Product Manager

Product Manager

Omaha, NE

$75-100K plus bonus

Our Omaha, NE manufacturing client is looking to hire a Product Manager. The Product Manager (PM) will work with cross-functional teams to introduce new and enhanced products. The PM will handle new product projects from conception to launch plan and will work with engineering and the product management team to define product release requirements. The PM will spend time in the market to understand its problems and define product needs for the broader market. The PM will work with marketing communications to define the go-to-market strategy, product positioning, key benefits, and target customers. The PM will serves as primary champion for new products and owns the tactical management and activities associated with new product launches.

Key Qualifications & Requirements:

• Increase profit generated from product lines by adding revenue streams from new products.
• Understand the applicable markets for products so that product design, performance characteristics, and cost/price are appropriate for target customers.
• Fully understand our competitors’ products including those considered to be acceptable substitutes.
• Work closely with marketing communications on product catalog, flyer, and brochure updates and creation.
• Work with the marketing and Market Development Managers on sales literature, advertising, direct mail, trade shows, and other types of marketing promotions.
• Interact with the other Global Centers of Excellence on product management activities
• Support pursuit of customer accounts or projects that are of special importance.
• Provide technical sales assistance by working closely with inside sales, customers, and coordinating with engineering and other COE departments.
• Thoroughly understand key markets and applications for products. Identify and track trends and threats related to products.
• Own product training materials for products and conduct product training for inside sales and field sales personnel when needed.
• Manage list pricing and work with engineering to support standardization of material descriptions in SAP, quoting tools, and online ordering tools.
• Gather and prioritize information about our customers’ unmet product needs within selected market segments leading to profitable new and enhanced products. This will be done through market research and customer interview techniques, such as those described in the Pragmatic Marketing program.
• Gather information about our competitors’ offering so we can correctly position our products in the market.
• Deliver Marketing Requirements and Product Requirements Documents that frame the “customer problem” terms of what the new product initiative or product improvements should accomplish.
• Create the product playbook that defines the product vision, product strategy, and the roadmap of planned product additions, upgrades, and planned product obsolescence.
• Develop the core positioning and messaging for the final product to guide promotion, marketing, and direct selling efforts to include literature development, sales guides, products samples, online information and tools, etc.
• Work with our production staff and/or third party suppliers (including other CoEs) as required to manage and implement product launch according to the established schedule. Manage product implementation projects, creating needed schedules and timelines, following up on progress, resolving roadblocks, etc.

Responsibilities:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or Marketing; or equivalent business experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Presentation and customer interaction skills.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
• Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. Understanding of Time Value of Money concepts and ability to determine Net Present Value (NPV) using MS Excel a plus.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.