The Product Manager is responsible for product planning and execution throughout the product lifecycle, including gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements, defining product vision, and working closely with marketing communications, logistics, and sales to ensure revenue targets are achieved. The Product Manager's job also includes ensuring the product supports the company's overall strategy and goals while also serving as MUS's lead contact to the parent company (MSF) for product management and development functions.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities
Serve as MUS's lead contact to the parent company (MSF) for product management and development functions.
Define the product strategy and roadmap by working with the field sales organization to consolidate new product ideas and prioritize them based on sales/profit potential, expected effort to develop new products, and the overall direction and goals of the company.
Coordinate between logistics and sales & marketing within MUS, and MSF.
Responsible for analyzing competitive products for various applications and how they compare to MUS's products and selling techniques, making appropriate recommendations as required (competitive analysis and expert).
Actively participate in Product Range Management (PRM) process and lead the implementation in coordination with logistics.
Manage product testing program for new products prior to launch.
Participate in new product launch campaign. Assist in determining and communicating the right target customer base, value proposition, effective demonstrations, product positioning in the portfolio, and comparison to competitive products.
Guide/Support sales with determining the pricing of new products.
Provide any needed content for product collateral including marketing materials, brochures, and packaging.
Responsible for life cycle management of products including product obsolescence, product gaps, and identification of new product opportunities.
Provide technical product and application support to the field sales team.
Participate in the development of training techniques, selling/demonstration practices and solution options; good, better and best, for various applications/substrates.
Responsible and key driver on the evaluation of special or new product requests, driving the process once proper documentation has been submitted.
Qualifications and Competencies (education, experience, skills)
To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
5+ years of abrasive industry or related industries experience such as paint, adhesives, paint or surface refinishing in a sales or marketing capacity required. Other Industrial experience will be considered.
Process and application knowledge across industry sectors served such as ART, C/D, Wood, Transport, and Industry.
Experience with new product development and phase gate launch processes.
Experience managing the life cycle of products including product obsolescence, product gaps, and identification of new product opportunities.
Ability to conduct research and compile recommendations based on analysis of data and fact-finding results.
Ability to take plans, put them into action and see through to final-result.
Excellent time management and organizational skills.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Must be able to communicate and work with all areas and levels within the company (internal and external).
Interpersonal and listening skills with the ability to build consensus and influence others through diplomacy and use of facts
Competency in computer, presentation, and business media including Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Internet, email and publishing software.
Bachelor's degree preferred.
Physical Demand/Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk; talk; hear and regularly lift 10 pounds. Periodically employees may be required to lift up to 50 lbs.
Primary environment: ambient temperatures, lighting and traditional office equipment as found in a typical office environment while performing demonstrations/tests in an end-user's facility: generally, no climate control available, concrete floors, dusty, machinery indicative of industry (automotive, woodworking, marine, aerospace, etc.). Some conditions may require standing and walking for extended periods.