Standard Motor Products · 15 hours ago
Category Director
New York, NY
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$90K/yr - $150K/yr
7+ years expStandard Motor Products (SMP) is seeking a dynamic and strategic Category Lead to spearhead the development of a new category strategy function within the Vehicle Control Group. This pivotal role involves full ownership of the category’s profit and loss (P&L), the creation and execution of scalable strategies, and fostering seamless collaboration across departments.
AutomotiveManufacturingWholesale
Responsibilities
Innovate: Create forward-thinking strategies that challenge the status quo and establish new industry standards
Collaborate: forge strong partnerships with internal teams and external stakeholders to enhance growth and profitability
Lead: Drive strategic initiatives that respond to changing consumer demands, using insights to positively impact both revenue and costs
Optimize: Set and monitor key performance indicators to ensure ongoing improvement and maintain a competitive edge
Category Strategy & P&L Ownership Establish and lead the category strategy department, defining its structure within the Vehicle Control Group
Take full ownership of the category’s profit and loss (P&L), by setting financial targets and monitoring key performance indicators such as revenue, margin, and market share
Develop long-term category roadmaps that align with corporate growth objectives
Cross-Functional Leadership Manage and coordinate a multidisciplinary team, including Sourcing, Pricing, Engineering, Finance, IT, Marketing, and Sales/Account Management
Ensure seamless execution of category initiatives across departments by aligning timelines, resources, and deliverables
Market & Competitive Analysis Conduct regular assessments of each category to evaluate performance and identify opportunities for expansion or optimization
Develop competitive case studies to analyze current and emerging players in the market
Monitor advancements in technology and product trends to maintain a competitive edge
Innovation & Product Development Evaluate "make vs. buy" opportunities for new or adjacent products within the Vehicle Control sector
Collaborate with the Engineering and Sourcing teams to develop innovative products and expand into related categories
Lead the business case development for new category investments or portfolio adjustments
Strategic Planning & Governance Conduct annual strategic reviews for High -performing categories
Establish processes for ongoing category monitoring and strategy refinement
Develop dashboards and reports to effectively communicate category performance to senior leadership
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in business, Engineering, Marketing, or a related field
Minimum of 7 years of experience in category management, product management, or P&L ownership within the automotive aftermarket or a related industry
Strong financial acumen with a proven track record in managing category P&L
Demonstrated ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams
Exceptional analytical, strategic thinking, and communication skills
Extensive experience conducting market research and competitive analysis
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, matrixed organization
5+ years of retail merchant experience a must
Preferred
MBA preferred
Company
Standard Motor Products
Standard Motor Products is an independent manufacturer and distributor of replacement parts for motor vehicles.
5001-10000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$1.25BKey Investors
JP Morgan Chase
2024-09-17Post Ipo Debt· $750M
2022-06-02Post Ipo Debt· $500M
1978-01-13IPO
Leadership Team
Eric Sills
CEO
Dale Burks
Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer
Recent News
2026-01-15
Company data provided by crunchbase