PRODUCT MANAGER
Kalamazoo Fabricating · Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
Machinery Manufacturing · 201-500 employees
About the role
The Product Manager is responsible for the development, growth, and improvement of the product line, including creating proposals and coordinating with engineering. They must meet annual sales and profit goals while managing customer requests and identifying OEM opportunities.
What they look for
Requirements
Candidates must have a minimum of a two-year degree and a strong history in sales and negotiation. Strong mechanical aptitude, professional presentation, and a bias-for-action are essential qualifications.
Full description
The Product Manager position is responsible for the development and growth of the product line.  Specific tasks include proposals and follow-up, preliminary designs, customer support, product improvements and enhancements, cost improvements, assistance with case studies and white papers, interaction with engineering, and all necessary things to ensure that the company goals are met.  This full-time position reports to the Sales Manager.
 
Qualifications
- Dedication to excellence and a quality output.
- Strong history in sales
- Ability to negotiate
- Strong mechanical aptitude
- A very professional personal presentation
- Strong communication skills.
- Well organized and self-directed.
- Minimum of a two-year degree.
- Has a Bias-for-Action, Sense of Ownership, and understands urgency
 
Responsibilities
- Promote excellence throughout the department.
- Quickly and efficiently respond to customer and rep requests.
- Fully qualify all inquiries.
- Provide complete and quality proposals to customers.
- Identify and know everything about competitive products.
- Obtain input from customers and reps pertaining to your product.
- Lead engineer/design in product improvement/enhancement.
- Lead engineer/design in product development.
- Lead test lab in product testing, for customers and for product improvement and development.
- Direct the creation of all sales drawings for your product.
- Lead opportunity reviews for cost reductions.
- Provide input as to support materials required in the field.
- Develop tools for proper sizing and selection of equipment.
- Provide input for articles/press releases.
- Identify and develop OEM opportunities.
- Train reps on your product.
- Participate in bi-weekly Target Proposal meetings – providing proposal updates, input, concerns, and status reports.
- Meet or exceed the annual sales/profit goals for your products.
- Maintain a thorough understanding of technology as it relates to your product.
- Input and update the CRM regularly.
- Customer visits as required.
- Learn compatible which can be packaged with our equipment.
- Create the process and identify the correct pieces of equipment required.
- Step outside the “catalogue” and create equipment to meet customer’s needs.
 
