Director of Product Management, Refrigeration

Hoshizaki America•Peachtree City, GA

13h

About The Position

The Director of Product Management, Refrigeration is responsible for managing the refrigeration product portfolio and leading strategic development of new products. The role partners with multifunctional teams and uses voice-of-customer input, market research, and competitive analysis to manage the lifecycle of refrigeration products developed in-house or through an OEM, from development through launch, in alignment with portfolio health goals. The position is accountable for refrigeration category strategy and for leading, planning, and tracking all phases of product lifecycles. It guides the refrigeration product manager in executing the strategy, evaluates product opportunities and business cases, establishes specifications, and coordinates with engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and sales to support successful product development and implementation. It also maintains awareness of market trends, researches customer and adjacent-market opportunities, and works with Marketing and Training to provide customer information for marketing materials. Performance indicators include meeting NPI project timelines, tracking lifecycle sales, profitability, vitality, and hit rate, and maintaining a pipeline of at least 10 potential innovative projects aligned with company strategy. The work is typically performed in a low-to-moderate-noise office environment and involves prolonged sitting and/or standing, telephone and computer work, and interaction with employees and customers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, engineering, or a related field.
Minimum of six years of product management experience.
Demonstrated track record of managing product development projects to completion.
Experience leading or facilitating a cross-functional team.
Ability to take on and deliver project deliverables with limited guidance from senior management.
Ability to anticipate problems and issues and resolve them effectively.
Ability to understand the impact of new projects on other areas and evaluate resource availability.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Strong analytical and presentation skills.

Nice To Haves

Management experience.
Previous experience in the foodservice equipment industry managing the product development lifecycle.

Responsibilities

Manage the refrigeration product portfolio and category strategy.
Lead, plan, and track all phases of product lifecycles, from inception through marketplace introduction and throughout the product’s lifecycle.
Guide the refrigeration product manager in executing refrigeration strategy through portfolio management.
Manage cross-functional team and individual deadlines to maintain product development timelines set out in NPI project documents.
Track product performance over its lifecycle, including sales, profitability, vitality, and hit rate, for reporting and future planning.
Maintain a pipeline of at least 10 potential projects through market research and collaboration with R&D.
Conduct competitive analysis of products and models offered by other manufacturers, and determine the unique value proposition for each new product offering.
Evaluate new product ideas for their potential to address customer needs and achieve revenue growth and market-share goals; develop business cases.
Analyze design feasibility in view of appearance, safety, function, serviceability, budget, production costs and methods, and market characteristics.
Establish product specifications and coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and sales to support product development and implementation.
Participate in analytical, experimental, investigative, and other fact-finding work supporting product development.
Maintain knowledge of new trends and products in relevant markets.
May conduct focus-group research and use market research data to support sales teams and address customer issues and field quality concerns.
Conduct market analysis and research within foodservice channels, including distributors, distribution center account managers, dealers, and chain account end users, to generate product ideas and business.
Conduct market analysis and research outside traditional foodservice channels, including convenience stores, supermarkets, and health care, to generate product ideas and business.
Work with Marketing and Training to provide customer information for marketing materials, including sales equipment brochure sheets, specifications, and price lists.