Director of Product Management

A. O. Smith is a global leader applying innovative technologies and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products for residential and light commercial applications. A. O. Smith is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with approximately 12,000 employees at operations in the United States, Canada, China, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

This role serves as the primary leader for the profitable growth of the North America water treatment product portfolio. The role is a profit/loss responsibility role measured through top-line growth as well as gross margin growth of this product line. The role is accountable for developing and deploying a comprehensive product vision and strategy for all product segments within the business to help ensure the financial health and viability of the business.

• Product portfolio top line sales and gross margin growth

  • Utilizing product management tools to drive profitable growth of the North America Water Treatment product portfolio.
  • Key measurements:
    • Top line revenue growth of the portfolio
    • Gross margin enhancement of the portfolio
• Product lifecycles from conception to obsolescence
  • Identify sustaining product development activities to be completed to ensure business needs are met and ensure these developments are completed and deliver the expected results.
  • Using the AOSNPD process, ensure new products are launched on-time and meet market and cost requirements by managing the abnormal and driving the organization to make the critical decisions on-time
• Product Strategy
  • Lead the development and maintenance of products strategies for all product segments.
  • Lead the development of 3-year product plans. These plans are to be updated no less than annually or as market conditions require.
  • Drive alignment on product strategies and roadmaps with the business leadership team to ensure appropriate support from all business functions as part of product planning and development activities
• Product Management
  • Direct, manage and develop Product Management resources to support the needs of the product strategy and development activities
  • Represents customer needs and deliver products that best meet market needs
  • Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify new product opportunities and ensure current product lines are competitive
• Lead by influence to coordinate cross-functional product activities to drive profitable growth
  • Ensuring health and financial viability by monitoring P&L of the products segments and identify opportunities to further optimize financial performance of each one.
  • Develop, execute, and maintain a communication strategy to ensure Sales, Marketing, Field Service, Contractor Service Providers, Technical Call Centers, and the Training departments have relevant, timely and accurate product information to perform their roles within the organization
  • Maintain and report innovation metrics

• Bachelor's Degree in Business or technical field
• Proven experience (minimum of 7 years) in a senior product management role, ideally as a Leader/Director of Product Management.
• Demonstrated success in developing and launching successful products that meet market needs and drive business growth.
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of building and managing high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive relationships at all levels of the organization and within customer value chain

ADDITIONAL SKILLS DESIRED

• Understanding of water treatment industry
• Understand of dealer, wholesale and/or direct-to-consumer go-to-market strategies.

Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.

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