Category Specialist

Overview

What We Do

We calm the confusion of IT by guiding the connection between people and technology. If a customer is looking for a better way to manage their warehouse inventory, equip their workforce, or secure their data, we make it happen. All it takes is finding the right combination of tech hardware, software, cloud solutions, and support services. That’s what we do. We’re the IT Department’s IT Department.

 

Who We Are

Our team is made stronger by a multitude of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. It’s what makes Connection unique—what drives us to innovate and create technology solutions that stand apart from the crowd. We’d love for you to be a part of that fabric, to share your ideas and experiences with a team that thrives on fresh thinking, creativity, and helping others.

 

Why You Should Join Us

You’ll find supportive teammates and a rewarding career at Connection—plus great benefits. We take pride in supporting employees with a total rewards package that provides financial, emotional, and physical resources for you and your family.  Our compensation, 401k plans, medical insurance, and other benefits are progressive and competitive.  We value the importance of our employees’ emotional wellbeing. To support employees, we provide free therapy visits, mental health coaching and tools, and meditation resources. You’ll also enjoy a generous paid time off package that includes not only vacation and sick time, but also Wellness and Volunteer Time Off days. 

 

Position Summary

The Category Specialist is responsible for driving the growth, profitability, and market leadership of the Cisco Security or Networking Architecture portfolio. This role requires deep category expertise, strong vendor and stakeholder management, and a focus on measurable business outcomes.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with business objectives and Cisco’s technology roadmap.
• Analyze market trends, customer needs, and competitive landscape to inform product selection, pricing, and promotional activities.
• Build and manage relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders to maximize value and performance.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives to accelerate growth, including sales enablement, marketing campaigns, and solution development.
• Monitor and report on category performance, identifying opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Ensure all required Cisco certifications and specializations for the assigned architecture are current and maintained, proactively managing renewals and compliance to support partner program status and eligibility for incentives.
• Own the strategic relationship with the Cisco Partner Account Specialist (PAM) for the assigned architecture, ensuring close alignment and collaboration to position the company for eligibility and success in earning Cisco incentives—including Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Quick Bet incentives—by driving business planning, opportunity identification, and execution of mutually agreed growth initiatives.
• Understand, track, and own all metrics associated with maintaining and growing the Partner Value Index (PVI) for the assigned Cisco architecture under the 360 Partner Program, including foundational maturity, technical capabilities, performance, and engagement; ensure the organization consistently meets or exceeds program requirements to maximize partner status, incentives, and business outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with relevant policies, contracts, and industry standards.

Min

USD $32.21/Hr.

Max

USD $41.12/Hr.

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in category management, procurement, or related discipline within technology, security, or networking.
• Proven analytical, negotiation, and vendor management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver results in a matrixed environment.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Deep understanding of Cisco’s security or networking solutions is highly desirable.

 

Management by Objectives (MBOs) & Compensation

Compensation for this role will be directly influenced by the achievement of the following measurable objectives:

• Category Growth: Achieve targeted year-over-year growth in revenue and margin for the assigned Cisco Security or Networking Architecture category.

• Vendor Contribution Growth: Achieve targeted growth in vendor contribution for the Cisco category—measured as the combined total of rebate dollars earned by the business and MVF (Market Value Funding) secured—directly attributable to the planning, execution, and seller engagement outcomes of each Cisco vendor floor day.
• Black Belt Certifications:Increase the number of team members attaining Cisco Black Belt certifications within the category, supporting technical excellence and sales readiness.

• Enterprise Agreements: Drive growth in the number of new and renewed Cisco enterprise agreements within the category.

• Cisco Vendor Floor Day Impact: Drive increased seller participation, customer follow-up, and new Cisco-related sales opportunities as a direct result of each vendor floor day, ensuring these events contribute meaningfully to business development and pipeline growth.
• Cisco Capital Finance:Expand the number of closed opportunities utilizing Cisco Capital financing solutions, enhancing customer adoption and deal velocity.