Global Product Lane Director - Handgun

The Kinetic Group•Lewiston, ID

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Kinetic Group is a world leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of small caliber ammunition under the iconic brands B&P, CCI, Federal Premium, Fiocchi, HEVI-Shot, Remington and Speer. We have domestic ammunition manufacturing facilities in Minnesota, Idaho, Arkansas, and Missouri, and service law enforcement, government agencies and sporting enthusiasts throughout the world. Today, The Kinetic Group is a part of the Ammo+ division of The Czechoslovak Group (CSG), which holds a diverse portfolio of companies in the defense, security, automotive, aerospace and rail industries. The Global Product Lane (GPL) Director-Handgun Ammunition leads the global category for handgun ammunition across the CCI, Federal, Fiocchi (USA), Remington and Speer brands. This position drives cross-functional relationships and decisions along the product lifecycle for existing and new product initiatives. The GPL Director Handgun Ammunition will possess a proven analytical capability, strong, persuasive communication skills (written & verbal) and the ability to develop and drive strategic ideas independently and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Must possess a deep understanding of customer needs, the competitive landscape and be able to translate consumer needs into features, pricing models, and merchandising opportunities to deliver an unparalleled customer experience. This position reports to the Product Management Vice President and is based out of our Lewiston, Idaho office.

Requirements

Minimum 7 years people management experience including guidance, mentoring and professional development of a product management team
Minimum 10 years in product management in a related category with strong market knowledge and a demonstrated ability to conceptualize, track and deliver projects to budget goals
Possess a thorough business understanding including: demand creation; data and market analytics; supply chain planning; financial modeling; product development
Strong leader with a honed ability to communicate clearly and persuasively, negotiate to successful outcomes
Possess solid instincts in brand management and brand positioning
Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and sales analytics software
Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present effectively to all levels of the organization
Bachelor's degree or equivalent, MBA desirable
Ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneous
Ability to lift 25 pounds unassisted
Domestic and international travel to include weekends and for periods as long as two weeks at a time

Nice To Haves

CPG experience a plus

Responsibilities

Responsible for overall handgun ammunition strategy, product specific strategy and product requirements
Direct management of the Handgun Product Line Management Team
Assists in the development of multi-year category-level business strategies and budgets which address brand, financial, resource and merchandising objectives. Makes appropriate recommendations to the Vice President, Product Management and R&D.
Leads cross-functional core teams to develop and define product line strategies that are responsive to consumer needs and market opportunities
Develops and recommends product line pricing strategies that meet company revenue and margin goals
Leads multi-year product roadmap planning process for handgun ammunition
Oversees product brief definitions that prioritize product feature sets based on market research, target margin goals, extensive end-user feedback & competitive set evaluation
Works closely with direct reports, product engineering, project management, brand marketing, sales and sourcing to develop/maintain a schedule for product lines to ensure on-time completion including: Weekly core team meetings; Strategy development meetings; Team reviews; Major milestone reviews
Drives close collaboration with planning/operations teams on execution and commercialization of new products and management of product “end of life”
Partners with Brand Marketing Directors in the development and execution of product marketing plans including: Packaging; Product positioning; Product merchandising; Naming, branding and messaging
In collaboration with the brand marketing teams, represents the voice of the consumer to satisfy unmet market needs
Forges productive relationships with key influencers in category segments via field visits, interviews, trade shows, and account visits
Develops & maintains productive relationships with both domestic and international channel sales teams and key account buyers
Equips sales teams, reps, distributors and dealers with the product information and tools they need to launch new products
Responsible for on-time trade launch of all products in category including sales samples, sales meeting presentations, key account presentations, mass production etc.
Makes recommendations to the Vice President, Product Management and R&D to refine, streamline, and continuously improve the product development/management process