The Director Product Management is responsible for leading 3+ Product Managers and the Product Management function of Klein Tools Heavy Infrastructure (B2B) Division. Product Management includes all new and existing product management. This position is responsible for all aspects of product management including sales, margins, suggested retail prices, distribution prices, product portfolio and end of life. Product Management also includes leadership of most new product development projects, end user VOC, customer sales meetings in conjunction with sales, specific marketing, and supplier relationships.
Direct and manage the product management team. Develop short- and long-range strategies for multiple product lines to achieve strategic goals and maximize sale and profit objectives. Develop revenue and profit objectives for multiple product lines. Adjust marketing strategy to meet changing market and competitive conditions; monitor competitive products and marketing activities. Display leadership when working with cross-functional teams. Inspire and motivate the cross-functional team and outside partners. Ensure that product managers stay current with competitors and market trends through interactions with sales people, distributors, and end users through a variety of venues. Collect and maintain marketing information. Conduct market research as necessary. Responsible for planning and conducting in-depth marketing research when additional research is needed, such as specific market studies, focus groups, etc. Collaborate with marketing team to coordinate all marketing communications activity to communicate with outside customers (i.e. branding, advertising, public relations, and packaging). Specify and maintain a system to identify delays or problems during the development of new products in order to resolve issues quickly. Work to improve new product time-to-market and the process that delivers those new products. Validate that product development projects follow the stage gates of the new product development (NPD) process. Work with others to improve the NPD process. Responsible for monthly reporting on current state of product management and new product development including achievement to corporate objectives. Publish monthly metrics on on-time performance and other metrics as required. Plan and control the product management budget. Help to plan the engineering product development budget. Perform all other duties as assigned.Job Qualifications
Bachelors Degree in Business, Marketing or Engineering and seven (7) years related work experience in product management, marketing, and product design. MBA or extensive business experience and experience in the hand tool industry is preferred. Must possess knowledge working with large home improvement retailers and electrical distributors. Must possess experience in evaluating markets, market trends, and customer and sales feedback to develop new product plans. Must possess knowledge in product portfolio planning. Must possess knowledge in Product Development Process background. Demonstrate strong planning, organizing and change management capabilities. Demonstrate strong financial modeling and forecasting skills. Demonstrate proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word). Ability to lead cross-functional product development teams. Ability to demonstrated successful leadership experience - ability to recruit, develop team members, and retain talent within the organization. Ability to effectively communicate and present information to team members, top management, customers, and/or suppliers.Physical Demand Requirements
Occasionally required to stand, walk or sit; use hands to grasp, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; use fingers to touch, pick or pinch objects; reach with hands and arms; push or pull; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; use foot or leg controls; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds. For all jobs no one should lift over 50lbs on their own. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Travel Requirements
Up to 10% - may include international travel