Product Manager

Landscape Structures•Delano, MN

10h•Onsite

About The Position

Landscape Structures Inc. is a leading manufacturer of commercial playground equipment for over 50 years, designing community and school playgrounds that foster development in children of all ages and abilities. The company is employee-owned and focuses on innovative, inclusive play experiences. As the Product Manager for Play, Shade, and Water, this role involves designing the backdrop for childhood memories by leading the planning, development, launch, and lifecycle management of playground equipment for the US and Canada. This includes everything from initial concept through market launch and ongoing optimization. The position bridges customer needs, business objectives, engineering capabilities, and manufacturing realities to deliver safe, compelling, and profitable solutions, specifically focusing on play structures, splash pads, and shade products. Success requires strong market insight, cross-functional leadership, and a deep understanding of product development, safety & compliance, and production efficiency.

Requirements

Strong market analysis and business case development skills
Experience managing mechanical products through full lifecycle
Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, cost structures, and margin management
Ability to interpret technical information and collaborate effectively with engineering teams
Excellent communication, prioritization, and stakeholder management skills
Comfortable working with data, KPIs, and ERP tools
Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, industrial design, landscape architecture, or a related field.
7+ years of product management, category management, or related experience
Experience in the manufacturing industry with products that endure outdoor elements
Experience working with manufacturing sales rep groups

Responsibilities

Define and maintain a multi-year roadmap for play, shade, and water lines that aligns with brand goals.
Conduct deep-dive competitive analysis and market research to identify growth opportunities.
Cultivate strategic partnerships with rep groups to transform field intelligence into a market-leading product roadmap
Curate and vet innovative product ideas based on market intelligence.
Build comprehensive business cases covering market fit, competitive positioning, and margin targets.
Author product requirements documents to define functional specs, performance requirements, safety and compliance requirements, and KPIs.
Partner with Design, Engineering and Manufacturing to ensure technical feasibility and production efficiency.
Establish pricing strategies that balance market value with profitability.
Orchestrate launch strategies and timelines in collaboration with Marketing and the PMO.
Ensure organizational readiness for all new product introductions.
Monitor post-launch KPIs and synthesize field feedback to drive continuous improvements or cost reductions.
Manage the full product journey, including line extensions and end-of-life sunsetting.
Act as the central product advocate, unifying Design, Supply Chain, Sales, and IT.
Balance customer desire with operational reality to deliver products that are safe, innovative, and profitable.