Product Manager - Non IT

Hultafor Group North America is seeking mid-career to experienced candidates to be part of our Product Management team in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. You will work with our experienced team to develop product solutions for our users.

The successful candidate will be responsible for new product development for Hultafors Group North America. Hultafors Group North America includes brands like Johnson Level, CLC Work Gear, and Hultafors Tools. As a dynamic Product Manager you will develop new products in consumer goods & building materials utilizing user driven product requirements to bring products to market for their assigned categories by:

• Creating business cases and preparing project financials for new product development
• Building out 2-3 year Product Development Roadmap Plans
• Assisting in the development of end user driven products from concept ideation to commercialization
• Driving development of operating instructions with our engineering team
• Working with domestic and international teams in a personal and virtual environment
• Ensuring on-time completion of product design reviews as well as product collateral
• Assisting with setup of product/pricing information
• Monitoring category KPIs to ensure business plan targets are being met
• Supporting product improvements, address quality concerns and seek cost reduction opportunities
• Performing VOC and competitive shops to ensure product success
• This is not an IT or software related role.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• New Product Development - Innovation:
  • Build out 2-3 year product roadmaps to address innovation launches and performance improvements both financial and use
  • Suggest product changes or improvements
  • Develop, source or create new product innovation
  • Consider applicable resourcing of product to Strategic Purchasing
  • Build out transition plans to exit non-productive or discontinued products
• Develop a clear understanding of the business economics for the managed market segment. At a minimum, the successful Manager will have command of the following Company information:
  • Major Cost and expense elements
  • Actions which most impact cost and profit, and how these economies compare with competitors
  • Operational costs which vary with volume
  • General operation costs which influence margin
• Compile Competitive Market Information
  • Library competitor’s product offering and market strategies
  • Define market channels and margin structure
  • Research total market potential and market trends
• Define and present product and pricing for promotional programs
  • Highlight product feature and benefit enabling Marketing to develop product catalogs, concepts for sell sheets and POP’s
  • Perform market segment profitability analysis
• Facilitate Sales Revenue- identify good profit performers with high margins. Initiate action to:
  • Increase selling and promotional emphasis to gain immediate, high margin market share
  • Collaborate and meet regularly with other business units to collect and share global market data, discuss new product ideas, and monitor competitive activity
  • Develop an annual Product strategy map AND a three-year plan for the assigned market segment
• Support Activity
  • Assist the sales team in presenting the product line and programs
  • Work with sales to select products for trade shows
  • Ensure promotional materials are in place and show personnel are trained on features and benefits of new products
  • Develop training material for employees, sales representatives and other groups

Required Relationships:

The Product Manager must work closely with the following departments to achieve desired results.

Sales: To implement specific sales programs, ensure emphasis on assigned products and to obtain continuous, meaningful feedback from the marketplace. The Product Manager is to work with Sales Managers to evaluate target accounts and achieve market penetration in specific channels.

Production: Provide performance insights to effectively manage productivity, product availability and product cost.

Product Development: Provide market input and set priorities for new products. Provide ideas to facilitate product enhancement and cost/margin improvement. Works with Engineering to manage NPD Phase Gate Process

Finance: Understand and manage business economics to obtain current, meaningful reports of cost structure and profitability on asset segments. Monitor results achieved on new product development.

Marketing: Develop launch collateral with Marketing team for new product launches. In addition, create promotional plans for existing product lines.

Purchasing: Determine initial inventory level for new product launch. Monitor inventory levels for assigned products ensuring adequate turns and service levels.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications, engineering, or related field required, MBA preferred.
• 3+ Years of product development or industrial design experience.
• Project management skills and strong planning, organizational and administrative skills
• Familiarity with consumer goods and building materials markets.
• Proficient knowledge of Google Analytics, content management systems, MS Office, Adobe Creative Suite and desk top publishing.
• Excellent literacy, writing, editing and proofing skills and outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
• High degree of business acumen and results driven.
• Collaborative working style with an ability to work within a team in a hands-on capacity to achieve individual, team and organizational goals
• Attention to detail, creativity, and knowledge of information technology
• Ability to travel up to 25%