Strategic Growth Manager, Cross Category Programs, North America

A company with a pioneering past and a purposeful future.At ACCO Brands, we are united by a common purpose, to empower our consumers to feel good when they work, learn, and play. For more than a century we have developed and nurtured brands that enable people to work with more productivity, learn with more confidence, and play with more enjoyment. We are passionate about a winning culture where we grow together, driving business, professional growth, and success. We invite you to be part of a team that is grounded in a history of category-leading brands and products and focused on positioning our company for the future.Job SummaryACCO Brands is seeking a Strategic Growth Manager to lead insights-driven product development for delivery of large-scale, cross-category retail programs across the North America Consumer and Office Products business. Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing, this role translates consumer and shopper insights, retail trends, customer strategies, and marketplace opportunities, and translates them into differentiated product concepts, assortments and commercially viable growth platforms for ACCO Brands and its retail partners.This is a product role first. The manager will own opportunities from insights and concept development through product definition, business case, stage-gate decisions and commercialization. The ideal candidate combines strong product-development depth with retail and commercial acumen, effectively bridging unmet consumer needs and category opportunities to programs that win with retail partners and shoppers in-store and online.ResponsibilitiesOwn cross-category product initiatives from opportunity identification and concept development through product definition, commercialization, launch, and post-launch optimization.Translate consumer, shopper, customer, category, competitive, and trend insights into clear product strategies, innovation briefs, product concepts, and prioritized development roadmaps that support business and brand objectives.Define the product proposition, target consumer, use occasion, feature set, design requirements, quality expectations, price architecture, assortment role, and channel strategy for each program.Partner with Creative, Engineering, Sourcing, Quality, Finance, Supply Chain, Operations, Sales, Insights, Brand, Creative and Content, and Merchandising to move concepts through the product-development and commercialization process.Manage the product-development critical path, including decision gates, specifications, samples, costing, testing, packaging, supply readiness, launch deliverables, risks, dependencies, and issue resolution.Develop assortment strategies that connect individual products into cohesive cross-category solutions tailored to priority retailers, channels, shopper missions, price points, and merchandising environments.Partner with Brand, Sales, Creative and Content, and Merchandising to convert product platforms into compelling retailer programs, including customer-specific assortments, exclusives, bundles, seasonal or event-based solutions, merchandising concepts, packaging direction, content needs, and in-store and online activation.Use syndicated and consumption data, consumer and customer insights, and business performance indicators to develop recommendations and support decisions.Build program-level business cases and performance expectations, including sales, margin, share, and profitability with Finance and Sales.Establish launch objectives and success measures; monitor sales, margin, share, distribution, inventory, retailer feedback, and consumer response to identify corrective actions and future growth opportunities.Present clear, persuasive strategies and recommendations that build alignment and influence decisions at multiple levels.QualificationsBachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field preferred.8-11 years of experience in product management, product development, innovation, or related consumer products or light durables role; direct ownership of physical product development is strongly preferred.Demonstrated experience taking physical consumer products from insights and concept through specifications, costing, development, commercialization, launch and performance management.Experience developing consumer-led product strategies, innovation pipelines, product briefs, assortments, and roadmaps across multiple categories, brands, channels, or price tiers.Strong understanding of mass retail, ecommerce, omnichannel, and/or specialty retail environments.Experience using consumer, shopper, market, competitive, and business performance data to shape recommendations.Strong commercial and financial acumen, including experience developing business cases and managing tradeoffs related to cost, margin, investment, volume, timing, and risk.Demonstrated success leading large-scale, cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed organization and influencing without direct authority.Experience developing point-of-sale concepts, in-store and online communications, and customer-facing program materials.Strong commercial acumen, strategic thinking, organization, and ability to turn complexity into executable plans.Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to persuade stakeholders and drive decisions.Ability to work independently in fast-moving, ambiguous environments and make informed decisions.Experience in sourcing, vendor management, sales, channel management, and/or brand management is a strong plus.Ability to work a hybrid schedule with two days per week in the office.Willingness to travel up to 25%, including domestic and international travel for program needs, customer meetings, trade shows, and other business requirements.#LI-Hybrid About Us:You know our brands. You love our brands. You just may not know they are ours.If you have touched a PowerA gaming controller, a Five Star notebook, a Swingline stapler, a Quartet dry erase board, or a Kensington computer mouse, you have touched part of ACCO Brands Corporation. With annual revenues of more than $1.5 Billion, ACCO Brands (NYSE: ACCO) designs, markets, manufactures, and sells branded academic, consumer, and business products globally. The power of our brands, our unmatched global customer reach, and our strategic market strengths put us in a position to achieve global leadership and growth. We're proud of our long history of industry leadership and innovation and are focused on delivering exceptional value to our customers by providing unique, cutting-edge, branded products.What we offer:Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision plans4% 401(k) match with immediate eligibility and vestingCompetitive time off, available from the first day of employment Parental leaveCompany-paid life and disability benefitsCritical illness, accident, and long-term care insurance optionsEmployee and family assistance programsGrowing together is how we win.With trusted brands, strong leadership, and a clear purpose, you’ll find opportunities to grow in your career, contribute to meaningful work, and be a part of a culture that values creativity and putting our consumers and customers first.Apply now and build a successful future with ACCO Brands.More information about ACCO Brands can be found at .ACCO Brands has developed and maintains a written Affirmative Action Program (“AAP”) for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. A copy can be requested from Human Resources. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants.Equal Opportunity EmployerACCO Brands is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. The company strives to create a winning culture with a leadership promise to provide equal access and opportunity for all to grow, succeed, and contribute to their full potential.AODAAccommodation for applicants with disabilities will be provided in all parts of the recruiting process as required under the ACCO Brands Canada AODA policy. Applicants are asked to make their needs known in advance.