Product Manager

Buckhorn•Milford, OH

About The Position

The Product Manager develops and improves Buckhorn’s product portfolio to support continued growth and success. The role requires technical expertise in product development within an injection-molding environment, an understanding of engineering’s role in the process, strong organizational and management skills, the ability to manage multiple projects, and an understanding of production and manufacturing costs. The position works across marketing, sales, customer service, branch operations, manufacturing, and procurement. It leads the product portfolio and/or company-wide commercialization process; chairs the Product Review Meeting within Sales & Operations Planning; manages key Sales & Marketing performance indicators, commercialization stage-gate metrics, and project delivery statistics; and participates actively in the overall Sales & Operations Planning process. The work takes place in a typical office and plant environment. Travel of 20% is required, with more travel possible on an exception basis. The role involves frequent standing, walking, sitting, handling objects, reaching, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, and talking or hearing. It also requires vision for close and distant work, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus; tasting or smelling is also listed among the frequent activities.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree required.
Technical expertise in an injection-molding environment required.
Prior leadership experience.
At least 4 years of experience in a related role.
Ability to recognize and envision the future and develop effective plans.
Strong verbal, visual, and written communication skills to express ideas and gain support.
Team orientation, customer communication, presentation, and people skills.
Ability to gather and analyze information quickly to make decisions in a fast-paced work environment.
Systematic and process-oriented approach, analytical and problem-solving skills, and decisiveness.
Comfort navigating speed, change, and ambiguity.
Proven high-level project management using the stage-gate process.
Proven leadership of cross-functional teams delivering sustainable process, financial, and operational results.
Proactive, results-focused approach and commitment to continuous improvement.
Planning and organizational skills to set targets and milestones and follow through on commitments.
Ability to motivate others to high performance without administrative authority.
Must be able to travel 20%, with more travel possible on an exception basis.

Nice To Haves

Engineering degree preferred.
MBA desired, or relevant certifications.

Responsibilities

Define the product strategy and development roadmap.
Lead and manage the Product Engineering Team.
Establish baseline internal production costs.
Define the optimal product mix with the Marketing Manager.
Lead periodic product portfolio reviews, including ABCxyz and profitability analyses, to determine SKU rationalization.
Assess competitive challenges and deliver clear strategic recommendations.
Deliver product cost-reduction opportunities.
Support Marketing with competitor intelligence.
Work with internal and external subject-matter experts to scope, design, test, and deliver product solutions.
Work with sales, customer service, and operations to review and refine customer service policies consistent with market expectations and business capabilities.
Create and maintain the by-SKU Phase-In/Phase-Out plan.
Lead the product portfolio and/or company-wide commercialization process.
Chair the Product Review Meeting within Sales & Operations Planning.
Manage key Sales & Marketing performance indicators, commercialization stage-gate metrics, and project delivery statistics.
Participate actively in the overall Sales & Operations Planning process.