Strategic Product Manager

Great Plains Mfg•Salina, KS

18h•Onsite

About The Position

Great Plains Manufacturing is seeking a dynamic Product Strategy Manager to join our team to lead all Product Management efforts to plan, organize, and control specific Hay & Livestock product lines from conceptual stages through product life cycles to optimize profit and meet marketing, financial, and corporate growth objectives. Discover new market problems for assign product segments. Define market and business requirements in collaboration with engineering and the appropriate department leaders. Support product development through collaboration sessions to ensure specification alignment to market needs. Lead the deployment of solutions through definition of the Go-to-Market strategy message, value proposition, and competition positioning. Drive all aspects of assigned product line from cradle to grave by gathering and maintaining competitive product information, and studying industry trends through the Kubota new product introduction process known as Kakuka. This position is based in Salina, KS. Some domestic and international travel is required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
5 to 7 years prior experience leading product management principles for an off-highway equipment OEM or supplier, haytools equipment knowledge preferred
Proficient in MS Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.
Available to travel up to 30%, including some international travel

Nice To Haves

Experience with professionally led sales training in Product Management

Responsibilities

Identify business potential of all relevant global market solution.
Identify and evaluate new opportunities at existing customers as well as prospects. This includes product compatibility, risk assessment and market trends.
Identify market potential of uncovered segments and customer groups.
Identify and monitor segment trends with strong focus on North American
Setting clear strategic priorities for future product ranges.
Develop product strategies in close cooperation with factory-based product managers.
Create business cases for new potential opportunities with focus on business potential and profitability.
Drive business case and concept through the Kakuka process and management New Product Councils.
Define detailed list of requirements
Define detailed list of requirements for product development projects targeting the North American market.
Establish requirement specifications on behalf of our customers as well as value proposition towards customers.
Define requirements for localization of existing product offering to suit North American product specifications
Customer insights
Asses and understand customers’ needs, industry requirements and unique selling points relevant for the customer group.
Initiate voice of customer analysis and user studies for current and potential new customer segments.
Conduct detailed voice of customer and associated analysis for needs and opportunities.
Define target groups and customer personas.
Analyze and define application usage of customer segments.
Competitive Landscape
Conduct and coordinate competitor analysis of competitors in North American and support activities in other regions.
Product benchmark analysis – theoretical and in-field benchmark sessions.
Price positioning.
Competitor monitoring in terms of product, price, and positioning.
Identify market landscape
Define segment sizes, values, and trends.
Share of market analysis for critical market players.
Process and structure macro market data.
Identify market potential and share of market targets.
Support with successful market introduction
Training, support and knowledge sharing with the GPM sales and marketing teams and those of KTC and KCL.
Support with preparing product introduction package linked to training concept, marketing package and start-up of first series machines.
R&D support
Support the North American R&D team with commercial product field trials and application verification.
Support and attend technical customer meetings between GPM and KTC/KCL.
Evaluation of field performance and reporting back to GPM management team.
Support project managers and specification adherence through the Kakuka process.
Marketing and Messaging Coordination
Ensure a consistent value-proposition and commercial positioning message is define for each product managed.
Gauge and monitor effectiveness of messaging with dealers and sales teams.
Evaluate new go-to-market strategies to effectively position product to win.
Other duties may be assigned that require other qualifications, physical demands, and/or work environment.