Product Manager

Who We Are

Vermeer equips customers doing important work around the world. We are global, driven by innovation and growing. The equipment we make manages natural resources, connects people and feeds and fuels communities. We live out a caring culture, we demonstrate agility, we keep a focus on customers and are stewards of our resources. These beliefs drive our culture, determine how we treat others and steer our business.

 

Work Shift

1 - First Shift

Job Summary

The Product Manager establishes the strategic direction for a product line within a product group based upon information from market research, sales groups, customer input, conducting competitive and market analysis of the markets or product lines. This role supports the execution of business plan by delivering market research, product specifications and managing product release cycles. This position determines market position for the product line(s) and meeting revenue and profitability goals of the assigned product line(s) within the product group.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

1. Exhibit the Vermeer characteristics of caring culture, demonstrating agility, customer focused and stewardship while modeling the associated behaviors.

2. Own and execute voice of customer (VOC) activities for new and existing products and markets. Share key learnings with development teams in the form of an executable product plan and product specifications. Use market knowledge to drive decisions in product development groups. Gather VOC information from customer facing teams within Vermeer to incorporate into the communication.

3. Set market-based pricing for new products within the product line while also regularly evaluating against product revenue and profitability goals.

4. Plan, create and implement go to market plan and strategies through inter-departmental support teams i.e. sales, marketing, finance, purchasing, product safety, production, engineering, quality and technical support teams. Develop product position and message for the product line(s) considering competitive positioning and win/loss analysis.

5. Organize and attend meetings, focus groups, and tradeshows to represent product line(s).  Visit current and potential customers to partake in Voice of Customer and dealer relations activities. Develop product portfolio and prioritize opportunities within the product line.

6. Own the entire product life cycle including market evaluation using market research. Identify new product and market opportunities and define product strategy and roadmap through creation of product specifications and product release cycle. Lead marketing and commercialization to optimize product line performance in the market without product improvements. Perform buy, build or partner analysis for potential products in the defined market segment.

7. Evaluate ROI. Develop and present growth strategies to management and peers.  Prioritize opportunities within the product portfolio to enhance market share and optimize profitability within the product line. Implement strategies to execute the product marketing plans to support the segment revenue goals.

8. Analyze potential partner relationships for the product. Manage alliance partners within the product segment.

9. Set durability expectations for products in product line.  Monitor warranty and reliability rates.  Drive priority for enhancement engineering efforts.

10. Work with engineering managers on R&D needs to develop technology prior to introduction to product lines. Document in the form of a technology roadmap. Ensure alignment between technology roadmap and product roadmap.

Education and/or Experience

- Bachelor's degree with a marketing, engineering, or business major.

- Minimum of 5 years of related experience including business and product development, research skills, and customer retention skills, preferred; and/or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.

Other Skills and Abilities

- Knowledge of market research and assessment, product strategy, business planning, project planning for all assigned products, sales planning and execution.

- Ability to effectively manage products and services strategy and vision to positively impact sales goals, thorough growth in market share and accurate determination of ROI.

- Ability to provide informative and professional assistance when working with the public/customers and co-workers.

- Ability to maintain positive interpersonal relationships, which encourage openness with customers and peers using exceptional reasoning and problem solving skills.

- Demonstration of good verbal and written communication skills. Solid coaching, listening and networking skills.

- Strong skills in reading technical documents, financial calculations, understanding industry trends and drivers, understanding of technical make up of products and services.

- Understanding of technology, ability to put plans together, ability to document reality and strategies in response to the knowledge of product development, financial and market considerations.

- Ability to handle confidential information, such as divisional and corporate P & L, product development plans, and budgets.

Travel

Up to 50% domestic and/or international travel by car or plane may be required.

Work Location

HYBRID: Some of a team member’s day-to-day work may be best done at a location other than a Vermeer campus. Discuss specific arrangements with your manager.

Equal Opportunity Employer

At Vermeer Corporation, we believe in the value of your unique identity, background, and experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status or any other status protected by the law. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation due to a disability at any stage of the employment application process should contact Team Member Solutions at (641) 621-8767 or at hr@vermeer.com.

Interested? We’d love to get to know you.