What are the responsibilities and job description for the Product Manager position at PGP International Inc?
Description
Summary/Objective
The product manager is responsible for turning new product development opportunities into commercialized products. This role enjoys converting new innovative ideas and requests from the market and successfully launching them.
In addition, the Product Manager will take a lead in product portfolio management and contribute to development of next capabilities.
This position works closely with colleagues in product development, sales and all operations to ensure activity is carried out in a coordinated manner and in alignment with company strategy.
The product manager will ensure that activities are subject to high quality process and communications between all stakeholders.
Responsibilities to include:
• Balance customers’ needs with profitability while achieving sustainable growth and profitability.
• Develop and execute regional business strategy.
• Create and maintaining tools and materials that enable the sales team to effectively represent PGP’s offering with customers.
• Provide business direction on project teams involving product pipeline and new customer projects.
• Recognize new business opportunities.
• Demonstrate leadership behavior and promote the company culture.
• Participate in strategy execution to define and strengthen product offerings.
• Monitor customer and competitor landscape.
• Development and secure production of relevant marketing material
• Provide business and technical support for sales managers while building strong and sustainable relationships with customers.
• Help guide and execute distributor strategy plan.
• Act as a liaison with marketing colleagues around the world.
• Ensure alignment between sales, quality and operations.
• Manage PGP’s global product line.
• Participate in developing new product launch plans.
• Develop knowledge of customers, profitability, and for the portfolio of products.
• Manage product life cycle of portfolio.
• Set, maintain, and communicate prices for portfolio.
Essential Functions
Manage the product development pipeline from idea inception through to commercial launch or project cancellation.
1. Proactively challenge the product portfolio, rationalizing and simplifying as appropriate.
2. Involve all parties across the organization in each product development project to improve quality of decision making and solutions achieved.
3. Ensure clear communications and engage with stakeholders on pipeline updates, KPI’s and information exchange in general
4. Custodian of the New Product Development (NPD) Project Process, utilizing good practice around each development opportunity, such as by use of Kepner Tregoe project management tools.
5. Employ intelligent design by linking product development requests with operational capabilities
6. Establish and maintain relationships with customers and vendors to help facilitate the timely completion of projects as required by the business
7. Manage the interaction and project portfolio of application development projects completed with 3rd party consultants.
8. Coordination and communication of market information and key trends data specific to the industries in which PGP is active, or potentially pursuing.
9. With the support of the ABFI Marketing Function, coordinate and develop product marketing literature and presentation material.
10. Actively contribute to strategy work on next generation capabilities or product groups as appropriate
11. Effective time management and prioritization skills for balancing multiple projects.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Competencies
1. Problem Solving/Analysis.
2. Communication Proficiency. (Excellent communication, planning, and data analysis skills are key attributes for this role)
3. Project Management.
4. Collaborative Work Style.
5. Technical/Operational Understanding.
6. Time Management.
7. Presentation Skills.
8. Ability to collaborate and build effective relationships in a global organization
9. Business acumen including knowledge of common business metrics .
10. Ability to travel up to 20%.
11. Additional degree or experience in supply chain management, or related field a plus.
12. Knowledge or experience analyzing consumer market data such as Euromonitor, Nielsen, and SPINS for insights.
Supervisory Responsibility
This position has no supervisory responsibilities.
Work Environment
This job operates mainly in a professional office environment and also with some time in a factory and laboratory settings. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time position, and hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.
Travel
Some domestic or international travel will be required.
Other Duties
Please note 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.
Requirements
Required Education and Experience
1. 3 to 5 years’ experience in Food or Ingredient Industry with some project management
2. Primary degree in food science or engineering
3. Track record of managing cross-functional change projects
Preferred Education and Experience
1. Bachelors and/or masters in food science, biology, chemistry, engineering, business or marketing
2. Product management or NPD experience in a similar or food ingredient environment
3. Marketing or project management experience
4. Strong presentation, verbal and communication skills
5. Should be very comfortable presenting work internally and externally to customers
6. Individual should have a strong interest in identifying market trends and putting together business cases that lead the organization to launch a new generation of products.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications
None required for this position.