Category Manager

Company Overview

Why Choose Us?

Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries including foodservice, restaurant delivery and carryout, food processing, grocery and retail, and industrial sectors. Novolex manufacturing and sourcing expertise spans a diverse range of substrates including resin, paper, molded fiber, aluminum and more. We provide customers a broad array of stock and customized solutions with 120 product categories, 250 brands and over 39,000 SKUs.

Our Sustainability Commitment

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.

Job Description

The Category Manager is responsible for driving the performance and execution of assigned product categories within the Food Service Distribution (DI) business unit. This role supports the development and implementation of category strategies, product innovation, and commercialization efforts to meet customer needs and business objectives.

Reporting to the Senior Category Manager, Category Management, this role collaborates closely with cross-functional teams including Sales, Marketing, Innovation & Sustainability, Operations, and Finance. The Manager will play a key role in translating customer insights into actionable plans, supporting go-to-market strategies, and ensuring operational readiness for product launches.

Key Responsibilities

· Supports the execution of category strategies aligned with customer trends, innovation pipelines, and business growth goals

· Collaborates with Product Management to share DI voice of customer feedback to help inform product and portfolio decisions, such as SKU optimization and opportunities for innovation

· Tracks category performance metrics and provides insights to inform strategic adjustments

· Assists in the development of customer-facing materials in partnership with Sales and Marketing

· Collaborates with Commercial Excellence on pricing analysis and margin management

· Works with R&D and Operations to assess feasibility and readiness for new product launches

· Acts as a voice of the customer within cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with customer needs

· Assists Product Management in product lifecycle activities including commercialization planning, launch execution, and end-of-life transitions

· Contributes to a high-performance team culture focused on agility, innovation, and customer-centricity

Requirements

· Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field; MBA or advanced degree a plus

· 5+ years of experience in category management, product marketing, or commercialization

· Strong understanding of consumer insights, market trends, and competitive dynamics

· Experience supporting cross-functional teams through product development and launch

· Analytical mindset with strong financial and business acumen

· Excellent communication, collaboration, and project management skills

A reasonable estimate of the current range is $95,000 - $120,000 + bonus + benefits.  The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations.  Within the range, individual pay is determined by job related skills, experience and relevant education or training.  At Novolex, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The benefits for this role include 401(k) plan with company match, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, paid vacation and sick days, paid parental leave, paid holidays and wellness program.

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Company Benefits

What You'll Get From Us

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 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 MyLearning. Programs include company and industry training curricula, support for formal education through the Tuition Reimbursement Program (Non-Union), and a Learning Management System that supports and enhances employee skills at all levels of the organization.

Novolex is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices, including but not limited to selection, hiring, promotion, transfer, and compensation to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, handicap or disability, genetics, citizenship status, service member or veteran status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. Any individual who, because of his or her disability, needs an accommodation in connection with an aspect of the Company's application process should contact myHRservices@novolex.com.

Formerly Pactiv Evergreen