Product Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Benefits :

401(k)

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

This position is on-site in Bossier City, LA.

NOTE : This is not an IT position.

Position Summary

The Product Manager will provide overall management direction of one or more product offerings to meet the needs of our customers, including identifying gaps in product offerings at all stages and innovative solutions to fill them. The role requires a direct understanding of design and manufacturing processes, and industry standards required to establish complete product development, marketing, manufacturing, and sales strategies. The Product Manager is responsible for each product offering from cradle to grave, including the processing of orders.

Objectives

• Drive the product and business planning processes for cross-functional teams
• Analyze customer needs, current market trends and potential partnerships from an ROI (Return on Investment) perspective, always seeking continuous improvement
• Assess current competitor offerings and seek opportunities for creating advantages
• Analyze product requirements and develop appropriate programs to ensure theyre met
• Develop, implement and maintain production timelines across multiple departments
• Appraise new product ideas and strategize appropriate go-to-market plans
• Lead the Product Team to ensure maximum performance, by providing purpose, direction and motivation
• Lead the Product Team to develop product requirement definitions through deployment, identifying schedules, scopes, budget estimations and implementation plans, including risk mitigation.
• Coordinate internal and external resources to ensure that meet quality standards, schedules and budgets are met or improved upon
• Analyze product and / or project status and, when necessary, revise the scope, schedule or budget to ensure that product and / or project requirements can be met.
• Establish and maintain relationships with relevant stakeholders, providing day-to-day contact on project status and changes.

Responsibilities

• Drive the execution of all processes in the product lifecycle, including product and market research, competitor analysis, planning, positioning, requirements, and roadmap development, and product launch
• Translate product strategy into detailed requirements for prototyping and final development by engineering teams
• Create product strategy documents that describe business cases, high-level use cases, technical requirements, revenue and ROI
• Analyze market data to develop sales strategies and define product objectives for effective marketing communications
• Collaborate closely with engineering, production, marketing and sales teams in the development, quality expectations, release of products and balance resources to ensure success for the entire organization
• Develop product positioning and messaging that differentiates Gordon, Inc. across primary market segments
• Establish and maintain processes for managing scope during the product lifecycle, setting quality and performance standards and assessing risks
• Assign and monitor resources to ensure product efficiency and maximize deliverables.
• Report product outcomes and / or risks to the appropriate management channels and escalate issues, as necessary, according to project work plan
• Provide technical support for the Independent Manufacturers Representatives in their role and responsibilities to attain preferential and proprietary specifications for Gordon products
• Work in concert with the Division Sales Managers, Engineers and the respective Business Units to provide Architectural and design support for our customers, Manufacturers Reps, as well as providing specifications for Architects
• Provides Technical Sales Service for Independent Reps and all other Customers. Is the focal point of contact for Customer Assistance in the areas of the Product Group(s) assigned
• Works with Architects to design and specify Gordon, Inc. products into the scope of their work
• Sales Order Entry from receipt of the order through the process of establishing a schedule for shipment that is acceptable to the Customer.
• The use of M1 (Our Fully Integrated ERP System) and compliance to established and required procedures
• Reviews reports of Scheduled and Not-Scheduled Sales Orders to ensure that no un-warranted delays are present in the process, and that Lead times are being achieved in all areas throughout the order entry process
• Works closely with the Production Planning Manager to stay abreast of the completion schedule of all jobs in the Schedule
• Ensures that timely and accurate information is related to the customer relative to the delivery of their orders(s)
• Responsible for Bids and the Quoting Process, as well as leads in the Review and recommendation for large quotations. Ensures that quotations reflect the production and process capabilities of Gordon.
• Identifies specific job and project requirements for which established process capabilities do not currently exist, and recommends Product Development initiatives and testing
• Follows-up on Bids and Quotations and documents issues learned, providing feedback and constructive implementation of marketing feedback
• Ensures that all procedures are followed, with precision, and that short cuts that are intended to save minutes do not result in creating non-value added work downstream, lends itself to possible confusion, or result in an ambiguous specification and expectation for whatever process is required to satisfy the needs of the customer

