Senior Product Manager

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Senior Product Manager (SPM) position within the company is responsible for leading the profitable growth and direction of a product category or multiple categories comprising a strategic business unit.  The role involves the strategic planning and ongoing management of the full product portfolio and helps to define and implement successful sales growth and distribution strategies to win market share. The role includes direct management or oversight of worldwide brand strategy, including responsibility for planning, investment and execution of communication strategies and brand guidelines. The individual in this role identifies and manages projects with a great deal of autonomy and must work cross-functionally, unifying and motivating peers across teams (e.g., R&D, sourcing, marketing communications, market development, insights & innovation, and sales). The SPM must have an expert understanding of the products’ buying audiences and their needs and often acts as a subject matter expert (SME) who transfers knowledge about markets, buyers and product across marketing and sales functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Profit and Loss- Profit and loss ownership for the category, including identifying key issues and managing tactics for long term top line and bottom-line growth. Must possess financial acumen for in-depth analysis and identification of value drivers. 

Sales Growth- Leverage end user insights to create the vision for the category, across the existing portfolio as well as driving innovation.  Define concrete tactics and execution plans by channel/end user.  Guide decision making for the customer line review process with demonstrated rationale for optimal brand/assortment.

Brand Ownership (where applicable)- This role may include direct or supervisory responsibility for the development and management of one or more corporate brands.  The responsibility includes setting the vision and priorities for holistic brand plans on a worldwide basis, and developing brand guidelines to be enforced across packaging, communications, and presentations.  The brand owner will work with the communications team to prioritize investment and execute key marketing campaigns. 

New Products- Define the market opportunity for a product; perform segmentation and targeting exercises that identify the segments with the highest propensity to buy. Develop portfolio strategy and product roadmaps.

In partnership with Insights and Innovation team, conduct market and customer research to gather data and insight about target personas, buyer needs and the purchasing decision process for the product, including key buyer roles. Manage cross-functional new product development (NPD) projects relative to product line extensions, quality enhancement, and cost reduction initiatives, while balancing considerations of sustainability.

Category Management- Manage the product life cycle of the full category portfolio to maximize growth while balancing manufacturing efficiency, profitability, and inventory optimization.  Exercise regular process to review portfolio and discontinue items that do not meet category goals, including oversight of exit process and inventory disposition.  Develop annual category plans which include current situation analysis, vision and strategy and specific category plans.  Conduct business analysis to manage, improve, and recommend the product assortment for the company. Monitor and report on the category performance in the market and communicate the results of related sales and marketing efforts.

Merchandising - Integrate merchandising as part of a full plan to achieve category goals. 

Packaging- Oversee the development and implementation of all category packaging.  Works cross functionally with Packaging and Supply Engineers, Graphics Designers, and Legal to evaluate the quality of packaging form and messaging, as well as ensuring regulatory compliance. 

Item/ Management- Directly manages or oversees the new item setup process to obtain new quotes, evaluate cost accuracy, and manage timelines to meet ship dates.  Provide market pricing guidance and work with pricing manager to set internal net pricing. Serve as market-facing SME/thought leader for the product and interface with industry influencers and associations as company representative.

Intelligence- Employ business and market analysis as the “subject matter expert” as it relates to all facets of the category, including technical, market, and competitive expertise.  Verify plans and provide explanations for variances in forecasted sales. 

Supply- Work with manufacturing/sourcing to optimize supply chain opportunities and cultivate high quality sources of supply and building of long-term relationships with our vendor partners. Drive category development in a joint effort with the category buyer and Quality Systems to meet product performance, timing, and logistics needs. 

Quality- Proactively work with Quality Systems team to eliminate quality failures and minimize impact when situations arise.  Takes ownership of the resolution of the quality solution within the organization when issues occur.

Supervisory Responsibility- Potentially manage direct reports, provide guidance, mentor, and coach direct reports to achieve high functional performance.

QUALIFICATIONS 

To perform this 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 ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing or related major, MBA preferred.
• 8+ years experience in product marketing or similar role, with 5+ years in management role.
• Experience at a building construction manufacturer and end markets is highly desirable.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office and Analytic tools.
• Requires excellent presentation, written and verbal communications skills.
• Strong financial acumen.
• Demonstrated creativity in developing products and programs.
• Demonstrated success in managing teams of people.
• Understanding of corporate strategic planning process.
• Motivation to get the job done to exceed performance standards.
• Ability to travel overnight 10-20% of the time; Schedule flexibility to include weekend and after-hours workload.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Ability to work in front of a laptop or PC workstation for extended periods of time.
• Occasional standing, sitting, walking, loading, and lifting (up to 25lbs) supplies and equipment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This is a fast-paced work environment with consistent pressure to complete duties as outlined above which requires ability to manage multiple projects at a detailed level and provide support to many internal departments in a fast-changing environment.  Many duties listed above are time-sensitive and have strict deadlines for completion.

Shurtape Technologies, LLC is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Shurtape Technologies, LLC does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including identity & expression), medical condition, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business requirement.