Senior Commercial Strategy / Category Manager

About the Commercial Strategy & Category Management Team

The Commercial Strategy & Category Management team, part of Thumbtack’s Business Development group, fuels company growth through new ventures, partnerships, and strategic product initiatives. We specialize in taking bold ideas from concept to launch, leading cross-functional efforts that improve operations and unlock new opportunities as Thumbtack scales. Within this team, the Category Management function plays a key role by applying deep category expertise to identify growth opportunities, design tailored initiatives for specific markets, and optimize performance across the business. This role is part of that Category Management group, working at the intersection of strategy, execution, and cross-functional collaboration to drive impact where it matters most.

About the Role

As a Senior Commercial Strategy & Category Manager, you’ll be the super generalist who thrives on solving complex problems and leading high-impact initiatives across Thumbtack. You’ll bring structure to ambiguity, turning big ideas into scalable programs that accelerate growth.

Success in this role depends on influence and empathy as you’ll partner with Product, Marketing, GTM, Finance, Operations, and Support to move work forward without direct authority. You’ll think several steps ahead, spotting new growth opportunities and tackling Thumbtack’s most pressing challenges. By applying a category lens, you’ll ensure our marketplace meets the distinct needs of each segment (from plumbers to house cleaners) while shaping product experiences that resonate with both customers and pros. You’ll also translate marketplace insights into action, guiding merchandising strategies and unlocking performance improvements.

This is a unique opportunity to redefine what categories mean at Thumbtack, at a time when AI is rapidly reshaping the home services industry and creating entirely new possibilities for growth.

What you'll do

• Category Innovation: Launch 0-to-1 category initiatives as both strategic owner and operational driver, shaping new opportunities while ensuring alignment with company priorities.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner across Product, Operations, Marketing (and more!) mobilizing and influencing teams without direct authority to deliver measurable improvements.
• Strategic Frameworks: Design and refine the models Thumbtack uses to evaluate opportunities across hundreds of categories, guiding decision-making through clear OKRs and KPIs.
• Executive Communication: Craft and confidently deliver compelling presentations and narratives that clearly communicate strategies, progress, and impact to senior leaders.
• Playbook Development: Define and scale best practices for Category Management, ensuring the team operates efficiently and consistently across the business.
• Growth Analysis: Turn performance data, market trends, and customer insights into actionable strategies that unlock growth.

In order to be successful, you must bring

• Experience & Expertise: 5+ years in Management Consulting, Business Operations, GTM/Business Strategy, Business Development, Category Management, or similar roles.
• Execution at Scale: Track record of driving 0-to-1 initiatives and scaling them into durable processes or programs.
• Tech & Marketplace Experience: Experience working in technology, marketplace, online retail, or platform businesses; ideally scaling or optimizing category level performance.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead projects, influence without authority, and align diverse teams toward shared goals.
• Analytical Rigor: Strong quantitative skills, including business case development and financial modeling, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Ownership Mindset: A hands-on, self-starter approach with the adaptability to prioritize, pivot, and quickly build expertise in new areas.

Expected salary ranges

• For candidates living in San Francisco / Bay Area, San Jose, New York City, or Seattle metros, the expected salary range for the role is currently $136,000 - $176,000
• For candidates living in Austin, TX or Washington DC metros or in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, or Washington states, the expected salary range for the role is currently $122,400 - $158,400
• For candidates living in all other US locations, the expected salary range for this role is currently $115,600 - $149,600

Actual offered salaries will vary and will be based on various factors, such as calibrated job level, qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role.