Login to Apply

Placing Leaders are recruiting on behalf of our client for a Product Manager to oversee their product development, testing and certification.

The successful candidate will be responsible for effective management of our clients products, Managing these throughout the product lifecycle, including positioning and prioritising product development opportunities in-line with market requirements to maximise sales opportunities.

Job Purpose:

To be responsible for effective management of company products throughout the product lifecycle to maximise sales opportunities. To communicate these requirements effectively to the centralised Product Development teams to maintain the companys' product portfolio. Ensure the companys' UK market requisites are well represented and effective product solutions are delivered in line with the UK strategic plans. To manage the effective deployment of products by working closely with internal teams (i.e. Marketing, Technical, Operational, Commercial and Customer Service) to ensure each sales division has the best opportunity to maximise market share and drive customer satisfaction.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:
To drive the execution of all product lifecycle processes, including product research, market research, competitor analysis, planning, positioning, pricing, roadmap development and product launch
Perform market research and provide UK market insight and product briefings to centralised Product Development Teams for new and existing products ensuring UK requirements are effectively represented and effective product solutions are provided in line with market requirements and UK strategic plans
Collaborate with Central Product Development Teams to ensure UK testing and certification requirements are conducted and maintained
Provide regular reports and analysis with a clear view on market trends and benchmarking of product range and hierarchy, product performance, strengths, weaknesses, features, benefits and price points against competitors
Develop product positioning and messaging that differentiates the business and its features across primary market segments
Work alongside and support the Marketing department to define the audiences and customer segments to target and develop product marketing literature, ensuring accurate information is detailed with features and benefits communicated correctly.
Own new product introductions and plan, manage and communicate across the UK organisation and sales divisions in conjunction with Central Product Development teams and stakeholders
Provide internal product support and regular communications and product updates to the organisation and customers
Act as the primary communication channel between the UK and Central Product Development to ensure all stakeholders are kept fully informed of product related matters, changes or modifications and products achieve planned profit contribution.

Essential Skills:
Demonstrable experience and knowledge of the window, door and façade product environment or aligned sector
Strong analytical skills including experience of market insight, competitor analysis, product life cycle mapping and product delivery
Working knowledge of relevant design principles including safety and technical standards and regulations
Excellent written and oral communication skills including report writing, presenting to a variety of audience types
Proficient IT and with common software skills to include MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint with the ability to create spreadsheets and presentations
Ability to work under pressure and deliver to agreed deadlines
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build close relationships with customers and colleagues at all levels

Desirable Skills:
A relevant professional engineering, architectural or technical qualification
Relevant industry experience at a senior level including; specification, design, fabrication and installation of aluminium or steel window, door and façade products
SAP experience
Ability to speak German

Supporting Information:
Lives within daily commuting distance of Milton Keynes
Clean driving license
Right to work in the UK
Ability to travel within the UK and/or other offices abroad (sometimes at short notice)