Product Manager - Processor; West Region

As a Product Manager
, you will have direct responsibility for the development and implementation of packaging product strategies within the Western sales region. You will be the subject matter expert (SME) and bridge that ties Category Management to the sales team. You will partner closely with both corporate Category Management and local sales and sales leadership to ensure everyone fully understands the competitive dynamics of the category and can successfully deliver on goals.

Examples of typical scope of responsibility include:

• Guiding the sales teams towards products that match company initiatives to achieve sales goals.
• Ensuring the sales team understands any inventory or lead time constraints on new products.
• Supporting the sales team with sourcing requests, product demonstrations, bids/RFQ and private label/own brand product information.
• As the product expert, you will also conduct product training and competitive differentiation strategies to the field sales teams.

This Product Manager supports our Distribution Processor team. Products include disposables and packaging for food production and distribution companies like bakeries, dairies and fresh produce distributors.

Along with supporting the sales team, you will be responsible for delivering on the sourcing & sales strategy and profitability for the products within your region including product mix support and pricing/margin suggestions.

This is a remote role. Ideal candidates would sit near one of these region Hub locations (St. Louis Mo, Kansas City Mo, Los Angeles CA, Tempe AZ, Sumner WA) but we will consider applicants that live near an airport in the western region of the U.S.

• Ownership and management of the overall strategy within their respective channel of responsibility.
• Develop category and channel expertise that allows the organization to effectively compete within the market; this includes monitoring channel needs, trends, and competitive products to ensure the channel remains competitive while maximizing profitability.
• Strategic engagement with sales leadership to develop and implement key product strategies in support of company objectives; this includes driving compliance to preferred product categories such as Bunzl Own Brand and Import products.
• Participate in customer meetings alongside sales and will serve as the product and category management expert in key categories of focus.
• Establish category ownership & product expertise with internal and external stakeholders.
• Leverage market intelligence to validate and benchmark costs and advise the sales team on competitive pricing.
• Manage assigned local vendor relationships and negotiates commercial agreements and contract pricing in coordination with divisional category management and market leadership.
• Work with channel leadership to rationalize and consolidate product lines when appropriate.
• Support channel with sourcing requests for products within key product categories under management.
• Share market intelligence, strategy, and tactics with channel counterparts.
• Regularly communicates with region, division, and corporate Category Management teams to ensure alignment to strategies and priorities.

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 5+ years’ experience in product management, category management and/or procurement
• Strong data analysis and interpretation skills.
• Proficient in MS Excel
• Prior experience in a Category Management or Strategic Sourcing role preferred.
• Prior experience within Distribution or food production industry is a plus.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Desire to make profound impact on company's growth trajectory.
• Ability to travel 30-40%
• The candidate must have strong leadership qualities and a relentless desire to deliver against company objectives.
• Strong sense of urgency, with the drive and knowledge to navigate multi-level relationships.
• High level of emotional intelligence, perceptive, proven ability to develop relationships that withstand objections and unexpected changes in strategy.
• Perseverance to navigate complex scenarios and timelines.

Bunzl US salary range for this role is $81,000 - $115,000 based on experience, education and…