Other functional requirements include :

Return Authorization procedure

• Credits procedure
• Internal Debit Procedure
• Sales Order Cancellation Procedure
• Generates Absorb Freight documentation
• Coordination with Purchasing on Custom color matches
• Order Expediting with the Planning & Scheduling Teams
• Seeks Technical solutions to Customer problems in concert with Engineering
• Systematic Follow-up with the Customer for Approvals
• Submittal Drawings
• Advance Purchase of Raw Materials
• Calculates take-offs for customers
• Reviews Purchase Order scope vs. Estimate scope
• Maintains a two-year calendar and sales projection update
• Maintenance of information and procedures on Gordon Intranet
• Anticipates and timely communicates deviations from a product / project plan or schedule and keeps all participants and stakeholders informed
• Analyzes, identifies, logs, and manages potential and known actual risk issues, takes corrective action by tackling day-to-day issues head-on
• Forecasts how more serious project setbacks and issues of risks might impact project scope, schedule, quality, and cost
• Responsible for bringing the project to a close, which may include creating an end-of-project report or evaluation document, holding project completion meetings and activities, and capturing and using relevant lessons learned
• Manage customer relationships, working collaboratively with both internal and external stakeholders while navigating complex design challenges, developing creative technical solutions to meet project goals
• Communicating effectively with internal and external project stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle to deliver successful projects and promote repeat business.
• Responsible for direct customer communication, including management of schedules and key milestones / deliverables
• Analysis of complex project criteria (design intent, budget, schedule, resource availability, etc.) and creation of effective, actionable plans to align these various criteria in real-time with achievable positive results
• Recommend and present innovative solutions and drive internal developments and improvements.
• Utilize architectural and manufacturing expertise to guide design development and oversight in collaboration with the production of shop drawings and supporting documentation
• Collaborate with the production team to ensure projects are manufactured on time and to exacting standards
• Measuring and monitoring project performance using appropriate tools and techniques
• Proactively working to deliver projects on time, within budget, within scope and within spec.
• Expedite, review, and provide Quality Control on shop drawings and submittals
• Prepare, submit, obtain approval, verify, and track billings until payment is received
• Price and process change order proposals and coordinate with the Estimating Team when required
• Set up cost projections for all projects managed and update monthly
• Promote Gordon, Inc. and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors, general contractors, owners and architects

Education / Experience Qualifications

• 0 5 years of experience in Product Management
• 0 3 years of experience in Manufacturing
• Bachelors degree and / or working experience in Manufacturing, Architecture, Construction or related field.
• Leader, providing a team with direction and vision, including motivating people to perform, listening to people, providing feedback, recognizing strengths, and providing challenges
• Knowledge of financial acumen cash flow, cost projections, job cost, billings projections with oversight
• Basic knowledge of Gordon, Inc. products, services, processes, and order processing

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proficient in MS Office Suite
• Strong experience in a dynamic product management role
• Proven success in overseeing all elements of the product development lifecycle
• High effectiveness in managing cross-functional teams
• Experience in delivering finely tuned product marketing strategies
• Strong attention to deadlines and budgetary guidelines
• Proven success working with all levels of management
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent presentation skills
• Demonstrates commitment to deliver outstanding service both with internal and external stakeholders
• Takes ownership to personally resolve customer problems (or find someone who can)
• Listens well, asks clarifying questions, and checks for agreement with customers
• Committed to following up with customers in all instances in a timely manner
• Strong sense of accountability - ensures that you will do what you say that you are going to do
• Creates a personal connection with customers smiles, warm greetings, acts friendly and respectful
• Positive attitude
• Responsible for the overall outcome of the project
• Actively identifies risk and escalates as needed
• Understands project plans and specifications
• Able to read and interpret product / project drawings and specifications
• Independently performs most assignments with instruction
• Works autonomously at times
• Receives guidance for unusual or complex problems and supervisor approval for changes in standards
• Engages and promotes company culture
• Open to feedback and flexible to change
• Assist in the development / mentoring of Product Specialist and Administrative Assistant roles

Other Duties

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.