Product Line Manager - Franklin, KY

Geoquest USA • Franklin, KY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Geoquest USA, Inc. (formerly The Reinforced Earth Company) is a market leader in mechanically stabilized earth retaining wall systems. It designs and supplies proprietary retaining wall systems and earth-related technologies for civil engineering projects, working as a subcontractor and material supplier on public and privately owned projects.

The Product Line Manager (PLM) is responsible for the marketing strategy, product development, pricing, and material availability of a designated product. Reporting to the CEO or VP, Commercial Sales, the PLM works with Engineering on research and development, guides the sales team on target markets, market strategy, and pricing, and works with Manufacturing to determine where and how the product is produced. The role leads products from concept through development and manufacturing to market launch, and includes product strategy, market research, customer and competitor analysis, forecasting, pricing, inventory and production coordination, partnerships, university liaison, technical communications, and product-team management.

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.
• 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 work on multiple projects at various stages simultaneously.
• Experience drafting product and market requirement documents.
• Familiarity with Agile work management and/or ability to communicate complex processes effectively within and across teams.
• Experience using computer-aided design (CAD) platforms.
• Experience using System Applications and Products (SAP) software.
• Ability to coordinate or lead employees among different levels of the organization.
• Ability to work in varied physical positions, including sitting, standing, walking, and driving.
• Ability to wear personal protective clothing for prolonged periods, including a safety helmet with chinstrap, safety shoes, eye protection, hand protection, and hearing protection as required.

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.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development, strategy, and redesign from concept through development and manufacturing to market launch.
• Develop products by identifying potential products, conducting market research, generating product requirements, developing marketing strategies, and determining specifications, production timetables, pricing, and product-introduction plans.
• Determine customers’ needs and desires by specifying the research needed to obtain market information.
• Recommend the nature and scope of present and future product lines by reviewing product specifications and requirements and appraising 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 visiting 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.
• Bring new products to market by analyzing proposed requirements and development programs, preparing return-on-investment analyses, and establishing 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 the costing 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 for marketing, industry visibility, and technical development.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge through educational workshops, professional publications and content, and professional societies.
• Recruit, train, and manage the product team by planning, monitoring, and appraising job results.
• Complete operational requirements and meet product development deadlines by scheduling and assigning employees and following up on work results, including quality control and testing.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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