Product Line Manager - Franklin, KY

Geoquest USA • Franklin, KY

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About The Position

Geoquest USA, Inc. is seeking a Product Line Manager (PLM) responsible for the marketing strategy, product development, pricing, and material availability of a designated product. The PLM works with Engineering on research and development, directs the sales team on target markets, market strategy, and pricing, and coordinates with Manufacturing to determine where and how products are made. The role reports to the CEO or VP, Commercial Sales.

The PLM leads products from concept and development through manufacturing and market launch. This includes researching customer and market needs, setting product requirements and specifications, assessing competitors, developing sales and marketing plans, forecasting sales, managing pricing and inventory, and coordinating schedules with Engineering, Manufacturing, Sales, and Marketing. The role also supports product partnerships, university research, industry visibility, and technical development. It recruits, trains, and manages the product team and ensures product-development work meets deadlines and quality requirements.

Work takes place in traditional office settings and indoor and outdoor manufacturing facilities. The position coordinates or leads employees at different organizational levels and may involve sitting, standing, walking, and driving. The employee may encounter distracting noise and must be able to wear required personal protective equipment for prolonged periods.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, industrial engineering, or a field tied to the product’s sector is required.
• 2–3 years of relevant work experience, including project management experience.
• Subject matter expertise and a track record in product innovation and development.
• Project management skills.
• Customer focus.
• Budgeting and purchasing skills.
• Understanding of the marketplace.
• Technical and manufacturing know-how.
• Leadership and team-management skills.
• Data analytics and metrics-management skills.
• Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Strong communication, presentation, and public-speaking skills.
• Organizational, planning, and documentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects at different stages simultaneously.
• Experience drafting product and market requirements documents.
• Familiarity with Agile work management and/or ability to communicate complex processes effectively within and across teams.
• Ability to work in office and indoor and outdoor manufacturing environments and coordinate or lead employees at different organizational levels.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and drive, and to wear required personal protective equipment for prolonged periods.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in engineering or an MBA.
• Prior management experience.
• Certified Product Manager (CPM) or New Product Development (NPD) Professional Certification.
• Experience using Agile/Scrum methodology and/or workflow management tools.
• Experience using computer-aided design (CAD) platforms.
• Experience using System Applications and Products (SAP) software.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development, strategy, and redesign from concept through development and manufacturing to market launch.
• Identify potential products; conduct market research; generate product requirements; develop marketing strategies; and determine specifications, production timetables, pricing, and integrated product-introduction plans.
• Determine customer needs and preferences by specifying research needed to obtain market information.
• Recommend the scope of present and future product lines by reviewing product specifications and requirements and evaluating new product ideas or product changes.
• Assess market competition by comparing company products with competitors’ products.
• Define product marketing communication objectives and provide source data for product-line communications.
• Work with the VP, Sales to develop product sales strategies and obtain product market share.
• Assess product-market data by calling on customers with field salespeople and evaluating sales-call results.
• Prepare short- and long-term product sales forecasts, special reports, and analyses, and provide information in response to management questions and requests.
• Facilitate inventory turnover and product availability by reviewing and adjusting inventory levels and production schedules.
• Analyze proposed product requirements and development programs, prepare return-on-investment analyses, and establish schedules with Engineering and Manufacturing.
• Introduce and market new products by developing integrated plans with Sales, Advertising, and Production.
• Determine product pricing using market research, production and sales costs, anticipated volume, and costs of special and customized orders.
• Work with Marketing and Sales to support product success and market growth.
• Identify and manage new and existing product partnerships.
• Liaise with universities to expand knowledge, develop innovations, and participate in research.
• Present white papers to support marketing, industry visibility, and technical development.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge through workshops, professional publications and content, and participation in professional societies.
• Recruit, train, and manage the product team by planning, monitoring, and appraising job results.
• Meet operational requirements and product-development deadlines by scheduling and assigning employees, following up on work results, and overseeing quality control and testing.

Benefits

• 11 days of paid vacation to start, increasing to 16 days after 5 years and 21 days after 10 years.
• 11 paid holidays.
• 401(k) with company contribution.
• Medical insurance.
• Dental insurance, including orthodontia for children up to age 26.
• Vision insurance.
• Flexible Spending.
• Wellness program with incentives.
• Free parking.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level