Product Specialist

Ascentek • Golden Valley, MN

12d • $60,000 - $80,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Product Specialist (PS) drives the quoting, commercialization, and product management processes of Ascentek’s Product Management team. The role maintains knowledge of applicable economic, market, and product trends within assigned segments to support new product development, pricing reviews, and other business needs. The Product Specialist also supports enterprise-level projects.

Ascentek produces lubricants and fluids for customers in powersports, outdoor power equipment, industrial, marine, heavy equipment engine manufacturing, automotive, fleet, and manufacturing-use markets. Product Management oversees the product, price, place, and promotion of lubricants, fluids, hard parts, and services.

The position is full-time, salaried, Monday through Friday, in a hybrid office/remote environment. It requires a minimum of three days per week in the office or at customer locations and travel of up to 5% of the time. The anticipated hiring range is $60,000–$80,000 annually.

Requirements

• Four-year degree focused in marketing, product management, or a related field.
• 0–3+ years of related job experience.
• Ability to use a personal computer and proficiency in Microsoft Office, including intermediate-level Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to work independently, demonstrate initiative, and lead without authority.
• High degree of self-accountability, punctuality, accuracy, and reliability.
• Ability to work effectively in ambiguous situations and develop and improve processes.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills for communicating within the organization, with customers, and with external business contacts.
• Comprehensive analytical skills.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to travel to customer and industry events; travel may be by air or automobile and is up to 5% of the time.
• Ability to occasionally lift or move up to 40 pounds.
• Sound reasoning and decision-making skills to analyze mathematical data, complex processes and procedures, and narratives.

Nice To Haves

• Emphasis or experience in project management.

Responsibilities

• Maintain knowledge of lubricants, fluids, equipment, hard parts, and/or services within assigned segments, which may include Automotive, Fleet, Heavy Duty/Agriculture, Outdoor Power Equipment, Industrial, Specialty, Chemicals, Environmental, Hard Parts, Powersports, and Marine.
• Support account- and segment-specific projects, such as new fluid development, product marketing, training, category management, and channel and competitive analysis.
• Build, own, update, and maintain the Finished Part Document (FPD) process in collaboration with cross-functional partners.
• Develop Bills of Materials (BOMs) and quotation forms for new business opportunities and product commercialization as part of the New Product Development (NPD) process.
• Partner with the Product Management Team, National/Regional Sales Teams, and others on product development and commercialization.
• Review and analyze SKU-level cost and price data to manage customer pricing and maintain or improve segment profitability.
• Submit New Item Setup (NIS) forms and Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) accurately to create and maintain product data.
• Manage slow-moving and obsolete inventory with Sales and Product Management, including runout plans and product disposal submissions.
• Work with internal departments, including Sales, Supply Chain, and Marketing, to manage product lifecycles and achieve business objectives.
• Maintain applicable Product Management Team files and file structures, including account dashboards and customer folders.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for selected core processes, such as new product commercialization and new item setup, and own their performance and continuous improvement.
• Support enterprise-level projects and initiatives, including those not directly tied to Product Management operations.
• Travel to customer and industry events by air or ground transportation, up to 5% of the time.
• Perform other duties as requested.

Benefits

• Medical plan options, including fertility coverage and free mental health and telehealth coverage
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• FSA/HSA options
• Paid parental leave
• Company-provided short-term disability insurance
• Company-provided long-term disability insurance
• Company-provided life insurance
• Supplemental insurance, including accident, critical illness, hospital, and supplemental life insurance
• 401(k) with a generous company match
• Pet insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• 21 paid days off
• 7 paid holidays
• Short-term Incentive Plan (STIP)
• Paid comprehensive on-the-job training
• Company-provided phone
• Company-provided computer
• Career advancement opportunities
• Casual dress environment

What This Job Offers

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