Category Manager – Marine & Commercial… at Polaris · Plymouth

Category Manager – Marine & Commercial Accessories Location: Plymouth, MN, USA At Polaris Inc., we have fun doing what we love by driving change and innovation. We empower employees to take on challenging assignments and roles with an elevated level of responsibility in our agile working environment. Our people make us who we are, and we create incredible products and experiences that empower us to THINK OUTSIDE. At Polaris, we’re redefining adventure by delivering innovative, high-performance Parts, Garments, and Accessories (PG&A) that enhance every ride. As the Category Manager for Marine, Commercial, and Government & Defense, you will play a critical role in shaping and executing the strategy for a dynamic product portfolio. In this role, you will lead the full product lifecycle—from concept and development through launch, growth, maturity, and end-of-life. You’ll be responsible for product forecasting and demand planning, leveraging market insights, historical data, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure accurate projections and optimized inventory levels. You will also own product marketing strategy, partnering closely with brand, channel, and digital teams to develop compelling go-to-market plans, messaging, and launch campaigns that drive awareness, adoption, and customer loyalty. Additionally, you will have P&L ownership for your category, accountable for driving revenue growth, managing gross margins, and optimizing inventory performance to meet financial targets. This is a highly cross-functional role that requires strong collaboration with engineering, sourcing, sales, and marketing to deliver differentiated, customer-centric products that fuel growth and elevate the Polaris brand in the marine & commercial markets. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Category & Portfolio Strategy Leadership (30%) Provide end-to-end category leadership for Marine, Commercial, and Government & Defense PG&A, balancing consumer-driven accessory innovation with B2B, service-level, and fleet-oriented requirements. Serve as the centralized category owner for Marine and Commercial PG&A, aligning portfolio strategy with customer, channel, and business needs Define and maintain the category vision, strategic priorities, and Long-Range Product Plan (LRPP) across Polaris and aftermarket brands Lead product strategy and planning across the full lifecycle: concept, development, launch, growth, maturity, and end-of-life Balance innovation, line extensions, and rationalization to maintain a healthy, profitable portfolio Partner with Marine, Commercial, and Gov & Defense business leaders to ensure category roadmaps support platform strategies, lifecycle needs, and customer use cases Identify whitespace and growth opportunities through market analysis, competitive benchmarking, and customer insights 2. Product Development & Lifecycle Management (20%) Drive disciplined product development and lifecycle execution, ensuring timely delivery of differentiated, high-quality solutions that meet both consumer and B2B requirements. Collaborate with PD&D, Engineering, Industrial Design, and Sourcing to define product requirements, cost targets, and timelines Champion Voice of Customer insights to inform product design, feature prioritization, and portfolio decisions Ensure flawless execution of new product launches with on-time, on-quality delivery Own PLM data accuracy and governance, ensuring centralized, actionable product information Lead product lifecycle decisions, including strategic discontinuations, supersessions, and refreshes Track regulatory, technology, and competitive trends impacting Marine, Commercial, and Gov & Defense applications 3. Go-To-Market, Service Enablement (25%) Develop and execute GTM strategies that support both consumer retail environments and B2B/fleet/service-driven channels. Own product marketing strategy in partnership with Brand, Channel, and Digital teams Develop GTM plans, positioning, and messaging tailored to Marine consumers and Commercial/Gov customers Co-Develop & Support parts and service strategies, including service-level expectations, uptime considerations, and lifecycle support needs Partner with Sales, Dealer, and Commercial teams to enable effective selling tools, training, and launch readiness Coordinate accessory and parts bundles that enhance ownership experience, productivity, and total lifecycle value Support attachment, penetration, and adoption strategies across Marine and Commercial platforms 4. Financial Ownership & Business Performance (15%) Own the financial health of the category, driving profitable growth through disciplined planning and execution. Maintain P&L ownership for the category, including revenue, gross margin, and inventory performance Develop and manage forecasts for sales volume, attachment rates, pricing, and profitability Partner with Sourcing to deliver annual cost reduction and margin improvement initiatives Monitor inventory health and work cross-functionally to optimize turns, obsolescence risk, and availability Support annual operating plans, strategic planning cycles, and investment prioritization 5. Cross-Functional Leadership & External Engagement (10%) Act as a leader and connector across the organization while representing the category externally. Collaborate closely with Engineering, Sourcing, Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Operations teams Influence without authority to align stakeholders around shared priorities and trade-offs Represent the category and division at industry events, trade shows, customer visits, and internal leadership forums Mentor and support junior team members and project teams as appropriate SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or relevant graduate degree strongly preferred. Minimum of 5–8 years of experience in product development, sales, or marketing, preferably within powersports, automotive, or related industries. Proven analytical and financial acumen with the ability to interpret data and drive strategic decisions. Exceptional presentation and communication skills, with the ability to influence diverse audiences—including senior leadership, B2B partners, media, and dealer networks. Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust and alignment across cross-functional teams. Deep customer focus with working knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative market research methodologies. Hands-on product knowledge required; extensive familiarity with off-road vehicles, powersports, or automotive products is a strong advantage. WORKING CONDITIONS Standard office environment. Regular trips to key suppliers, Polaris engineering and manufacturing facilities. Travel required approximately 25% of the time (primarily throughout US & Canada, occasionally overseas). The starting pay range for Minnesota is $115,000 to $156,000 per year. Individual salaries and positioning within the range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills, and geography.  While individual pay could fall anywhere in the range based on these factors, it is not common to start at the high end or top of the range. To qualify for this position, former employees must be eligible for rehire, and current employees must be in good standing. We are an ambitious, resourceful, and driven workforce, which empowers us to THINK OUTSIDE.Apply today! At Polaris we put our employees first, by offering a holistic approach to their health and financial wellbeing.  Polaris is proud to offer competitive compensation, including a market-leading profit-sharing plan that is fundamental to our pay-for-performance culture. At Polaris, employees are owners of the company through company contributions to our Employee Stock Ownership Plan and discounted employee stock purchases plan. Employees receive a generous matching contribution to 401(k), financial wellness education and consultation to plan for their financial future. In addition to competitive pay, Polaris provides a comprehensive suite of benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, wellness programs, paid time off, gym & personal training reimbursement, life insurance and disability offerings.  Through the Polaris Foundation and our Polaris Gives paid volunteer time off, we support employees who actively volunteer their time, efforts, and passions to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities in which they live, play and work. Employees at Polaris drive our success and are rewarded for their commitment. About Polaris As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. Polaris' high-quality product line-up includes the Polaris RANGER®, RZR® and Polaris GENERAL™ side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman® all-terrain off-road vehicles; military and commercial off-road vehicles; snowmobiles; Slingshot® moto-roadsters; Aixam quadricycles; Goupil electric vehicles; and pontoon and deck boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a robust portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe. www.polaris.com EEO Statement Polaris Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will make all employment-related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Applicants with a disability that are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, or otherwise need assistance or an accommodation in the recruiting process, should contact Human Resources at 800-765-2747 or Talent.Acquisition@Polaris.com.  To read more about employment discrimination protection under U.S. federal law, see: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (eeoc.gov).