
• Wellness rewards to fund your HRA or HSA
• Paid holidays, time off, parental and other leaves
• Financial protection benefits such as life, AD&D and disability insurance, and 401(k) Plan with employer matching contributions
• Education Support (for example, tuition reimbursement, Chairman's Scholarship, 529 College Savings Plan)
• Broad Based Employee Award Program-value sharing plan for all employees with one year of service
• Employee Assistance Program and much more!

*The range provided is based on cost of living/geography and what we believe is reasonable in the market at the time of the posting. This role is eligible for an annual bonus and an annual merit increase. Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirements. Actual base salary pay will be based on a number of factors, including skills, competencies, experience, and other job-related factors.

The Novolex sustainability vision is built upon three pillars: our products, our operations and our people. Each is critically important to our growth and future as a business. These pillars form the foundation of our company-wide commitment to sustainability, helping us achieve our ambitious goals through our wide-ranging initiatives.

The Director, Category Management is responsible for strategic leadership and performance of the assigned categories for quick service restaurant customers. S/he owns the category roadmap, business unit product innovation, marketing alignment, and commercial execution to ensure our portfolio meets customer needs while delivering on profitability. It serves as the strategic bridge between customer insights, product development, and commercialization.

This role reports to the Senior Vice President, Commercial Excellence - QSR working closely with peers in Sales, Commercial Excellence, and with support functions such as Innovation & Sustainability, Marketing, Operations, Finance, and Human Resources. S/he will align product offerings with major customer requirements and collaborate on pricing strategies and portfolio optimization to ensure scalable commercialization across customers. Reporting to this role will be category managers and other marketing-related roles.

Key Responsibilities

• Develops and executes category strategies for the QSR business unit, aligning customer trends, innovation, and business growth goals across technologies and platforms
• Translates market and competitive insights into actionable product and portfolio decisions, including SKU rationalization and new product innovation
• Track and report out on category performance, adjusting strategy based on commercial, operational, and customer feedback
• Represent the company and QSR business unit in customer meetings, conferences, and in industry engagements
• Partners with Sales and Marketing to create channel-specific value propositions, storytelling, and other launch materials and collateral
• Partners with Commercial Excellence to lead pricing and margin management to maintain and growth profitability and competitiveness
• Collaborates with R&D and Operations to validate feasibility, sustainability, and design for manufacturing of new products
• Serves as an internal voice of customers for all QSR customers, influencing cross-functional priorities and resource allocation
• Owns product lifecycle management from ideation to end of life, ensuring speed to market and supply chain readiness to support product launches and sunsetting
• Fosters a high-performance team culture with a focus on agility, customer-centricity, and innovation
• Leads and inspires a team of high-performing category management and marketing professionals

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field; MBA preferred
• 10+ years of category management or commercialization
• Deep understanding of consumer behavior, market dynamics, and competitive landscapes
• Experience partnering with Sales and Marketing to create compelling GTM strategies
• Ability to lead cross-functional category teams through product development and commercialization
• Strong analytical and financial acumen; experience managing category profitability
• Excellent leadership, communication, and change management skills

Benefits

With safety as our top priority and a commitment to employee well-being an important focus, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits that include medical, dental and vision insurance (including Telehealth options) as well as a variety of other well-being resources focused on mental, physical and financial health. Specific benefits and well-being programs may vary depending on where you work.

Community Engagement

At Novolex, giving back to the local communities that support us is important. Our Focused Giving Program prioritizes support for organizations whose missions promote sustainability initiatives or address food and hunger needs. We also encourage facility level support of activities in the communities where our employees live and work.

Training and Development

We offer constant opportunities for advancement. From skills development to advanced education programs, training and development programs and courses are available through Novolex University. Programs include company and industry training curricula, support for formal education through the Tuition Reimbursement Program, and a Learning Management System that supports and enhances employee skills at all levels of the organization.

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