Director, Product Management

General Summary:

Directs a comprehensive product strategy from product conception and definition through end of life. Functions as a central resource with design, process, manufacturing, quality, test, marketing, and distribution as the product(s) and/or product line(s) move through their lifecycle. Formulates and executes long-term roadmaps for cost/profit control. Promotes use of new technologies and industry-leading trends. Directs those involved in the design, modification, and evaluation of all phases of a specific product or group of products. Involvement lasts throughout all stages of a product’s lifecycle including modifications, upgrades, and maintenance of the product or product line.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, Humanities, or related field.
• 8+ years of Product Management or related work experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 15+ years of Product Management or related work experience.
• 4+ years of working in a large matrixed organization.
• 2+ years of working with operating budgets and/or project financials.
• 2+ years of negotiating 3rd party business agreements.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Reviews identified gaps in market based on complex analyses of overall ecosystem demands and makes portfolio decisions on how these gaps impact product roadmaps.
• Validates business cases based on a thorough understanding of internal and external influences and assists in determining product development that advances the roadmap.
• Drives product line launch strategies for new products and technologies through technical marketing opportunities such as conferences, congresses, and direct customer contact and ensures successful product launch.
• Prepares and delivers highly complex and high-stakes technical presentations regarding product roadmaps that explain and demonstrate products to customers, and integrates customer feedback into project roadmaps.
• Monitors the market to validate product roadmaps and translates these into changes and adjustments for the roadmap.
• Oversees the development of multiple, complex products and ensures cross-functional communication of product development goals. Ensures products and roadmap are differentiated using input from customers, market, competitors, and technology advancements.
• Reviews development and definition activities for multiple new and emerging technology product portfolios including determination of cost and impact, and continually reviews ROI of specific products.
• Drives the development of long-term innovation strategies for products and drives IP strategies while maintaining the best interest of customers and alignment to the product roadmap.
• Communicates regularly with internal customers, third-party vendors, and senior management to establish needs and goals, and executes communication/change management plan for stakeholders, management, and executives.
• Oversees successful cross-functional collaboration by ensuring the completion of milestones by Engineering team and other internal partners (i.e., program management) ensuring the completed work aligns with roadmap for a product line(s).
• Collaborates with key stakeholders and program sponsors to develop product goals (e.g., performance, cost, timeline, customer schedules), discuss product feasibility, and facilitate cross-functional decision making for product lines.

Level of Responsibility:

• Working independently with no supervision.
• Making decisions that are significant in impact, influencing overall program or project success, finances, and/or the ability to meet objectives; errors are not readily apparent due to the complexity of work process/product or time between decisions and results; errors typically result in significant expenditure of time, resources, and funds to correct.
• Using verbal and written communication skills to convey complex and/or detailed information to multiple individuals/audiences with differing knowledge levels. Role may require strong negotiation and influence, communication to large groups or high-level constituents.
• Some financial accountability (e.g., manages a small budget, has input into P&L).
• Having a great degree of influence over key organizational decisions (e.g., is making or directly making key decisions that have substantial impact on the organization).
• Completing tasks that require multiple steps that can be performed in various orders; tasks require simultaneously executing multiple cognitive abilities and maintaining information in short- or long-term memory.
• Regularly determines what needs to be done and is involved with sharing innovative solutions to achieve broad policies and objectives.
• Using deductive and inductive problem solving; multiple approaches may be taken/necessary to solve the problem; often information is missing or conflicting; advanced data analysis and interpretation skills are required.
• Develops, redesigns organizational strategies and provides overall direction for various functional areas and/or entire organization. Has influence over the formulation and achievement of long-term business plans and objectives.