Global Product Manager - Inspection Systems - Eriez

About Us:

Established in 1942, Eriez is a global leader in separation technologies. Our commitment to innovation has positioned us as a driving market force in several key technology areas including magnetic separation, flotation, metal detection and material handling equipment. Our 900+ employees are dedicated to providing trusted technical solutions to the mining, food, recycling, packaging, aggregate, and other process industries. Headquartered in Erie, Pennsylvania (USA), Eriez designs, manufactures and markets on six continents through 12 wholly-owned international subsidiaries and an extensive sales representative network.

About the role:

As the Global Product Manager for Inspection Systems, your main mission will be to deliver insightful product and market intelligence to all Eriez subsidiaries, with a keen focus on boosting market share and profitability. Teaming up with Engineering and R&D, you'll define product specifications and collaborate with Sales and Marketing to craft pricing and promotional strategies that resonate. Your role will also involve keeping an eye on emerging product trends, tracking competitive movements, and anticipating customer demand. 

In this exciting role, you will oversee how our products and services meet the demands, trends, and preferences of your designated segment and its clientele. Your contributions will be crucial to Eriez's strategy for profitable growth, encompassing the assessment of sales performance across the entire organization while identifying gaps between actual results and expectations based on both internal and external data. You will also lead the development and execution of strategies aimed at bridging those identified performance gaps through a unified approach across the company. 

Your ongoing goal will be to elevate the global performance of the specific product line, with a strong emphasis on enhancing areas identified as underperforming. Regular interaction with subsidiary-based Sales teams, global market managers, and corporate marketing will be integral to this position. 

Responsibilities:

• Define product attributes, and manage everything from product definition and planning through to production, release, and retirement 

• Create and uphold product specifications and oversee the standardization and commercialization of the product line 

• Conduct comprehensive analysis of Eriez's offerings by product, market, and industry to pinpoint gaps in product availability and geographical reach (e.g., gapping charts) 

• Utilize a vast global network of customers to promote product concepts and gain insights into functional requirements necessary for competitiveness 

• Act as the primary go-to for design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, quality control, training, and marketing throughout the product's production and distribution phases 

• Stay involved at every stage of a product's lifecycle, including modifications, enhancements, upgrades, additions, and maintenance 

• Conduct market research, keep tabs on competitive activities, identify customer needs and weaknesses in the product, assist with sales forecasting, and set pricing strategies while tracking profitability. Collaborate with the sales team to maintain these targets, authorizing any exceptions as necessary 

• Leverage relationships and resources to stay attuned to crucial internal and external market influencers — from customers and competitors to economic changes and technological advancements 

• Collaborate with R&D, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and sales to create new products or enhance existing ones using a Stage-Gate approach 

• Establish roadmaps and business directions by developing and tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and drive business development and market penetration initiatives 

Requirements

• You should have a profound understanding of current X-Ray, in-motion check weighing, and metal detector technologies, particularly within the food processing and packaging sectors. Familiarity with vision technology and other sensor sorting technologies will be advantageous 

• Your expertise should contribute to devising effective global go-to-market strategies for these products, serving as the subject matter expert (SME) for designated markets, catering to both internal and external audiences 

• Outstanding coordination and follow-through skills are a must, with a proven track record of consistently meeting deadlines and performance targets 

• Experience within a global matrix organization is essential to effect meaningful corporate change while enhancing global results 

• The ability to effectively interact with various roles and decision-making levels both within and outside the organization (managing both up and down) 

• Engage a diverse audience (internal and external) to support a unified global team (indirect leadership), while actively coaching, mentoring, educating, and motivating others 

• Be an active participant in industry associations to build familiarity with major stakeholders and their needs; representing Eriez at tradeshows and events related to specific markets in collaboration with local Sales teams 

• Strong business acumen coupled with the ability to analyze and interpret emerging trends in the product line as well as identifying and developing targeted customer relationships 

• Willingness and ability to travel internationally are crucial 

• Proficiency in English is required; knowledge of additional languages is a plus 

Benefits

• Extended Health Benefits
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Training & Development
• Wellness Resources
• Join an organization with staying power - over 80 years in the industry