Product Manager Job in Williston 29853, South Carolina US
Product Manager
Position: Product Manager - Coffee
Business Unit: CMS
Segment: Crane Merchandising Systems
Reports To: VP
Basic Function
The Product Manager Coffee is a PL owner whose success is described in terms of overall market growth, profitability, market penetration, customer satisfaction and achievement of product differentiation for Coffee vertical. He/She is responsible for the market strategy, new product development and execution of a product’s lifecycle, including; gathering and prioritizing customer requirements, defining the product vision, and working closely with engineering, sales, marketing and operations to ensure revenue, profit and customer satisfaction goals are met.
The top level responsibilities for this position include;
- Defining the business model for Coffee vertical
- Determining how to win in the marketplace
- Assisting in the creation of the operating plan for the Coffee value stream
- Managing the Coffee Roadmap
- Owning the Sales Forecast for Coffee Products
Responsibilities and Duties
Defining the business model
- Develops and implements the product strategy in terms of achieving plan revenue and margin. Refreshes the business model every six months to one year.
- Researches and intrinsically understands VOC, industry trends and competitive environments and reflects that knowledge in the product strategy, value proposition, marketing, product management and sales approach.
- Has developed a deep understanding of the customer’s business model and applies that knowledge to the product strategy.
Determines how to win in the marketplace
- Fulfills the role of product champion whose mandate is to help, coach and assist the sales organization and provide them with the tools and strategies necessary to win in the marketplace. They bring product expertise as well as the training necessary for the product’s value proposition so as to position the sales team against competitive products and to them overcome roadblocks in their funnel. The Product Manager may need to speak directly with certain customers in the funnel in order to achieve break through.
- Develops and establishes the product’s value proposition to meet customer requirements and win against the competition; drives and achieves alignment between assigned Program Mangers, Value Stream Managers and Sales Leaders.
- Brings expertise and educates the business on market trends, customer needs, competition; monitors competitor marketing and pricing activities and develops counter measures.
- Leads product promotion plans, advertising, brochures, technical documentation and product application training material and product launches.
- Creates marketing materials for new product releases; including product differentiation, pricing strategies, value proposition and ROI.
- Represents the Company as it pertains to industry relevant protocol and standards development.
- Works with the service organization to develop and implement the product’s service strategy.
Assisting in the creation of the operating plan for the product value stream
- Identifies, communicates and holds the team accountable for achieving the SQDC targets that are necessary to win.
Managing the Product Roadmap
- Develops and implements the product roadmap that is required in terms of market trends, VOC, competitive behavior and technology forecasts. Articulates market requirements and prioritized features to address those requirements. Establishes a time frame to bring the product to market in terms of engineering, marketing and sales and market conditions.
- Champions the finalized product roadmap and holds the team accountable.
- Brings a deep understanding of the end user market to identify current pain points and future product development needs.
- Articulates and educates the business on key market trends in terms of a 5 year prospective; leads the identification of marketing leading products.
- Leads customer validation sessions throughout the NPD tollgate process to assure the Customer value drivers are being met.
- Works with the Engineering to develop detailed product specifications that support the product roadmap requirements.
- Acts as the internal point person for all functional groups to help resolve customer issues and complete product life cycle management. Strong customer interfacing and collaboration with ASM”s, FSE’s, Sales and Sales Engineers.
- Leads the PPMP (product portfolio mgmt process) in terms of allocating resources (IC) to research, development and commercialization of the product.
- Assumes responsibility for the applicable areas of the NDP process
Owns the Sales Forecast
- Contributes significantly as it pertains to the sales forecast for assigned products in terms of future product sales; considers past sales performance, inflation, unemployment, consumer spending patterns, market trends, and interest rates.
- Leads product marketing efforts including budgeting, resourcing and environmental monitoring to achieve product penetration in targeted areas.
Qualifications and Required Skills
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience ideally in areas of product management for Coffee machine manufacturers, Coffee Roasters or Operators.
- Brings international experience combined with multi-national business environments and demonstrated experience in defining managing a common products across two or more geographies through the NPD process.
- Demonstrated success defining and launching new products into the market.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Minimum Bachelor's degree (MBA preferred).
- Technical background, with experience in manufacturing.
- Excellent teamwork skills.
- Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without formal authority.
- Must be able to travel up to 50% of the time.
All activities, Demands, Conditions and Requirements are linked to Essential Job Functions unless marked with an asterisk, which denotes linkage only to marginal function(s).
“In our efforts to maintain a safe and drug-free workplace, Crane Merchandising Systems requires that candidates complete a satisfactory background check and pass a drug/alcohol screen prior to employment.
It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.
Crane Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, military status, or national origin or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or applicable local law.”
