Product Line Leader, Life‑Safety Detection & Suppression

Work model: Hybrid — based in Ashland, MA

About KiddeFenwal

Join a global innovator in fire detection, alarm, and suppression solutions. At KiddeFenwal, we safeguard people, property, and essential operations worldwide through engineered systems and a culture grounded in integrity, collaboration, innovation, and customer focus.

About the role

Reporting to the Product Management Director, you will guide the strategy and execution of a global detection–alarm–control portfolio within our Detection & Control team. You’ll convert customer needs into product direction, align cross‑functional stakeholders, and deliver offerings that save lives and sustain business continuity.

A day in the life

• Start with a pulse check on product KPIs and margin health, then align priorities with engineering in a stand‑up focused on NPD, sustaining, and value‑engineering workstreams.
• Host a Voice of Customer session, transforming insights into clear, testable requirements for upcoming releases.
• Partner with the Market & Pricing Analyst to tune pricing strategy, update models, and evaluate elasticity scenarios.
• Draft value propositions and positioning, then review collateral, white papers, and technical documentation with Marketing Communications.
• Deliver product training to internal sales and applications teams and prepare for a customer visit or trade show appearance.
• Close the day by refining the roadmap and communicating forecast updates based on market signals and code/standards changes (NFPA, UL, FM, ISO, EN).

Where you’ll make an impact

Market Intelligence & Strategy

• Be the authority on customers, competitors, and trends in fire detection and suppression controls.
• Spot emerging opportunities and risks; translate insights into strategic recommendations for leadership.
• Shape and evolve the portfolio strategy in partnership with the Product Management Director, Chief Product Officer, and cross‑functional leaders.

Product Development & Lifecycle

• Lead NPD from concept through launch while overseeing sustaining and value‑engineering initiatives.
• Turn VoC inputs into requirements, business cases, pricing models, and go‑forward plans.
• Own lifecycle outcomes—performance, profitability, and long‑term margin integrity—from introduction to sunset.

Go‑to‑Market & Sales Enablement

• Define positioning and differentiated value propositions.
• Co‑create collateral, sales tools, white papers, and technical documentation with Marketing Communications.
• Deliver product training for internal and external audiences and support commercial, technical, and applications teams.

Business Performance & Forecasting

• Monitor product line performance and drive targeted improvements.
• Align pricing strategy and updates with the Market & Pricing Analyst.
• Own volume forecasts and communicate shifts informed by trends and market events.

Cross‑Functional & External Engagement

• Represent KiddeFenwal at trade shows, customer visits, and internal sales meetings.
• Build strong partnerships with engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, and key external stakeholders.
• Stay current with global codes and standards (NFPA, UL, FM, ISO, EN, etc.).

What you’ll bring

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field
• Proven commercial and financial acumen
• Deep knowledge of codes and standards for Fire Detection and Suppression Systems
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Ability to travel up to 25%, including internationally

Preferred

• MBA or related business qualification
• Product management certifications
• Experience in the fire protection industry (fire alarm or specialty detection systems)
• Multilingual abilities

Core competencies

• Strategic thinking and market insight
• Product management and organizational excellence
• Cross‑functional leadership and collaboration
• Growth mindset and self‑motivation
• Problem‑solving in complex technical and commercial settings

Domain proficiency

• Business‑to‑Business (B2B)
• Commercial building systems
• Critical infrastructure
• Fire detection
• Fire suppression
• Industrial safety markets
• Product management
• New Product Development (NPD)