Product Strategist

NORTHWEST ENERGY EFFICIENCY ALLIANCE INC • Portland, OR

5d • $110,000 - $135,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Product Strategist is responsible for defining and advancing a coordinated market strategy to transform Consumer Products product group by sustainably embedding more efficient products or practices within key markets. This role establishes a long-term vision for market transformation, including strategic goals, programs, and pathways to achieve both near- and long-term business results. The position leads and coordinates market engagement efforts, building and maintaining strategic partnerships across the supply chain, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and trade allies. The Product Strategist also identifies and develops market channels and supporting infrastructure, leveraging common relationships and market dynamics across multiple product groups. In close collaboration with cross-functional teams—including product management, program management, account management, market analytics, evaluation, and codes and standards—the role provides thought leadership and ensures effective operationalization of market transformation strategies both within NEEA and externally. This position requires a high level of interpersonal and influential leadership skills as well as interpersonal flexibility and versatility to work independently but also collaborate pro-actively within a matrixed team organization. This position is based in the Portland, OR metro area, with a hybrid work location. We are looking for candidates who can meet the requirement of working at least 2 days per week onsite at NEEA’s office location. Finalists must have eligibility to work in the US as NEEA is not able to provide VISA sponsorship or have remote work outside of the US.

Requirements

• BA or BS degree in Marketing, Business, Economics, Engineering or related field required.
• 10+ years of experience with increasing responsibility in strategic management and product development for broad strategic markets, including market assessment, forecasting, risk assessment and understanding of market transformation discipline.
• Familiarity and experience working with emerging technology, innovation, strategic marketing/planning and/or product development/commercialization/management, specifically identifying and developing strategies to advance new products or practices into the market in coordinated strategic fashion.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the product planning process, product life cycle planning, and driving cross-functional teams from strategic ideation to execution.
• Experience developing, implementing and managing business partnerships/corporate engagement strategies, preferably with experience working with the supply chains of manufacturers, retailers, distributors and/or trade allies.
• Specific knowledge and experience in the consumer products, consumer electronics, appliances and adjacent or supporting industries.
• Experience working in cross-functional and matrixed teams with ability to lead, influence and sell a vision and strategy without formal authority.
• Demonstrated experience in managing financial plans and budgets, and in the selection and management of contractors.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing strategic plans, with strong systems thinking and the ability to connect market insights, strategy, and execution.
• Skilled at analyzing and solving complex problems, identifying research needs, synthesizing diverse information, and translating findings into practical strategies and decisions.
• Exceptional communicator and facilitator who can make complex topics clear and compelling, adapt communication to different audiences, and diplomatically navigate sensitive or divergent stakeholder perspectives.
• An equivalent combination of education, experience and training that would provide the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the successful performance of the essential job duties will also be considered.

Responsibilities

• Define and advance a coordinated market strategy for one or more strategic product groups.
• Champion the strategy and facilitate internal cross functional alignment on product group strategy and priorities.
• Incorporate change management best practices to identify successes or gaps, and make corrections when strategies are not producing desired outcomes.
• Partner with cross-functional staff to operationalize the strategy as it pertains to program implementation, product roadmaps, infrastructure development and integration, scanning for emerging technology, market research, marketing strategies or other internal activities.
• Lead concept advancement of new opportunities into the portfolio.
• Mentor junior staff assigned to the Market Transformation Manager’s product group(s).
• Coordinate product group team in identifying, prioritizing, and following through on the development of strategic partnerships with industry and supply chain partners (e.g. manufacturers, distributors, retailers and trade allies).
• In coordination with product management and Strategic Opportunities team, identify and develop market transformation opportunities outside of NEEA's current product groups.
• Support strategy development for cross-cutting infrastructure, such as data platforms and market resources that support the long-term product group and portfolio strategy.
• Partners with Portfolio Management Team on resource needs (budget and staffing) and tradeoffs to support product group market strategy and related programs and to inform resource allocation decisions.
• Lead, in close partnership with cross-functional contributors, the development of market transformation theory, logic model, and diffusion theory for programs throughout the initiative life cycle within assigned product group(s).
• Engage in the development of market progress indicators, strategic interventions, and other key program activities, keeping the market transformation vision central.
• Contribute to the development of NEEA strategic partnerships and opportunities, including defining the partnership strategy, vision, goals, value propositions, and priorities.
• Perform other duties which may be necessary or desirable to support the organization’s success.
• Provide leadership and strategic direction for other internal team members.
• Supervising and managing contractors.

Benefits

• 90% of medical/dental premiums paid by NEEA, including for dependents
• Employer funded Health Savings Account
• 136 hours of PTO/year
• Automatic 6% retirement contribution with an additional 2% matching
• Flexible work environment, including hybrid work location and 9/80 schedule options
• Professional development opportunities

What This Job Offers

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