Product Manager Jobs

Position Scope:

Reporting to the Director, Product Management, the Product Manager is responsible for delivering and maintaining a portfolio of products that are commercially successful, competitive and profitable while continuously improving the position of the company in the market. The Product Manager works cross functionally to achieve objectives. They act as an investment manager, plan and recommend where the company should invest resources, analyze markets for opportunities, identify future trends and study competitor positioning in the market. The Product Manager will participate in defining the product vision, working collaboratively with the Director, Product Management, sales, marketing, R&D and end customers. They prioritize product and customer requirements, ensuring satisfaction targets are understood and met. The Product Manager achieves results without direct authority by influencing and working closely with engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, finance, regulatory, and quality to ensure successful execution of the product portfolio strategy. All projects are coherent to and support the company's overall strategies.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Product Portfolio

The Product Manager works with senior department leadership to understand product portfolio strategy to ensure product line life cycle (execution to down-the-road improvements, and eventual rationalization where/when required) is properly aligned.

• Evaluate potential benefits and prioritize initiatives amongst overall product line objectives; develop and track action plans gaining cross functional support for executions
• Manage forecasts and overall budgets for the product portfolio
• Conducts product portfolio reviews to ensure alignment and execution to the strategy including clear milestones and metrics to assess progress and performance

Market Research

The Product Manager specifies market requirements for current and future products by conducting market research, developing a comprehensive and overarching product portfolio strategy and product roadmap.

• Conduct market assessments and competitive analyses to identify product opportunities whether new or redesigned to address different/future needs
• Obtain and analyze all relevant available secondary market research, identifying information gaps and filling them with primary research when deemed necessary.
• Provide and maintain an in-depth analysis for all aspects of market, industry and competition
• Participate in on-going visits to customers and non-customers for market research
• Develop hands-on, in-depth knowledge of competitive products, with particular focus on features and benefits and positioning

Product Development & Launch

Act as a stakeholder in the product innovation process, identifying future market requirements and potential product opportunities. Partner with Sales and R&D to develop products with clear timelines. Ensure products meet customer satisfaction objectives while adhering to legislative requirements. Develop product line extensions and support product improvement plans that are in tune with market trends.

• In conjunction with senior department leadership, establish product line sales targets in direct collaboration with sales team, prioritize and then monitor progress to targets and strategic goals/initiatives, track variance and take necessary corrective action within, and in, the next product cycle to maximize product line revenue and profitability
• Support Engineering initiatives that optimize time to market
• Support Sales in the development of product pricing and reimbursement strategies for products to meet revenue and profitability
• Run beta and pilot programs with early-stage products and samples to judge potential success in the market.
• Participate in the creative process of generating, developing and curating new ideas. Determine which should be promoted into features to push the product strategy forward.
• Support Manufacturing (including quality, purchasing and logistics) in identifying opportunities for improvement in quality, productivity and profitability that necessitate product line consideration and/or changes
• Support Engineering to ensure technical robustness and error proofing for the end consumer, ensuring that launch teams have all of the required information to deliver a complete product to market

Project Management

For new products (i.e., stage gate projects) initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria at the specified time. To achieve primary business objectives, the Product Manager will be responsible for organizing key activities of a cross-functional team.

• Develop and maintain project plans for all key projects, through development and through launch (Gate 0 – Gate 5)
• Lead weekly project status update meetings.
• Make sure all team members know what is required, by when and that the stage gate process is followed.

Marketing & Support Materials

Act as a product portfolio subject matter expert as they support marketing, sales, customer solutions, etc. through leading the development and maintenance of various marketing and sales collateral. Collaboratively develop company-wide “go-to-market” product plans within the product portfolio roadmap, partnering with marketing and all relevant departments to ensure alignment and successful execution.

• Support the development of internal and external product education programs
• Perform product demonstrations at trade shows, online seminars, and other events as required
• Support the development of FAQs, product notes, user guides, field training presentations, online marketing, packaging, print materials, content and demos
• Working with senior department leadership, support marketing (and marketing firm) to develop and approve the core product positioning, value proposition and messaging for the product
• Working with senior department leadership, sales and marketing, develop a coherent, effective and executable product launch plan
• Partner with sales to develop innovative marketing programs and show event campaigns

Education and Experience:

• Evidence of strategic thinking, planning and project management skills; ability to thrive in a dynamic, time sensitive and collaborative environment
• Forecasting monthly sales and planning for manufacturing
• Excellent communication - verbal and written, presentation, influencing and facilitating skills, strong technical negotiation and interpersonal skills as a consensus builder and leader
• Experience in business case analysis, commercial issues, profit and loss analysis preferred
• Experience working in collaborative cross functional teams. Proven experience partnering with Sales, Engineering and Manufacturing departments is preferred
• Sound knowledge of business and management principles and practices
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and ERP Systems and Adobe Suite would be an asset.
• Bachelor’s degree required in Business, Finance, Marketing, or equivalent discipline. 1-3 years’ experience in product management; marketing experience is considered an asset.
• Broad understanding of strategic planning, business development, sales, marketing, finance, operations, project management and product engineering

Application Instructions:

To apply, please send a resume to Shannon Terpstra at [email protected].

Summit Search Group is a fair and equitable search firm. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.