Category Specialist

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.

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.

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. 

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.

• →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.

• 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.