Product Line Manager

AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable, connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and today, we manufacture thousands of products, generate an excess of $4 billion in revenue, and employ approximately 12,000 associates worldwide. At AFL, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We hire and train each individual, investing in them to ensure success in their careers. With a commitment to professional development and growth, let us connect you to your next career opportunity.

What We Offer:

• A hybrid in office schedule for qualifying employees
• Flexible time off policy
• 401K Company match (up to 4% - dollar for dollar)
• Professional development, training, and tuition reimbursement programs
• Excellent medical, dental, vision, and life insurance policy options
• Opportunities for career advancement with an industry leading company!

Job Summary

The Senior Product Line Manager (PLM) - Substation is a seasoned, strategic leader responsible for delivering product and market intelligence and leading AFL's fiber optic substation product portfolio to increase market share, driving innovation, aligning offerings with customer and Energy-market needs, and maximizing profitability. The Senior PLM defines product, pricing, promotion, positioning, and lifecycle strategies; leads cross-functional commercialization efforts; and may manage other PLMs or Associate PLMs.

Key Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Innovation

• Establish the long-term vision and execute the product strategy for assigned fiber optic substation product ranges.
• Serve as the champion for communicating product-line vision and strategy to relevant participants and stakeholders.
• Conduct market research and customer analysis to identify trends, opportunities, target segments, and product enhancements.
• Develop product roadmaps aligned with AFL strategic goals and customer priorities, including key targets such as front of the meter (FTM), behind the meter (BTM), and 765kV builds.

Portfolio & Lifecycle Management

• Manage designated product ranges across the full lifecycle - from detailed planning and concept through commercialization and retirement - to maximize overall return and profitability.
• Evaluate product performance, market potential, competitive positioning, and investment priorities.
• Lead commercial input to product development, including market requirements, target customers, product models, structures, offerings, and new product introduction (NPI) processes.
• Ensure compliance with quality systems, regulatory requirements, and commercial change processes.

Pricing & Profitability

• Determine product pricing using market research, production and sales costs, anticipated volume, and special or customized order requirements.
• Manage list pricing and customer/project-level discounting to balance growth, capacity utilization, competitiveness, margin, and product-line profitability.
• Monitor cost structures and pricing trends to drive profitability and cost optimization.
• Own performance of new product introductions, including accountability for post-launch project financial performance.

Customer, Market & Competitive Intelligence

• Partner with Sales and Marketing to gather customer feedback and translate insights into actionable product requirements.
• Conduct segmentation analysis to refine product positioning and go-to-market strategies.
• Monitor competitor offerings and market dynamics to identify threats and opportunities and recommend product differentiation strategies.

Go-to-Market & Sales Enablement

• Define product positioning, pricing models, sales tools, training, content, processes, and practices needed to support sales throughout the buyer's journey.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, partners, and other key stakeholders to support successful launches, increase adoption, revenue growth, sales results, and productivity.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership

• Work closely with Engineering, Sales, Customer Success, Operations, Marketing, Customer Support, and sister business units to ensure seamless product development, delivery, and support.
• Foster alignment across departments and within a matrixed/global environment to achieve shared business objectives.
• When assigned, lead a team and be responsible for goals, performance evaluation, development, and personnel decisions.

Quality

• Establish a commitment to quality and communicate the importance of meeting statutory, regulatory, and customer requirements.
• Ensure the quality policy is understood, implemented, and maintained at all applicable levels of the organization.
• Establish and communicate measurable quality objectives consistent with the quality policy.

Personal Qualities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical, strategic-thinking, and process skills.
• Ability to work effectively in teams and build collaborative relationships.
• Results-driven mindset with the ability to thrive in a matrixed and global environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Marketing, Business, Science, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in product management, product marketing, product development, applications engineering, or a related field.
• Strong project management skills.
• Product management/marketing expertise, including market trends and analysis, NPI processes, product roadmap development, and product lifecycle management.
• Experience working effectively within a matrix environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA preferred.
• Experience in the electric utility, substation, transmission and distribution (T&D), or power infrastructure sectors.
• Optical networking or telecommunications product/industry/technical acumen.
• Proven success managing product roadmaps, NPI processes, and lifecycle strategies.
• Experience working in a global environment.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid/office environment.
• Willingness to travel up to 25-30%.
• Ability to work extended hours as needed to accommodate global operations.