PURPOSE:
Manages all HSVS products in the Close Combat Forces segment of the Gentex Ground portfolio. This position is responsible for managing the product lifecycle and roadmap for Headborne Systems Ground portfolio products. Additionally, they are responsible for aligning with the ground business team and setting pricing on all saleable items to ensure that the business is meeting its contribution margin goals. Product Managers understand their market, the customer, and advocate for them during the lifecycle of the product to ensure that products meet their needs. They are subject matter experts for their portfolio and act as the product leader with internal and external customers. This position serves as a customer interface to promote our products and shares the responsibility for ensuring positive customer experience via interfaces with sales administration, customer service, marketing communications and outside field representatives.
DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Own the product lifecycle of products in the HSVS Ground CCF portfolio
Lead the development of strategic product portfolio roadmaps and product strategies
Develop product pricing strategy, as well as initial new product pricing
Manage the distribution strategy and objectives for the product portfolio
Manage product line definition, product configuration management, product line extension and "cradle-to-grave" aspects of product portfolio
Manage the development of business case for investments in product capability
Manage product development priorities. Coordinate with functional managers to ensure product portfolio priorities and objectives are aligned and achieved
Identify and develop key customer and partner relationships
Proactively manage internal and external customer satisfaction continuous improvement
Plan, pursue & capture long term (purchase) agreements with commercial and government customers
Interface with customers and end users to determine product requirements, identify and suggest products that satisfy customer requirements
Prepare proposals and/or bids based on knowledge of products
Monitor the status of orders and communicate with customers, as necessary
Coordinate activities with product distributors, scheduling, manufacturing, engineering, quality, purchasing, and shipping departments to ensure the appropriate products are shipped per customer specifications, as necessary
Collaborate with a wide variety of functional areas such as sales, marketing, engineering, production, quality control and manufacturing to develop and produce products responsive to customer needs and market opportunities
Interface with Marketing Communications in product launch planning and deployment using New Product Launch Standard Operating Procedures
Track revenue achieved from new product introductions versus business cases and identify opportunities to accelerate market uptake of new products.
Manage business case analysis process to ensure business objectives are defined and achieved with new product introductions
Participate in trade shows, customer visits, conferencing, and marketing events, as necessary
Schedule flexibility to support critical deadlines may be required
Requirements
EDUCATION:
A four-year degree, preferably in an Engineering, Design, or Business discipline along with two years prior experience with ground military products and technologies. Five years of experience in related ground military product technical and customer/user support if no technical degree. Advanced technical or business degree is a plus.
EXPERIENCE:
Must have experience in defense to include project and program management activities, with at least 3 years in a marketing, business development, product development, or senior sales role in a quality-driven organization. Should possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills, an understanding of the military and or Law Enforcement, related regulatory requirements, and government evaluation and acquisition process is preferred.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Establish strong relationships at the management/executive level with current and prospective customers to positively position GENTEX Corporation in the current business environment
Requires a high degree of self-motivation and is responsible for coordinating efforts with varying levels of internal and external individuals to ensure that finished products satisfy established requirements
Ability to build a quick rapport with the customer and able to persuade customers that our products will best satisfy their needs in terms of quality, price and delivery
Communicate effectively and demonstrate solid sales abilities in all facets of sales and marketing
Possess strong project management skills
Strong presentation skills are essential to engage the attention of both customers and colleagues
Possess a strong power of persuasion
Possess an inquisitive mind capable of analyzing complex situations and reaching conclusions through logical process of elimination and reasoned debate
Good communicator including strong verbal and written abilities, excellent listening and feedback skills and the ability to provide strong direction
Working knowledge and use of Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word and PowerPoint, and Outlook
CONTACT WITH OTHERS:
Provides constant contact with both internal and external customers at all levels of the organization. Must be able to perform at the highest level of professionalism with respect to communication and interaction with internal and external customers. Extensive external customer contact is necessary.
PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:
Employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee may lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The individual must have a high level of comprehension, and a high level of general, verbal, and numerical intelligence.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Works majority of the day in a climate-controlled environment.
TRAVEL:
Regular travel required
LOCATION:
Gentex's Carbondale facility is located in Northeastern Pennsylvania in Lackawanna County. Carbondale, PA is about twenty miles north of Scranton, PA, 50 miles south of Binghamton, NY, and about 125 miles from New York City and Philadelphia. The area hosts numerous nearby state parks, nature preserves and local colleges and universities, including The University of Scranton and Marywood University. Northeast Pennsylvania is a beautiful area and offers an
