Product Manager - HVAC Airside Products

Smardt•Phoenix, AZ

10d•Remote

About The Position

As a global pioneer in oil-free centrifugal chiller technology with an expanding portfolio of thermal management solutions, Smardt is dedicated to delivering high-efficiency and energy-saving systems for industries, real estate developments, health care and educational centers worldwide. We operate manufacturing facilities in the US, Canada, Germany, China, and Australia, with a team of over 900 employees. With a focus on reliability, performance, and environmental stewardship, Smardt continues to redefine industry standards through advanced engineering and a commitment to a more sustainable future. The Product Manager – HVAC Airside Products is responsible for SMARDT is seeking a seasoned Product Manager to lead its HVAC airside and air-handling product portfolio across The Americas. This role carries responsibility to the global ownership of assigned product lines, including strategy, roadmap, pricing, positioning, and lifecycle performance. The Product Manager is the recognized technical and commercial authority for the product family and serves as the central integrator between regional business units, engineering, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. Success in this role is measured by market share growth, margin performance, specification wins, and long-term portfolio relevance, not just execution of tasks. This is a senior, outcomes-driven role designed for product leaders who understand both engineering depth and commercial reality.

Requirements

Minimum 7+ years of experience in the HVAC industry, with strong exposure to Air Handling Units (AHUs)
Proven experience in product management, program management, technical marketing, or commercial sales within HVAC or mechanical systems
Experience working in cross-functional environments (Engineering, Sales, Operations, Service)
Strong understanding of BAS (Building Automation Systems) and integration with HVAC systems
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field required
Strong technical knowledge of: Air Handling Unit design, application, and performance optimization
HVAC systems integration and controls (BAS)
Ability to translate customer requirements into technical-commercial solutions
Proficiency in: Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
Power BI for data analysis and reporting
Familiarity with ERP/CRM systems and product lifecycle tools
Ability to balance technical complexity with commercial objectives
Demonstrated ability to lead product strategy and lifecycle management
Strong business acumen with experience in: Pricing strategy
Market positioning
Competitive analysis
Ability to create tools and processes that enable: Faster decision-making
Seamless interaction between technical and commercial teams
Strong communication skills with the ability to influence both technical and executive stakeholders
Willingness to travel 20–30%
Strategic Thinking & Product Vision – Ability to define and execute product roadmaps aligned with market needs
Technical & Commercial Integration – Bridges engineering depth with revenue impact
Cross-Functional Leadership – Influences across Sales, Engineering, and Operations without direct authority
Customer-Centric Mindset – Deep understanding of customer use cases, especially in complex environments (e.g., data centers, industrial applications)
Execution & Accountability – Drives initiatives from concept to market with measurable impact
Innovation & Continuous Improvement – Introduces scalable tools and processes to improve efficiency and competitiveness

Nice To Haves

MBA strongly preferred
Relevant HVAC or industry certifications (ASHRAE, LEED, etc.) considered an asset

Responsibilities

Own P&L performance for the assigned product line, including revenue, margin, cost, and market share
Track and report KPIs across regions, identifying trends, gaps, and corrective actions
Drive cost-reduction initiatives in collaboration with engineering, sourcing, and manufacturing
Support preparation of timely and accurate financial plans and forecasts for business planning. Identify major deviations between actual and plan and recommend corrective actions.
Maintain tracking of our products and competitors’ products success within assigned product line globally (detailed by region) and identify opportunities and gaps.
Act as senior technical and product escalation point for complex applications and strategic opportunities
Support regional sales leaders, manufacturer representatives, and key customers as needed
Develop and maintain product content, training materials, and sales tools
Represent assigned product lines across global commercial business units
Support major customer engagements, industry forums, and strategic pursuits
Develop written guide specification documents for the SAE
Define and maintain product positioning and messaging aligned with Smardt’s strategy
Ensure consistent internal and external communication across the Americas
Support product launches, transitions, and end-of-life planning
Partner with marketing to develop high-impact technical and commercial collateral
Support regional training initiatives
Maintain deep, region-specific understanding of customer needs, regulatory requirements, and competitive offerings
Lead competitive benchmarking and positioning analysis
Identify white-space opportunities, product gaps, and emerging market requirements
Anticipate competitive responses and proactively adjust roadmap and positioning
Partner with Research and Development engineers to ensure the product roadmap is driven by market intelligence, voice-of-the-customer and requirement specifications.
Define product extensions, options, platform evolutions, and lifecycle phase-in / phase-out strategies
Lead cross-functional alignment to deliver roadmap initiatives on time, on cost, and on target performance
Identify and develop new business opportunities within the assigned product segment
Own core product documentation including business cases, competitive analysis, and value propositions
Ensure development programs meet technical, commercial, and schedule objectives
Serve as the bridge between engineering execution and market success
Lead market-based pricing strategy in coordination with regional leaders
Establish target cost models and margin objectives for new product development
Ensure pricing and selection tools remain accurate, competitive, and aligned with current cost structures
Support initiatives to improve product competitiveness and profitability
Capturing market product needs by collaborating with the Regional Managers (as well as direct engagement with customers and sales when appropriate) to develop product requirements for product extensions, enhancements, options, or new product developments.
Assemble competitive benchmarking and position needed to complete requirements for product development projects.
Support development and management of key documents; VSR, competitive analysis, and business plans
Manage or play a key role in leading the product development projects to meet critical dates and the requirements of the product development process.
Coordinate with applications and design engineering on complex or high-impact special requests
Track special quote activity to identify recurring needs and product improvement opportunities
Guide prioritization of engineering resources based on strategic value and return
After sales technical support when needed