Product Manager

Company / Location Information

A.O. Smith is a global leader applying innovative technologies and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products for residential and light commercial applications. A. O. Smith is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with approximately 12,000 employees at operations in the United States, Canada, China, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Primary Function

The Product Manager is responsible for the product planning and execution for assigned products throughout the lifecycle, including: gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements, defining the product vision, and working closely with engineering, sales, marketing and support to ensure revenue and customer satisfaction goals are met.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned product life cycle from concept through development, introduction, cost optimization and obsolescence.
• Conduct market research by ongoing visits to retail and wholesale customers, sales groups, job sites, contractors, service agents and trade shows
• Drive specifications and solutions across cross-functional development teams through to implementation.
• Conduct competitive studies to identify product strengths and weaknesses
• Innovator
• Extend core product lines and increase profitability
• Identify and terminate products that are no longer needed
• Develop new products
• Identify the need for and conduct research to determine future products or services
• Business Partner
• Educate Marketing Communications/outside agencies and serve as SME in development of the go-to-market strategy
• Work within Product Engineering’s Stage Gate process and develop Multi-Generational Product Plans (MGPPs) for their products 
• With Finance, develop business plan/case for products including sales forecasts, target pricing, and cost targets
• Help profitably grow market share by providing Sales with extensive product information, competitive information and appropriate training
• Keep Customer Service up-to-date on new products and requirements affecting the order entry process
• Provide Distribution with relevant information to move products through our system efficiently and in good condition
• Ensure service training and support materials are developed, available, and distributed to the Service group at time of launch; gather information on products in the field that can be used for improvements or to identify quality concerns before they become major issues
• Collaborate with Procurement on new component options, volume forecasts and cost reduction opportunities
• Other responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in business or a related field
• 3+ years of related experience

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior experience in plumbing, HVAC, or a related field, in retail and/or wholesale channels
• Core competencies include analytical ability & problem solving, strong verbal & written communication, technical aptitude, portfolio management, and working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Successful track record of adding profitability to a product line using data and consumer insights
• Strong interpersonal skills and decision-making ability
• Effective and professional communication and organization skills.
• Superior negotiation skills
   

Education

We Offer

Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.

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ADA Statement & EEO Statement

In developing this job description care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. However, for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local law.