Global Category Brand Manager at GN Store Nord in Chicago

Global Category Business Manager

SteelSeries has been helping gamers get better since 2001. In fact, Esports pros have won more money using SteelSeries products than any other brand and we're just getting started. Esports and Gaming are multi-billion-dollar industries, and we're going to continue supporting them through innovative gear and software gamers need and love. We create products that help the best of the best be better, and products that help the not-so-good feel not-so-bad.

About the Role

As the Global Category Business Manager (GCBM), you sit directly in the driver’s seat for three core product pillars that define the gaming experience: Mice, Keyboards, and Surfaces. This role translates category strategy and product positioning into regional go-to-market execution, sales enablement, and retail readiness.

The GCBM is accountable for hitting revenue and share targets across all three categories through disciplined execution, cross-functional coordination, and rigorous business performance tracking, partnering with the Insights Team for consumer and market research.

If you thrive on data analytics, marketing strategy, high-stakes project ownership, fast-paced launches, and steering multi-category growth across global markets, this is your arena.

Key Responsibilities

Business Performance & Reporting

You own the commercial dashboard, actively analyzing category health and identifying action items to optimize performance across all product lines.

• Lead Category Strategy Reviews: Develop Quarterly Category Deep Dives and Business Reviews, surfacing actionable optimizations across Mice, Keyboards, and Surfaces.

• Track Revenue & Market Share: Continuously monitor regional revenue and market share performance against aggressive category targets.

• Optimize Post-Launch Performance: Track post-launch NPI performance and recommend swift adjustments to in-market execution.

• Key Deliverables: Quarterly Category Deep Dives & Business Reviews.

Go-to-Market Execution

You take high-level strategy and translate it into high-impact launch packages that captivate sales teams, influencers, media, and consumers worldwide.

• Drive Global Sell-In: Build compelling sell-in decks and present new products directly to global sales teams to maximize customer buy-in.

• Shape Campaign Execution: Draft influencer briefs that inspire creative launch and awareness campaigns.

• Bring Products to Life: Lead the development of immersive product demo experiences for live events, retail environments, and owned social channels.

• Enable Press & Media: Partner with PR to craft comprehensive reviewer's briefs ahead of media outreach.

• Own Product Touchpoints: Author packaging briefs and steer packaging reviews through to final approval.

• Optimize Channel Impact: Develop merchandising briefs to ensure flawless execution across physical retail and e-commerce platforms.

• Define Product Messaging Structure: Establish the feature hierarchy for every launch, serving as the foundational input for core messaging.

• Key Deliverables: Sell-In Deck, Influencer Brief, Demos, Reviewer's Brief, Packaging Brief, Merchandising Brief

Sales & Retail Enablement

You bridge product strategy and commercial readiness, empowering global sales teams and retail partners to win in every region.

• Empower Sales Teams: Lead comprehensive sales training for new product launches.

• Refine Educational Assets: Sharpen sales education materials with the Global Retail and Event Manager.

• Optimize Regional Product Mix: Set strategic retail SKU prioritization tailored by category and geographic region.

• Set Launch Timing: Lock in launch dates in partnership with Commercial Operations and Key Market leads.

• Ensure Launch Readiness: Build targeted NPI (New Product Introduction) kits to support global market readiness.

• Manage Samples Fulfillment: Oversee global and regional sample requests for seamless execution.

• Key Deliverables: Sales Training Materials, Retail SKU Prioritization, Launch Date, NPI Kits, Sample Requests.
  
  

Reviewer & Launch Support

You safeguard brand buzz post-announcement, ensuring reviewers and media outlets have everything required for maximum impact.

• Guide Media Coverage: Support the PR Director by delivering thorough reviewer briefings for product launches.

• Key Deliverables: Reviewer Briefings
  
  

Works in Partnership With

• CMO and Director of Brand Management — own category positioning, single-minded proposition, claims, and concept development; this role executes against that direction rather than defining it

• Insights Team — owns consumer research, concept testing, and market sizing; this role consumes and applies those insights

• Commercial Operations & Key Market leads — partners on launch timing and regional go-to-market planning

• Product Managers – own product development and future vision of the category roadmap
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree

• 3+ years' experience in brand marketing, product marketing, or category/channel management

• Strong affinity for gaming a plus

• Strong project management skills; able to manage multiple concurrent launches across three categories at once

• Comfortable working with business data to track performance (revenue, share, NPI tracking)

• Experience working with retail channel and customer sales teams

• Highly organized and deadline-driven; able to operate at a fast pace across multiple product lines simultaneously