BUSINESS UNIT PRODUCT MANAGER

BUSINESS UNIT PRODUCT MANAGER 

Carnegie, PA

EXP 2-5 yrs

DEG Bach

RELO

BONUS

Travel

Job Description

 We are a subsidiary of the Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation (AP), is a fully integrated roll manufacturer and recognized as one of the world’s leading producers of forged hardened steel, cast iron, and cast steel rolls. Headquartered in Carnegie, PA, UES is one of the largest producers of rolls for the ferrous and non-ferrous rolling industries in the world, with a total capacity exceeding 60,000 tons annually.

As the Business Unit Product Manager you will execute tactics and strategic marketing activities for us. Responsible for assisting the Executive Leadership Team in developing and coordinating the implementation of annual short-and long term marketing strategies, consistent with the strategic and financial objectives of our business. Responsible for planning and managing the company’s short-and long-range marketing programs. Leads new product strategy and schedules, including competitive analysis, portfolio management, price/value proposition, market intelligence coordination and voice of the customer initiatives. Also responsible for developing marketing plans and programs in support of group profit objectives to include sales forecasts, customer marketing programs, pricing, and product line development plans.

The Business Unit Product Manager operates as the group’s recognized authority on all marketing matters related to us, Coordinates and works closely with all headquarters departments, including Sales, R&D/Product Development, Manufacturing, and Accounting.  

HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE – SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

•Provide senior management with information and recommendations on the most profitable strategies for the business via annual marketing plan presentations and longer-term business plans.

•Manage all products developing strategies for development, introduction, continuing contribution, and discontinuance, while maximizing their profitable existence and synergies with all products in the portfolio.

•Align portfolio priorities with sales initiatives to maximize net sales and mix profitability. Work in close contact with Executive Leadership and Sales to develop promotional plans, advertising campaigns, catalogs, brochures, displays, exhibits, support materials, and publicity programs as relates to the product portfolio.

•Drive pricing strategy across the portfolio and manage pricing. Manage product prices, terms of sale and discounts recognizing our objectives and our competition.

•Lead new product strategy and schedules to guide new product development efforts for each product line, including the development of product roadmaps for major categories. Shared responsibility for coordinating the new product development process across all functional areas. 

•Lead consumer and customer research for product development. Monitor current, and anticipate future, consumer and customer needs and preferences, working closely with Sales and R&D. 

•Define white space for advanced development and new category expansion.

•Provide market demand projections to guide the preparation of forecasts.  

•Work with R&D and Operations to ensure needed product supply at the lowest possible product cost while maintaining quality standards.

•Closely monitor and steer all Product Development and Manufacturing activities concerned with new product development and product maintenance activities related to products.

•Develop reports for new product introduction.

•Develop a personal expertise on assigned product markets including a complete intelligence file on competitors’ products, pricing, field activity, customer service channels of market distribution and end user preferences.  

•Provide R&D with market preference and trends on products considered for development or redesign.

•Maintain high level of communications with Executive Leaders and Sales Team.

•Relate and recommend changes in established market distribution and strategy as necessitated by market and consumer preferences.

•Demonstrate appropriate level of competency in the following areas: Driving Continuous Improvement, Leading through Influence, Setting High Standards of Performance, Leadership, Teamwork, Communication, Business Acumen, and Focus on the End Customer.

RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTACTS:

 •Reports to Executive VP, UESC.

Organization Relationships:

•Regular communication with President/CEO, UESC regarding business, portfolio and pricing strategies.

•Daily contact with Sales, R&D, and Manufacturing regarding the development of new products and changes to existing products.

•Daily contact with members of the Executive Leadership Team and Sales Team, in order to fully support the marketing plan.

•Moderately frequent contact with the VP Finance and Controller regarding product line performance, new product financials, analysis and tracking.

•Periodic contact with our Legal Department.

•Periodic contact with Sales Engineers and key accounts regarding product training, competitive activity, and pricing. 

External Business Relationships:

•Conducts 3-4 field visits per year. Meets with Sales Engineers and key customers to seek competitive information, and customer opportunities. 

SCREENING QUESTIONS

Bachelor's degree in Marketing or related?

MBA/MS?

5-10 years prior experience in Sales, Marketing, Channel Management, and/or Product Development with progressively more responsibility and a track record of results?

Cross-functional experiences?

IDEAL CANDIDATE

Marketing/Product/Brand professional with broad experience, positive attitude and willingness to learn our business. someone who wants to be involved in both strategy and tactical aspects, at a small company with no real, focused marketing programs, working cross-functionally, leading through influence, requiring limited supervision while recognizing the need to keep people apprised of key actions.

IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD HAVE WORKED FOR THE FOLLOWING COMPANY(IES): 

Diversified industrials (e.g. Eaton, Honeywell, GE)