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 Commercial Strategy & Category Manager, you’ll be a versatile problem-solver who thrives on tackling complex challenges and driving meaningful initiatives across Thumbtack. You’ll bring structure to ambiguity, helping turn big ideas into scalable programs that accelerate growth.

Success in this role depends on collaboration and curiosity. You’ll partner with Product, Marketing, GTM, Finance, Operations, and Support to move work forward, often by influencing without direct authority. You’ll look ahead to identify opportunities, while also supporting the execution of Thumbtack’s most pressing priorities.

By applying a category lens, you’ll help ensure our marketplace meets the distinct needs of each segment (from plumbers to house cleaners) and supports product experiences that resonate with both customers and pros. You’ll also translate marketplace insights into clear recommendations, guiding merchandising strategies and enabling performance improvements.

This is a unique opportunity to grow your career while shaping how categories contribute to Thumbtack’s success - at a time when AI is rapidly reshaping the home services industry and unlocking new possibilities for growth

What you'll do

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Product, Operations, Marketing (and more!), mobilizing teams without direct authority to deliver measurable improvements.
• Category Insights & Growth: Drive category-level growth by analyzing performance data and industry trends, identifying new opportunities, developing strategies, and operationalizing initiatives end-to-end. Prioritize initiatives with the highest impact & stay agile as priorities shift.
• Executive-Ready Communication: Craft clear, compelling analyses and materials that can be adapted for leadership audiences. Build confidence presenting your work to cross-functional partners and contributing to larger team presentations.
• Industry Expertise: Build deep knowledge of the Home Services industry to bring context, empathy, and sharper insights to decision-making.

In order to be successful, you must bring

• Experience & Expertise: 3-5+ years in Management Consulting, Business Operations, GTM/Business Strategy, Business Development, Category Management, or similar roles.
• Tech & Marketplace Experience: Experience working in technology, marketplace, online retail, or platform businesses; ideally scaling or optimizing category-level performance.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to lead projects 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.
• Strategic Curiosity: Passion for solving complex challenges at the intersection of strategy, operations, business development, and technology.