Job Description

Bring your IT career and talents to CDW, where you can have a greater impact, be inspired by our mission and excited about your career and future. A Fortune 200 leader, we’re the driven professionals and technology experts companies turn to most to solve their IT challenges.

The Category and Brand Management team is the central liaison for one or more partners for working with CDW stakeholders across the organization, including sales, finance, and marketing. The Business Manager is responsible for managing multi-million-dollar programs including VIRs, Coop, marketing spends, and Spiffs. This role serves as the product expert and business manager for the assigned partner and has subject matter expertise on their product, partner, and associated financials.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Engage regularly with assigned partner(s) to maintain an open channel of communication at all times to ensure that all CDW and partner stakeholders are kept up to date on any and all issues, initiatives, projects, meetings, or conferences

Provide subject matter expertise and evangelize a partner's product line and associated programs such as Bid Desk programs, VIR, COOP and Category Penetration

Analyze complex industry information to identify and execute opportunities and develop and execute strategies to increase sales

Develop and articulate competitive positioning and differentiation of brands

Develop and drive execution for marketing plans for partner in conjunction with Partner Development and Product Managers that outline target customer segments, products, promotions, pricing, positioning and complete launch plans

Identify training opportunities and educate pre-sales and Product Specialists on new product introductions, transitions, competitive advantages, and opportunities to identify sales within their customer base

Understand and communicate partner organizational structure with key decision makers and foster strong executive relationships

Communicate partners’ financial conditions and market new products related to the assigned partner

Manage and maximize overall profitability; managing financial benefits and develop and execute strategies around re-investing funding

Mentor and coach junior team members

Engage with CDW Procurement to help forecast sales volumes

Represent and evangelize the assigned brand in meetings and speak to brand performance, category performance, program/promotion results, and current initiatives

Lead the Product specialists in creation and review of content for respective manufacturer ads.

Provide comprehensive reporting and analysis, both internally and externally, on brand performance, category performance, industry trends, and market share

Host Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) to review partner performance and discuss/lead joint initiatives

Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities

Obtain and facilitate necessary partner and industry certifications

Education and/or Experience Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and 5 years sales/marketing/project management experience, OR

9 years’ experience in sales/marketing/project management, OR

4 years CDW PPM experience and 5 years’ experience in sales/marketing/project management 

Required Qualifications

Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively interact with all stakeholders

Proven ability to engage with executive leadership effectively and strategically

Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong business relationships

Proficient in Microsoft Office applications

Expert financial and business acumen

Exceptional strategic agility and analytical skills

Excellent presentation skills

Proven track record of driving results