Product Director

KELE INC • Bensenville, IL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Kele Industrial is seeking a results-oriented and collaborative Product Director to manage a defined portfolio of products and manufacturer relationships. Reporting to the Director of Product Management, this role is responsible for driving product-level strategies to increase revenue, improve profitability, and support the sales organization. The ideal candidate will bring strong product and supplier management experience, excellent cross-functional collaboration skills, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Industrial Distribution, or related field.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with a focus on execution and outcomes.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal abilities.
• Experience working in cross-functional environments and managing competing priorities.
• 5+ years of experience working with industrial instrumentation products or related technical solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to apply technical product knowledge to real-world customer applications.
• Experience supporting sales teams through training, customer engagement, and solution development.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with ERP/CRM systems (e.g., Epicor, Salesforce, Power BI, Microsoft CRM).
• Knowledge of industrial instrumentation products (specifically pressure, level, temperature, controls, and flow)
• Familiarity within industrial vertical markets such as food & beverage, pulp & paper, water & wastewater, oil & gas, chemical, power, and manufacturing.
• Experience working with digital marketing and sales enablement tools.
• Ability to interpret and act on financial reports related to product performance.
• Experience working with major industrial instrumentation manufacturers.
• Familiarity with leading automation and instrumentation platforms is strongly preferred.
• Background supporting a wide range of industries and applications.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute product line strategies that align with organizational goals and sales initiatives.
• Manage lifecycle planning, portfolio positioning, and cross-selling initiatives for assigned products.
• Monitor industry trends, customer needs, and competitor offerings to adjust positioning and strategy.
• Lead strategy and execution for a portfolio of industrial instrumentation products, ensuring alignment with company growth objectives.
• Identify opportunities to expand instrumentation offerings and strengthen position with key vendor partners.
• Own day-to-day relationships with assigned manufacturers and suppliers.
• Negotiate pricing, programs, rebates, and marketing funds to optimize value and margin.
• Coordinate communication between suppliers and internal teams to ensure alignment of strategy and execution.
• Manage relationships with leading industrial instrumentation manufacturers, maintaining alignment on growth strategy, product positioning, and commercial programs.
• Collaborate with key vendors on joint business planning, with a focus on driving adoption and market share across instrumentation categories.
• Attend distributor meetings hosted by our key vendors to represent Kele Industrial Automation.
• Partner with the sales team to provide product training, resources, and expertise that drive revenue.
• Serve as the product subject matter expert (SME) to support opportunity development and customer acquisition.
• Collaborate with sales leadership to identify and close product-related performance gaps.
• Partner closely with field sales teams on customer engagements, including joint sales calls and application-based solution development.
• Provide guidance on product selection for a wide range of industrial applications, supporting customers across diverse end markets.
• Serve as a key resource for complex instrumentation opportunities, helping translate customer requirements into effective solutions.
• Work with the marketing team to support the development and execution of campaigns for assigned product lines.
• Contribute to content creation, promotional strategies, and messaging to elevate product awareness and demand.
• Participate in trade shows, webinars, and events as a product representative.
• Collaborate with operations and finance to manage inventory planning, turnover, and supplier performance.
• Establish and maintain competitive pricing models that support gross margin targets.
• Monitor product performance metrics and adjust programs to improve financial outcomes.
• Conduct product training sessions for internal sales teams and external customers as needed.
• Develop tools, guides, and resources to enable team proficiency and confidence in product-related discussions.
• Lead the development of foundational industrial instrumentation training as part of onboarding for new sales team members.
• Deliver ongoing education to improve sales team competency across core instrumentation categories and applications.
• Establish standardized training materials and programs to ensure consistent knowledge across the organization.
• Maintain accurate product data and documentation across internal systems (ERP, CRM, PIM).
• Ensure adherence to standardized processes for product launches, supplier onboarding, and marketing execution.
• Provide input into operational improvements and best practices for product management.

Benefits

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance
• HSA
• FSA (medical and dependent care)
• 401(k) with employer match up to 4% with immediate vesting
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance; supplemental life for employees and dependents available
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees