Global Category Manager – HPE Networking
About The Position
The Global Category Manager is part of HPE Networking’s Global Transactional/High Velocity Sales team. The role manages and influences the Mist product offering, positioning, and pricing for SMB and midmarket customers throughout the product life cycle, working in partnership with regional sales teams. The manager helps define business objectives and achieve them through ongoing product-positioning and offering decisions, collaborating with the Sales Program Manager, Pricing team, and Global Product Line Managers. The role serves as an expert in SMB/midmarket business and competition, including product knowledge, pricing, marketing, and customer requirements. It communicates and supports product strategies and offerings with regional category managers and sales teams, and influences go-to-market activities and demand-generation priorities alongside regional teams. The position applies advanced networking product and solutions expertise to complex business issues, contributes to new ideas and methods, leads or advises functional project teams, participates in cross-functional initiatives, and guides process improvements and policy development. It exercises significant independent judgment and provides direction to extended teams across regions.
Requirements
- University or bachelor’s degree in engineering or business/finance.
- Typically 8–12 years of professional experience, preferably combining Product Management, Marketing, Sales, and Business Planning experience.
- Expertise in commercial partner/channel management or, alternatively, end-user account management.
- Knowledge of the IT industry and HPE networking products and solutions.
- Knowledge of channel sales and SMB/midmarket customer segments.
- Demonstrated business acumen and multidimensional business-planning skills.
- Financial planning and modeling skills, including the ability to manage complex business planning and reporting.
- Strong communication skills with senior management internally and externally.
- Knowledge of promotional marketing processes and practices.
- Negotiation skills and the ability to frame product value propositions for customers and partners.
- Leadership skills and cross-functional expertise, including sales, supply chain, and marketing.
- Strong financial acumen, pricing expertise, and ability to work across functions.
- Strategic and execution-oriented approach, balancing long-term planning with hands-on execution.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree or MBA.
- Product Management, Marketing, Sales, and Business Planning experience in combination.
Responsibilities
- Contribute to the business plan and drive its execution down to the country level.
- Manage and influence the Mist SMB/midmarket product offering, positioning, and pricing across the product life cycle.
- Work with regional sales teams, the Sales Program Manager, Pricing team, and Global Product Line Managers on product-positioning and offering decisions.
- Communicate, brief, and support regional category managers and sales teams on product strategies and offerings.
- Influence go-to-market activities and define strategic and tactical demand-generation priorities with regional teams.
- Represent the team and build relationships with regional sales forces and other partners at senior levels.
- Carry quota responsibility for the Mist SMB/midmarket product range in the high-velocity business.
- Lead cross-functional collaboration for Mist SMB/midmarket business, including engagement with Product Line Marketing, Operations, Pricing, Supply Chain, and Marketing.
- Contribute functional expertise in areas such as market analysis, marketing engagement, and sales-force communication.
- Lead or provide expertise to functional project teams and cross-functional initiatives, and guide process improvements and policy development.
- Provide guidance and direction to extended teams across regions.
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefits intended to support physical, financial, and emotional wellbeing.
- Programs and investment supporting personal and professional development and career goals.
- Flexible work arrangements to help manage work and personal needs.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
