Category Leader – Private Label Personal Care at PLZ Corp

PLZ is committed to product stewardship and innovation, strong ethical standards, sustainable operations and most importantly, the development of our people. Whether at our manufacturing facilities or corporate headquarters, PLZ prioritizes health and safety, and offers you the support you need to create the career you want, through engagement, equity and inclusion, and opportunity.

From household cleaning solutions to personal care products, and food to automotive lubricants, PLZ produces more than 2,500 different aerosol and liquid products in our facilities across the continent. We know that being the partner of choice for our clients starts with being the partner of choice for our employees. Learn more at www.plzcorp.com/careers or visit https://youtu.be/XYNIFpLQIJY

The Category Leader for PLZ’s emerging Private Label Personal Care business will lead the creation and launch of a new growth segment focused on hair care and skin care products.  This role will build PLZ’s retail partnerships and category strategy to drive expansion into major retailers such as Ulta, Sephora, and Target, helping shape how PLZ competes and wins in private label beauty. 
 
This role acts as the commercial architect for the business — identifying white space, developing retailer relationships, and collaborating with Marketing, R&D, and Operations to bring differentiated product solutions to market. The ideal candidate combines the strategic mindset of a merchant with the agility of an entrepreneur, knowing how retailers think and how to translate insights into winning category and product strategies.

Key Responsibility:

Market & Category Development 

• Lead the strategic roadmap for PLZ’s entry into private label personal care, identifying category opportunities and white space with key retailers. 

• Conduct industry and competitive research to understand consumer trends, retailer priorities, and pricing landscapes across hair and skin care categories. 

• Serve as PLZ’s category and customer expert, representing our business in discussions with retailers, buyers, and merchant teams. 

• Partner with internal stakeholders (Marketing, R&D, Operations, and Project Management) to translate customer needs into actionable product concepts and commercialization plans. 

Retail & Business Development 

• Develop retailer-specific strategies and present category solutions that align with each customer’s brand and shopper needs. 

• Own customer engagement from initial pitch through concept development, working closely with merchant partners to co-create winning assortments. 

• Collaborate with Marketing and R&D to develop differentiated, trend-forward private label product lines that reflect category and consumer insights. 

Performance and Portfolio Strategy 

• Develop metrics and dashboards to track private label business performance, profitability, and pipeline progress. 

• Maintain competitive intelligence on retailer private label portfolios and pricing. 

• Guide internal stakeholders on portfolio simplification and optimization to support scalable growth. 

Qualifications:

• 8–12 years in category management, merchandising, or brand development within personal care or beauty. 
• Retailer experience (e.g., Ulta, Target, Sephora) or supplier-side experience working directly with those accounts preferred. 
• Demonstrated ability to build new business segments or private label programs from the ground up. 
• Strong business acumen with a data-driven, insight-led approach. 
• Exceptional presentation and storytelling skills; proven ability to influence merchant and cross-functional stakeholders. 
• Proficient in market data platforms (iRi, Circana, NPD) and analytical tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI, Tableau). 
• Comfortable working entrepreneurially within a fast-paced, evolving environment. 
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field; MBA preferred. 
• Willingness to travel for key customer meetings and industry events. 

 Compensation:

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $150,000/year in our lowest geographic market up to $170,000/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Dependent on the position offered, other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits.

PLZ Corp offers a robust suite of benefits including:

• Medical, Dental & Vision benefits.
• Company paid Life and Short-Term disability.
• Voluntary benefits including additional life, disability, and hospital/accident insurance.
• 401k & company provided match.
• Paid Time Off
• Bonus incentive programs (Note, bonuses are subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors, including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.)

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or other protected status. EEOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.