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Commercial Strategy and Category Manager

ThumbtackOntario, CanadaRemote

A home is the biggest investment most people make, and yet, it doesn’t come with a manual. That's why we’re building the only app homeowners need to effortlessly manage their homes —  knowing what to do, when to do it, and who to hire. With Thumbtack, millions of people care for what matters most, and pros earn billions of dollars through our platform. And as one of the fastest-growing companies in a $600B+ industry — we must be doing something right. 
We are driven by a common goal and the deep satisfaction that comes from knowing our work supports local economies, helps small businesses grow, and brings homeowners peace of mind. We’re seeking people who continually put our purpose first: advocating for pros and customers, embracing change, and choosing teamwork every day.At Thumbtack, we're creating a new era of home care. If making an impact and the chance to do good inspires you, join us. Imagine what we’ll build together. 

Thumbtack by the Numbers


  • Available nationwide in every U.S. county
  • Over 85 million projects started on Thumbtack
  • More than 11 million 5-star reviews and counting
  • Pros earn billions on our platform
  • 1000+ employees 
  • $3.2 billion valuation (June, 2021) 

About the Commercial Strategy & Category Management Team


The Commercial Strategy & Category Management team, part of the Business Development group, drives Thumbtack's growth through new ventures, partnerships, and strategic product management. The Commercial Strategy team focuses on taking ideas from concept to launch, leading cross-functional initiatives to test, implement, and improve operational efficiency as the company scales. They own strategic programs that bridge multiple teams, addressing challenges critical to future growth. The Category Management team, meanwhile, drives growth by leveraging category expertise, identifying, and executing initiatives tailored to specific market segments, and working cross-functionally to optimize category-level performance across the company.

About the Role


As a Commercial Strategy & Category Manager, you’ll be the “super generalist” who drives impactful projects, initiatives, and programs across Thumbtack. You’re a master problem solver who thrives in ambiguity, bringing structure and scalability to fast-growing projects. With strong influence and empathy, you’ll collaborate with teams across Product, Marketing, GTM, Finance, Operations, and Support to achieve successful outcomes.Thinking five steps ahead, you’ll assess new growth opportunities and tackle Thumbtack’s most pressing challenges.

You’ll apply a “category lens” to our marketplace, ensuring we understand category-specific needs (like plumbers vs. house cleaners) and align the product experience with customer and pro expectations. You’ll also leverage insights from feedback to guide our category merchandising strategies.In this role, you’ll lead a major company-wide initiative launching in 2025; an exciting, visible opportunity that spans product and operations, setting you at the heart of Thumbtack’s future growth.

Your Responsibilities


  • Program Leadership: Lead a key strategic and operational initiative launching in 2025, partnering with Product and Operations to ensure its success.
  • Strategic Prioritization: Identify and prioritize initiatives with the highest impact; stay agile and adjust as priorities shift.
  • Category Growth: Drive category-level growth by identifying opportunities, developing strategies, and operationalizing initiatives end-to-end.
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with teams across Product, Sales, Marketing, and Operations to enhance category experience and unlock growth.
  • Market Expertise: Quickly develop expertise in home services, including occupations, job types, values, and pricing to drive relevant change.
  • Playbook Development: Contribute to building and refining the playbook for Category Management operations at Thumbtack.
  • Operational Excellence: Own and improve strategic programs to drive revenue and growth, incubating new ideas and enabling process improvements across Thumbtack.

What you’ll need


If you don't think you meet all of the criteria below but still are interested in the job, please apply. Nobody checks every box, and we're looking for someone excited to join the team.

  • Relevant Experience: 3-5+ years in Management Consulting, Business Operations, GTM/Business Strategy, Business Development, Category Management, or similar roles.
  • Leadership & Collaboration: Proven ability to build relationships and lead cross-functional projects, influencing and aligning diverse teams.
  • Analytical Skills: Expertise in end-to-end analysis, including business case development and financial modeling.
  • Ownership & Adaptability: A hands-on approach to prioritize effectively, pivot quickly, and drive results with an ownership mindset.

Bonus points if you have


  • Experience working for a company offering services through an online Marketplace
  • Comfortable working in a highly entrepreneurial environment and building new processes from the ground up
  • Proficient in SQL, Dashboarding (Looker, Tableau)

Thumbtack is a virtual-first company, meaning you can live and work from any one of our approved locations across the United States, Canada or the Philippines. Learn more about our virtual-first working model here. #LI-Remote

Benefits & Perks


  • Virtual-first working model coupled with in-person events
  • 20 company-wide holidays including a week-long end-of-year company shutdown
  • Library (optional use collaboration & connection hub)in San Francisco
  • WiFi reimbursements 
  • Cell phone reimbursements (North America) 
  • Employee Assistance Program for mental health and well-being 

Learn More About Us


  • Life @ Thumbtack Blog
  • Virtual-First is Here to Stay
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Meet Our Pro Advisory Board

Thumbtack embraces diversity. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, state, or local law. We also will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, consistent with applicable law. Thumbtack is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation for a medical condition or disability during any part of the application process, please contact: recruitingops@thumbtack.com. If you are a California resident, please review information regarding your rights under California privacy laws contained in Thumbtack’s Privacy policy available at https://www.thumbtack.com/privacy/ .

Life at Thumbtack

When you need to hire someone – a landscaper, a DJ, anyone – Thumbtack finds them for you for free. Thumbtack connects millions of people with local professionals for their projects. With almost 1,000 different services to choose from, you'll find pretty much anyone you're looking to hire. A contractor to remodel your kitchen. A tutor to teach you French. A dog trainer to save your furniture from puppy accidents. An officiant, florist, caterer (and every other vendor you might need) for your perfect wedding. Local businesses across the country use Thumbtack, too. Our product helps them connect with customers, get hired and make a living doing what they're great at. As for those of us who work here We love it. And we have awards to prove it. Fast Company – 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2018 https://www.fastcompany.com/40525504/thumbtack-for-giving-the-yellow-pages-an-ai-twist Fortune — Best Places to Work in the Bay Area in 2018 http://fortune.com/2018/03/01/best-companies-bay-area-2018/ Fortune — Best Workplaces in Technology in 2018 http://fortune.com/2018/01/17/best-workplaces-tech-2018/ To learn more about life at Thumbtack and see current job openings, visit www.thumbtack.com/careers. Thumbtack is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global Management, Javelin Investment Partners, Baillie Gifford and Google Capital.
Thrive Here & What We Value- VirtualFirst Working Model- In-Person Events- 20 Companywide Holidays (Including End-of-Year Shutdown)- Collaboration & Connection Hubs: San Francisco, Salt Lake City- WiFi Reimbursements- Cell Phone Reimbursements (North America)- Employee Assistance Program for Mental Health and Wellbeing- Embracing Diversity and Equal Opportunity Workplace- Accommodation to Individuals with Disabilities
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