Product Manager - Decorative Surfaces (Sales)
Description
The Decorative Surfaces Product Manager is responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition for decorative laminate products and/or product lines. They are the champion of leading edge decorative design specification, drive cross-functional teams from a product's conception through to its launch and serve as a proactive, customer facing technical business development leader. Strong thought leadership, robust communication skills and comprehensive experience in decorative vinyls, PVC, HPL, papers as well as other laminated materials are required for success.
Job Responsibilities
- Manage from concept, to design, prototypes, testing, forecast, cost, day to day support, and finally product end of life for decorative surface materials.
- Maintain robust technical documentation, competitive analysis, product positioning, innovation and other attributes to create long term strategic differentiation.
- Expert in leading post launch commercialization plans, working closely with sales and with customers to ensure the successful adoption of new products.
- Recommends the nature and scope of present and future product lines by seeking market insights, pursuing material innovation research, reviewing customer specifications and building material requirements.
- Partners with the marketing and teams to bring life use cases, new product messaging and value proposition concepts that clearly illustrate product benefits that are responsive to customer needs and market opportunities.
- Conduct cost analysis, industry/market research, and in-life performance measurement to determine product demand, positioning, viability, and profitability.
- Builds and maintains long-term relationships with key strategic suppliers and customers.
- Manages day-to-day progress of product development for decorative surface materials
- Provides technical expertise and training to customers as well as other departments in support of product success.
- 40-50% travel, potentially some International engagements.
Skills
- Technical expert in decorative papers, vinyls, polypropylene, HPL and other laminate materials
- Excellent organizational and time management skills
- Ability to work within a fast-paced environment
- Demonstrate composure in difficult situations
- Ability to pay extreme attention to detail
- Strong ability to be adaptable and flexible
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to work independently or in a team environment
- Proficient in the use of the personal computer and the Microsoft Office software applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Advanced spreadsheet and numerical analysis skills: business cases, margin and cash flow analysis
- Must be inherently creative and innovative at developing uncommon solutions to address market and business needs.
Requirements
- BS Degree required
- 7 years' experience in decorative laminate surfaces for the kitchen cabinet and closet industries provided to OEMs and Distribution Organizations
- Additional experience in Product Management, Architectural Specification, Architectural Design for hospitality, multifamily and other industries is a plus
- Positive, team player
- Demonstrated emotional intelligence and the ability to read a room to get things done.
