Global Product Director

Protolabs•Maple Plain, MN

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Global Product Director is the senior business and strategy owner for the Protolabs product lines of Injection Molding and 3D Printing, accountable for revenue growth, customer acquisition and retention, margin performance, and long-term competitiveness. This role coordinates the end-to-end delivery of product line financial objectives while defining and executing the multi-year product line strategy, grounded in customer value, market intelligence, and operational feasibility. The Global Product Director leads the translation of market opportunity into clear product roadmaps, investment priorities, and go-to-market execution, working in tight partnership with Operations, Global Technology Services (GTS), Sales, Marketing, Finance, and the Manufacturing Partner Network. This role is jointly accountable with Sales and Operations for product line profitability and is the single point of accountability for product strategy and performance. This role is central to scaling Protolabsâ digital manufacturing platform, ensuring that product strategy, operational execution, and commercial performance remain tightly aligned. The Global Product Director is a business owner, strategist, and integrator, responsible for turning market opportunity into profitable, differentiated growth.

Requirements

Direct experience with Injection Molding and 3D Printing manufacturing processes
Bachelorâs degree in Engineering, Technology, or Business; MBA or advanced degree preferred
5+ years (8+ without MBA) of B2B product management or product line leadership experience in a business exceeding $50M in revenue
Proven track record owning product P&L, growth, and margin outcomes
Strong technical acumen and experience working with engineering and manufacturing organizations
Demonstrated expertise in market sizing, segmentation, voice of customer, value proposition development, and value-based pricing
Experience leading cross-functional, global teams and complex initiatives
Excellent executive communication and stakeholder management skills
Willingness to travel up to ~25% domestically and internationally

Responsibilities

Own the rolling 3-year product line strategy and roadmap, aligned to Protolabsâ enterprise growth, margin, and customer experience objectives
Define product positioning (speed, cost, precision, flexibility) based on customer needs and competitive differentiation
Translate strategy into annual operating plans, revenue targets, margin goals, and KPI commitments
Serve as the executive âGM-likeâ owner of the product line business performance, in partnership with Sales, Marketing and Operations leadership
Coordinate cross-functional execution to deliver product line revenue growth, new customer acquisition, retention, and gross margin improvement
Own and track key KPIs including revenue, margin, conversion rates, utilization, lead time, on time delivery, quality, and NPS
Drive disciplined portfolio decisions, including capability expansion, rationalization, and partner utilization
Partner with Finance and Operations on ROI modeling, capital allocation, and margin optimization decisions
Own market intelligence and opportunity sizing (TAM/SAM, segment prioritization, customer needs)
Maintain a deep understanding of competitor capabilities, pricing models, lead times, materials, and service differentiation
Integrate macro trends (automation, AI-enabled manufacturing, sustainability, on-demand production) into product strategy
In conjunction with Director of Market Research, represent the voice of the customer across Protolabs, incorporating insights into roadmaps and investment decisions
Partner with GTS, Engineering, and Operations to evolve manufacturing capabilities, materials, tolerances, finishes, and processes
Prioritize automation, AI-enabled quoting, DFM, and operational efficiency initiatives that improve customer experience and margin
Ensure roadmap initiatives are delivered with clear business cases, success metrics, and operational readiness
Drive innovation across both offerings and business models to stay ahead of customer and market demands
Lead product commercialization in partnership with Sales and Marketing, including launches, campaigns, enablement, and training
Define value-based pricing strategies in collaboration with Pricing and Finance
Working with Marketing, ensure product messaging clearly articulates customer value relative to competitive alternatives
Support sales execution through clear positioning, competitive playbooks, and differentiated value propositions
Own product line deliverables including: Product Strategy Decks Monthly Product Business Reviews Innovation Pipeline Tracking Competitive Playbooks
Provide clear, data-driven updates to the Executive Leadership Team on performance, risks, and investment priorities
Lead through influence in a complex, matrixed global organization
Balance strategic vision with hands-on execution rigor
Make data-driven, customer-centric decisions with strong financial discipline
Model accountability, integrity, and bias for action
Build strong partnerships across Operations, Technology, Sales, Marketing, Finance, and the Partner Network