Associate Product Manager
About The Position
The Associate Product Manager is a junior-level position supporting the day-to-day management of optical fiber cable products. Working under the direction of the Director of Product Management or an assigned Product Manager, this role assists with product information, market research, sales support, reporting, and product launch activities. The position offers hands-on experience and coaching to develop product knowledge and product management skills. Initial assignments focus on defined tasks and selected products, with responsibility increasing as knowledge and experience grow. Product strategy, pricing approvals, portfolio decisions, and investment recommendations remain with product management leadership.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, Science, or a related discipline.
- Zero to two years of relevant experience in product management, technical sales, applications engineering, marketing, product support, or a related field. Relevant internships and co-op experience will be considered.
- Interest in learning optical fiber cable products, their applications, and the product development process.
- Basic analytical skills and comfort working with numbers, spreadsheets, and product data.
- Ability to learn cost, pricing, and gross margin calculations using established tools and guidance.
- Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accurate documentation.
- Ability to organize assigned work, follow established processes, and meet agreed deadlines.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills and a willingness to ask questions.
- Ability to work cooperatively with Sales, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Quality, and Marketing.
- Receptiveness to feedback and coaching, with a willingness to develop new skills and take on additional responsibility.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Teams; willingness to learn internal product and business systems.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in wire and cable, optical fiber, connectivity, or a manufacturing environment is preferred but not required.
- Exposure to data analysis, customer support, product documentation, or project coordination is helpful.
Responsibilities
- Maintain and update product information, including part numbers, descriptions, data sheets, product lists, and sales materials, following established review and approval processes.
- Gather customer and sales feedback and help document product needs, application requirements, and questions for review by Product Management and Engineering.
- Collect competitor product information and market data; prepare straightforward comparisons and summaries using established templates.
- Compile sales, volume, cost, margin, and inventory data for routine product reports; flag discrepancies and trends for review.
- Assist with pricing and quotation requests by gathering approved cost and product information and preparing calculations for review.
- Support new product launches and product changes by maintaining checklists, tracking assigned actions, and coordinating updates with internal teams.
- Help maintain product roadmaps and project schedules based on priorities and decisions established by product management leadership.
- Respond to routine product inquiries using approved information; refer complex technical questions to Applications Engineering and commercial decisions to Product Management.
- Assist with product presentations, training materials, and sales tools; participate in training delivery as product knowledge develops.
- Coordinate assigned product samples and documentation, and support customer meetings, plant visits, and industry events as needed.
- Communicate progress, ask for clarification when needed, and raise delays or issues promptly.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
