Head Of Product Jobs

This is a great opportunity for someone with your experience and background to play a critical role in our client company’s success. MTCG & Associates Inc. is a retained search practice involved in the recruitment of top talent in key leadership roles for our clients. Our client is seeking to further evolve a product and services offering to the clients. A need has been identified for a Head of Product to drive the organization’s product strategy by developing, launching, and implementing core products & services across the portfolio. We are seeking leadership capabilities related to all facets of Product Team Management related to new product initiatives from ideation to launch. The role is focused on new product development / solutions creations that is meaningful for the company and importantly it’s clients’ needs.

Leading Supply Chain Company Known for Excellence

Our client offers Supply Chain (SC) solutions and is recognized by its clients for excellence in delivering comprehensive, market leading commercial solutions related to their end clients' needs. The organization is recognized for innovation and overall excellence in their services offerings to the greater market.

The organization is involved with following disciplines, sectors and much more:

• Dedicated supply chain experts to help plan, build and operate the right supply chain solution to propel a business far into the future.
• A wide range of transportation management solutions.
• A wide range of supply chain services, such as order fulfillment and inventory management, technical services and more.
• An organization recognized for an outstanding reputation among a host of unique, complex, and high growth sectors within the economy.

Why This Opportunity and Why Now?

Our client is a growing Canadian organization with deeply complex operations, products, and service offerings on a national scale. The organization is an innovative team of professionals and focused on delivering results to customers. The organization has a sound business model dedicated to excellence and developing market leading customer solutions. This is an opportunity to join a growing team in a role is a challenging and multifaceted role within an organization that is well poised for further growth.

Overview of Role

Reporting to a Vice President, this individual will lead a cross functional team of direct and indirect team members. This role is responsible for the organization’s product portfolio and for ensuring enabling technologies are fully integrated. The product portfolio currently includes WMS/TMS, Business Intelligence/Visibility and OMS. This role will lead the overall governance of this product group and be involved in growing and scaling this team accordingly. This role will also play a significant role in the ongoing productization of the organization’s products and services. This role will have a team of direct reports across each of the product portfolio areas. Will mentor and develop the product team to ensure that the product designs meet exceptional quality standards and overall cost, profitability, and margin targets.

The Head of Product will be a key business partner to the Growth, Solutions and Operations teams, and will enable the organization to develop high value proposition and scalable products in line with the organization’s overall strategy. This individual will be a dynamic leader who is skilled at developing and launching product and service solutions that are both market leading and operationally scalable. The ability to drive change is key for this role. We are seeking a professional with a strong understanding of the supply chain ecosystem, with ideally some experience in at least one of these product portfolios (Business Intelligence/Visibility & Reporting), OMS (Order Management System), WMS (Warehouse Management System) or TMS (Transportation Management System). Varied experiences and industry segments will be considered. Must have experiences with physical products/services/movement of goods. We will consider both potential candidates at the Director/Senior Director level as well as candidates ready for a Head of Product role. This role will be a Toronto based role (with the view of a hybrid model working 1-2 days in the office in Etobicoke).

CANDIDATE PROFILE

• Commercially savvy, with experience in helping translate customer strategy into profitable products and services. Adept at managing commercial contract negotiations with vendors and partners.
• Product evangelist, and an expert in developing and launching product and service solutions that are both market leading and operationally scalable.
• Must have a strong understanding of the supply chain ecosystem, with ideally some experience in at least one of these product portfolios (Business Intelligence/Visibility & Reporting), OMS (Order Management System), WMS (Warehouse Management System) or TMS (Transportation Management System).
• A savvy leader and know how to lead from the front and lead from the back, as situations may require driving sustainable change.
• A keen understanding of the customer and user experience, and what drives the e-commerce, omni-channel, and channel-less end-consumers. Should have both digital transformation and leadership expertise related to product development, as well as physical goods/services distribution knowledge and experiences.
• Lead the overall product team for various new product initiatives, from ideation to launch, by collaborating with cross-functional teams, including technical engineering teams, sales and marketing, and supply chain/warehousing operations tactical as well as the overall team members at all levels as well at the executive levels of the company.
• Adept at coaching and change management and working closely with operational and technical teams to advance new ways of working.

Experience & Qualifications

Candidates must have a blend of expertise as outlined above and will include all, or a good portion, of the following core skills:

• Comfortable working in a matrix environment and experience working with a variety of internal and external stakeholder groups and vendors.
• At least 10 years experience in Product Management or Product Development role at least at a director level or leadership role which includes the direct management of product teams. We will look at various experiences and industry segments. Experience in Supply Chain or Retail Operations is an asset.
• Requires a professional who is forward thinking and can see the big picture. Can lead the way forward related to the product portfolio and be commercially savvy from a client’s perspective.
• Agile development and delivery methodology strongly preferred.
• Experience in at least one of these product areas in Business Intelligence/Visibility & Reporting, Warehouse Management, Inventory/Order Management and/or Transportation Management is significantly preferred. We will evaluate portable skills to the role from other product areas. We will seek experience from companies with best practices in Better-to-Best Product Development and Technology Solutions.
• There is a strong preference for an individual with a strong understanding of supply chain of physical goods, and operations including from a market and digital product/technology perspective.
• Know-how related to overall arching product development/operational budget management and effective timeline management expertise to ensure (multiple) projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Strong understanding of Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC).
• Project Management Professional (or similar) certification is an asset.
• Experience working with or integrating other core supply chain systems; order/inventory management systems, transportation management systems is an asset.
• Agile (Scrum) certification is an asset.
• Must have experience in launching new product(s) and overall service teams’ management and driving a clear product management framework including the management of a direct product strategy. Must have experience in leading direct and indirect team members.

Personal Profile

• Energized by collaborating in a team environment and enjoy supporting others to find success.
• Embrace new things, are open to different perspectives, and adapt quickly to an evolving environment.
• Leadership characteristics to motivate a product team and to show the way forward to new product development within the team and functional leaders across the organization.
• Proven track record of developing, motivating and leading teams with the ability to optimize individual strengths.
• Courage to think differently about how things get done to continuously improve and deliver even better results every day. An entrepreneurial spirited approach to product development with the ability to inspire.
• Providing exceptional service is your passion. Strive to provide the best service experience for internal and external customers. A progressive commitment to meet deliverables on time and proactive approach to communications to solutions and exceptions.
• Effectively manage and implement change in a team-based culture.

We will consider individuals with varied experience levels and across a host of industries. Please write to me in the strictest of confidence. We also appreciate all applicants’ investment of time; however, only high potential match candidates will be contacted. Our client is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Accommodation is available upon request for candidates with disabilities taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

MTCG & ASSOCIATES INC. (www.mtcg.ca)

Stephanie Brooks, CHRL

Head of Research & Recruitment

416 364 8616

[email protected]