Senior Product Manager

Job Description:

Senior Product Manager – Warewash Division – Troy, OH

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) is a Fortune 200 company that produces diversified products in global markets.  Some of its products include welding equipment, automotive components, construction materials and commercial food equipment.  The Food Equipment Group is one of seven ITW decentralized business segments.  The Warewash Division is seeking a SeniorProduct Manager (in office) at its Troy, Ohio facility, located 20 minutes north of the Dayton metropolitan area.

The Warewash Business Division produces Hobart, Stero and Somat branded commercial dishwashers, waste equipment and disposers used in hotels, retail, restaurants, cruise ships, schools, universities, and other environments.  We are the industry leader and seeking to expand our growth in existing served markets as well as new markets.  We are in search of a SeniorProduct Manager to help support and grow the FEG Warewash business through market research, product development, go-to-market planning, demand generation, and sales and channel support for our commercial line of dishwashers.  This position champions the voice of the customer with engineering and product development teams and provides support to our sales development managers and field sales organization to maximize sales volume for the business unit’s products.

Summary:

The Senior Product Manager will identify new market opportunities, develop market strategies, manage the product portfolio, develop marketing plans for new and existing products, define product training requirements, and develop programs to ensure the field sales organization and dealer and consultant communities have accurate product knowledge and a clear sales narrative to drive success with the Hobart line.

We are seeking candidates with demonstrated success defining product and portfolio strategy, leading complex cross-functional initiatives, making strategic recommendations, and delivering measurable business results. Relevant experience includes market and competitive analysis, strategic leadership, product development and lifecycle management, major product launches, go-to-market planning, and sales and service enablement.

What you will do:

Product Development & Management

• Own and define the mid-to-long-term strategy, product vision, and roadmap for a major product line and contribute to strategic direction across the Warewash portfolio.
• Lead ongoing discovery of new product and business opportunities through competitor and market analysis and primary and secondary customer research using ITW’s Market-Segment-Focus approach.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to translate market segment insights, customer needs, competitive dynamics, and financial considerations into product specifications, business cases, value propositions, and product roadmaps for the U.S. commercial dishwashing market.
• Lead cross-functional New Product Development teams ensuring alignment with North American commercial dishwashing customer needs and pain points through clear product specifications, business plans and product launches for each product line.

Support for Business Development & Product Line Growth

• Drive organic revenue growth and market share expansion goals through commercialization, demand generation, strategic product positioning, customer engagement, and sales enablement activities.
• Develop and execute go-to-market and commercial launch plans for new product launches ensuring alignment across sales, service, operations, channel partners, and marketing.
• Provide customized marketing, product specification, research, and other direct support to sales teams for key account opportunities.
• Develop and deliver product sales training and support to field teams, dealers, consultants, and service partners through product presentations, product marketing collateral and in-the-field training.
• Provide continuous updates to competitive and market intelligence and customer trends that affect success in targeted accounts and segments.
• Define and communicate the product vision and value proposition for assigned product lines, leveraging customer insights, competitive intelligence, market trends, and product performance data to align stakeholders around growth opportunities and guide strategic decision-making.

Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and project management for sales, marketing, engineering, and other functions for effective product development and product launches.
• Spend time in key segments and channels with team members and customers to understand market needs and provide training on Hobart WW products and sales narratives.
• Mentor and coach Product Managers and cross-functional team members, strengthening product-management practices, strategic thinking, and execution discipline.

What we are looking for:

• Advanced knowledge of product marketing concepts and strategies
• Demonstrated ability to own product or portfolio strategy, establish a mid-to-long-term roadmap, and connect priorities to revenue, profitability, market-share, and customer-value outcomes
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex market, customer, and business data to identify trends, develop strategic recommendations, and drive business decisions
• Extensive experience interacting with and presenting to customers and a variety of business stakeholders
• Proven expertise in leading primary and secondary market research initiatives and translating customer, market, and competitive insights into product vision, product and portfolio strategies, product roadmaps, and technical requirements
• Proven success leading complex cross-functional initiatives through influence and aligning senior or executive stakeholders around product and portfolio choices
• Experience mentoring or coaching Product Managers or other cross-functional professionals
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal communications as well as effective presentation skills
• Proficiency in MS Office applications
• Ability to travel 10% - 15%

Education and experience:

Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 7+ years of experience in a relevant role with demonstrated results
• 2 or more significant product launch cycles
• Proven experience utilizing engineering stage-gate and new product development processes to successfully lead products from concept development through launch and lifecycle management

Preferred:

• Preference for a degree majoring in Marketing, Business, or Engineering
• Commercial kitchen equipment knowledge
• 2+ years of food service industry experience

Take this opportunity to join a successful and enthusiastic global team where we value the inclusion of diverse team members.  You will enjoy a competitive salary and generous benefits that includes health, dental, life and STD/LTD insurance, 401k (with match), and an education tuition reimbursement program. 

ITW is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Compensation Information:

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ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential. 

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.