Are you ready for what’s next?
Come explore opportunities within Brunswick, a global marine leader committed to challenging conventions and innovating next-generation technologies that transform experiences on the water and beyond. Brunswick believes “Next Never Rests™,” and we offer a variety of exciting careers and growth opportunities within united teams defining the future of marine recreation.
Location: Fond du Lac, WI
Workplace Category: Onsite
Travel Required: Up to 10%
Direct Reports: Yes
Pay Range: $200,200 - $296,000
Visa Sponsorship: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship now or in the future.
Relocation: Yes
Innovation is the heart of Brunswick. See how your contributions will help transform vision into reality:
Position Overview:
The Vice President of Category Management is a key member of Mercury’s leadership team, responsible for setting and executing the global product strategy to drive organic and inorganic growth and extend the brand’s leading position. This role leads the Category Management team and owns the product planning operating rhythm—translating customer insights and market dynamics into strategy, a prioritized roadmap, and a high-impact innovation pipeline.
Primary Outcomes
- Deliver category performance (share, net sales, mix, margin) through disciplined portfolio and lifecycle management.
- Set a clear, insight-led multi-year product strategy and prioritized roadmap aligned to Mercury’s Product Leadership Pillar.
- Drive launch excellence and innovation pipeline health—from concept to market impact.
- Create cross-functional alignment and decision clarity across Mercury’s matrixed organization.
- Build an enterprise-ready talent bench and succession pipeline.
At Brunswick, we have passion for our work and a distinct ability to deliver.
Essential Functions:
- Lead development of the global Propulsion portfolio strategy, including segmentation, value proposition, and investment prioritization aligned to Mercury’s Product Leadership Pillar.
- Own category-level business outcomes in partnership with Commercial and Finance—driving share, net sales, mix, and margin through portfolio and lifecycle management.
- Translate global customer, channel, and competitive insights into product strategy and multi-year roadmap; identify white-space opportunities and disruptive innovation bets.
- Lead the global new product planning operating rhythm, governance, and decision forums; ensure resource focus and trade-offs are clear, timely, and aligned to enterprise priorities.
- Own portfolio decision rights for investment prioritization and major product/technology bets—recommending trade-offs and securing approvals through the appropriate leadership governance forums.
- Partner with Product Development & Engineering (PD&E) to shape platform and technology roadmaps, define requirements, and ensure alignment from concept through launch readiness.
- Lead end-to-end launch excellence—ensuring new products deliver on-time, on-budget, and with maximum marketplace impact through coordinated readiness across Sales, Marketing, Service, and Operations.
- Operate effectively across Mercury functions without direct authority—aligning stakeholders, resolving trade-offs, and driving decisions that improve speed, quality, and accountability.
- Partner with strategy and business development to identify, evaluate, and integrate inorganic growth opportunities (M&A, partnerships) that accelerate the long-range plan.
- Serve as an executive customer-facing leader—engaging key OEMs, dealers, and end users to validate strategy, inform requirements, and strengthen commercial partnerships.
- Lead portfolio response to market shifts, regulatory changes, and cost/margin opportunities; drive simplification and value engineering initiatives that strengthen competitiveness.
- Lead portfolio input to the long-range plan and annual operating plan (AOP), including investment governance, capacity/constraint alignment, and scenario planning.
- Define and manage category performance KPIs and dashboards; lead quarterly business reviews and continuous improvement actions to deliver commitments.
- Own the enterprise narrative for the Propulsion portfolio—preparing executive-ready updates, recommendations, and materials for leadership reviews and strategic planning cycles.
- Identify and manage portfolio risks (quality, regulatory, supply, and reputational) in partnership with Operations, Quality, Legal, and Compliance; ensure timely escalation and mitigation plans.
- Build and develop an enterprise-ready bench—attracting, developing, and retaining top talent; strengthen succession for future general manager and functional leadership roles.
Diversity of thought and experiences is fundamental when imagining the unimaginable. Certain skillsets/experiences are necessary; however, others can be developed along the way.
Required Qualifications:
- 15+ years of progressive experience in category management, product management, strategy, or general management, including leadership of multi-disciplinary teams in a matrixed environment.
- Proven track record building and executing portfolio strategies that deliver category outcomes (share, sales, margin), including lifecycle management and investment prioritization.
- Strong financial acumen with experience using P&L, ROI, and business cases to drive trade-offs and resource allocation decisions.
- Expertise translating customer, channel, and competitive insights into product strategy and a multi-year roadmap; ability to synthesize complex data into clear, fact-based narratives for executives.
- Demonstrated ability to influence outcomes without direct authority across Product Development & Engineering, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Service.
- Experience leading innovation and launch programs, including defining requirements, setting go-to-market readiness criteria, and driving cross-functional execution.
- Executive-level communication skills with comfort presenting to senior leadership, including Board of Directors, and facilitating decision forums that resolve trade-offs.
- Demonstrated thought leadership on enterprise-level business strategy; exposure to inorganic growth (M&A and partnerships) including diligence support and/or integration leadership.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience).
Preferred Qualifications:
- MBA or other advanced degree.
- Marine, recreational boating, or adjacent durable-goods industry experience.
The hiring range for this position is $200,200 - $296,000 annually. The actual base pay offered will vary based on multiple factors including job-related knowledge/skills, relevant experience, business needs, and geographic location. Compensation decisions are dependent upon the specifics of the candidate’s qualifications and the business context.
In addition to base pay, this position is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus or short-term incentive program and an award target as part of Brunswick’s long-term incentive program. This position is eligible to participate in Brunswick's comprehensive and high-quality benefits offerings, including medical, dental, vision, paid vacation, 401k (up to 4% match), Health Savings Account (with company contribution), well-being program, product purchase discounts and much more. Details about our benefits can be found here.
Why Brunswick:
Whatever tomorrow brings, we’ll be at the leading edge. As the clear leader in the marine industry, we’re committed to our values and supporting our exceptional people. We offer and encourage growth opportunities within and across our many brands. In addition, we’re proud of being recognized for making a splash with numerous awards!
Next is Now!
We value growth and development, recognizing that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying.
Brunswick is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is key to innovation and inspiration and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply. If you require accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact hrsharedservices@brunswick.com for support.