Product Manager for Heavy Equipment- Eugene Airport Road - Astec Industries

ABOUT THE POSITION
Provides regional market share growth by identifying potential products; conducting market research; generating product requirements; determining specifications, production timetables, pricing, and time-integrated plans for product introduction; developing marketing strategies.  The product manager will be the main liaison between the regional sales/business line managers and the factory engineering department for the purpose of clarifying the needs of a specific region in terms of design and function. 

Key Deliverables

• Create buy-in for the product vision both internally and with key external partners.
• Translate product strategy into detailed requirements and protypes.
• Evaluate promotional plans to ensure consistency with the product line strategy.
• Build awareness and understanding of all Astec products.
• Identify trends and opportunities for new or improved product features and functions.

Key Activities & Responsibilities

• Determines customers' needs and desires by specifying the research needed to obtain market information.
• Recommends the nature and scope of present and future product lines by reviewing product specifications and requirements, appraising new product ideas and/or product or packaging changes.
• Gathers, analyzes, and interprets market data, to include competitor information on similar products. Performs detailed Competitive Analyses of how the features and benefits of our products compare to our competitor’s products.
• Provides source data for product line communications by defining product marketing communication objectives.
• Develops and maintains a strategic Product Roadmap, describing how the various models of these systems should be developed, implemented, marketed, and priced in the future, including product standardization and rationalization, e.g., how many various models do we need to offer and what features they need to have,
• Leads new product development (NPD) projects from inception to conclusion for products in this product family. Develops business cases and delivers presentations to obtain approval and funding for such projects. Coordinates with Group Engineering on NPD program cost, schedule, and deliverables. Coordinates product messaging, positioning and trade show introduction of new products with Marketing.
• Assesses product market data by calling on customers with field salespeople and evaluating sales call results.
• Provides information for management by preparing short-term and long-term product sales forecasts and special reports and analyses, answering questions and requests.
• Brings new products to market by analyzing proposed product requirements and product development programs; preparing return-on-investment analyses; establishing time schedules with engineering and manufacturing.
• Facilitates inventory turnover and product availability by reviewing and recommending inventory levels and production schedules.
• Determines product pricing by utilizing market research data; reviewing production and sales costs; anticipating volume; costing special and customized orders.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• Organize and facilitate Product Management Team (PMT) meetings to keep projects on track.  Facilitate accountability of the group.
• Generate / maintain product line presentations to include product overview, market share, profitability of product line, F&B (Features and Benefits), innovation roadmap, etc.
• Develops and presents effective product training materials for Group personnel. As a resource person for Sales, acts as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for more complicated sales quotes using these components.

To be successful in this role, your experience and competencies are:

• Four (4) year college or university degree in technical or business field or equivalent experience required.
•  Must be energetic, highly motivated and have the ability to function in a fast pace environment and manage multiple priorities and responsibilities. 
• Must be able to travel occasionally domestically and internationally. 
• Must be able to effectively collaborate with others.
• Must be able to work as a team member. 
• Strong organizational and analytical skills are required. 
• Able to solve problems on a strategic and functional level. 
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, sales reports, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from customers, groups of managers, associates, clients, and the general public.

Supervisor and Leadership Expectations
None

Our Culture and Values
Employees that become part of Astec embody the values below throughout their work.

• Continuous devotion to meeting the needs of our customers
• Honesty and integrity in all aspects of business
• Respect for all individuals
• Preserving entrepreneurial spirit and innovation
• Safety, quality and productivity as means to ensure success

NOTE: This position responsible for certain internal control responsibilities.  These internal control responsibilities are verbally communicated to the incumbent and periodic feedback is provided as it relates to the performance of these internal control responsibilities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Office
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to risk of injury in an office environment and occasionally a manufacturing shop plant environment.  Duties include a typical office setting including extensive computer work, sitting or standing. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.