Product Line Manager at Bourns

Career at Bourns:

If working for an organization with a long history of technological innovation and high advancement potential in a supportive, collaborative, and positive work environment are top considerations for your next career move, then you need to look at the opportunities at Bourns.

Bourns was founded 75 years ago with the guiding principles of providing breakthrough technology solutions, high-quality products, responsive service, and exceptional value. Those principles still hold true today and have instilled a culture that is committed to excellence and ethical operations. As a leading provider of advanced components for power conversion, circuit protection, and motion control sensing solutions, Bourns employs more than 9,000 people in 21 countries and operates 17 manufacturing centers and 15 R&D facilities. Our customers and partners rely on Bourns to meet strict design requirements and satisfy international standards in a broad range of industries and applications. We achieve this stature because Bourns employees excel in the development of new products and continuous improvement processes that keep the company a global leader in delivering outstanding service.

 

Job Description:

 

SUMMARY OF POSITION: The Product Line Manager (PLM) is responsible for revenues and profitability of all products that are developed and manufactured by the Semiconductor product lines. The PLM champions, promotes and manages the designated product line to grow sales revenue, gain market share and optimize profitability. Effective Bourns PLMs work closely with Market Directors, Engineering, Production, and Sales to ensure the product line remains competitive and develops a leadership position in target market segments and applications. The PLM must deeply engage with and fully support the worldwide Sales team in targeting and penetrating key customers to achieve defined growth targets. The PLM provides leadership for functions dedicated to the product line which may include Application Engineering and Pricing Specialist. The PLM keeps abreast of product, market, technology, and application trends and provides leadership for selection and execution of product development and technology adoption. 

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES (End Results Expected): 
1. Plan: 

a)    Prepares a product line business plan annually, or more frequently as required, detailing improvement actions, strategic initiatives and expected results. Establishes detailed tactical and strategic plans that meet long and short-term product line objectives.

b)    Develops and updates product and technology roadmaps which address lucrative market opportunities and those requiring competitive advantage to satisfy unmet needs.

c)    Monitors and assesses impact of industry technical trends and new technology development in the field and makes recommendations accordingly.

d)    Establishes meaningful measurable goals for direct reports and continually reviews performance, recommends pay increases, disciplinary actions, and other personnel changes.

e)    Establishes goals and improvement strategies for model families and product related processes. Manages projects in conjunction with engineering, manufacturing, and other functions to improve technical performance and cost competitiveness.

f)    Maintains a clear understanding of key competitors, competitive strategies, strengths and weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

g)    Ensures appropriate representation in applicable industry association and standards committees.

h)    Maintains compliance to current applicable regulatory and industry standards and customer specific requirements, as applicable.

2. Execute: 

 

a)    Continually reviews product line performance relative to financial plan and market trends.

b)    Drives a customer-focused culture throughout the product line organization.

c)    Interacts closely with Market Directors to understand market trends and drive growth in key market segments and growth applications.

d)    Assists with new sales opportunities as required. Helps coordinate between sales, marketing, engineering, manufacturing, and the customer.

e)    Champions and promotes the product line to maximize market share position and sales revenue with distribution partners. Provides product and application training to Bourns’ Sales team members and channel partners.

f)    Drives market communication activities in close alignment with the Market Director and Marcom; contributes website content for optimal promotion of products and capabilities.

g)    Reviews and approves or rejects Engineering Change Requests. Coordinates customer approvals when required, including managing the end-to-end Product Change Notification process.

h)    Reviews and advocates for or rejects CAPEX requirements across Engineering, Production, and Facilities.

i)    Plans, prioritizes, schedules, and provides overall resource management for the product line to establish and achieve short- and long-range goals and objectives. Engages, as needed, with outside consultants, suppliers, agents, contractors, and other professional individuals on matters affecting product line planning, operations, and market penetration.

3. Manage:

 

a)    Establishes and implements effective improvement actions and recovery actions, as necessary.

b)    Accountable for product line revenues and drives revenue growth across key market segments.

c)    Accountable for product line gross margin and drives improved profitability. Sets product pricing and develops pricing tools for pricing analysts and strategists.

d)    Accountable for the proliferation of the products into new customers, market segments and applications.

e)    Manages product life cycles including new product introduction and product termination. Determines market potential and competitive environment in order to optimize the product line with additions and deletions.

f)    Contributes to gate reviews as defined in the new product development process.

g)    Drives quality issue resolution in partnership with QA teams.

h)    Ensures that the product line’s business practices are acceptable within the bounds of proper business ethics and legal soundness and compliant with corporate policies and procedures.

i)    Influences manufacturing operations with the objective to maximize gross margins, implement cost savings, improve quality levels, reduce lead times, manage assets, and optimize performance to key performance indicators.

j)    Understands risk exposures of new and existing business and undertakes appropriate measures in coordination with Quality, Engineering, Contracts, Legal, and Management to minimize unnecessary risk exposures.

k)    Accountable for product engineering with the expectation to minimize time to market.

l)    Builds and maintains a team of excellence through recruiting, talent development and coaching.

 

BASIC JOB REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION: 
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with an Engineering Degree (Mechanical or Electrical Engineering preferred), or equivalent education, training, or experience. Advanced degree in marketing or business administration is desirable. 

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: 
At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in the Electromechanical or Mechanical industry. Preferably five such years in a supervisory role. Diversified experience in disciplines of engineering, marketing, technical sales, product management and program management is desirable.

 

OTHER SKILLS: 
Must have good time management skills, be able to continually evaluate priorities and make appropriate adjustments. Financial acumen is required. Must possess potential to grow into future roles with increasing responsibilities.

 

COMMUNICATIONS:
•    Excellent communication skills to present information to all levels of employees and customers. Ability to articulate value propositions and cutting-edge technologies with clarity and conviction. 
•    Excellent written skills to issue instructions, present ideas, concepts, and solutions to all levels of personnel via letters, memos, presentations, graphs, charts, documents, etc.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: 

•    Demonstrates independence, resourcefulness, and ability to self-motivate.

•    Demonstrates strong results-oriented management skills, assumes leadership and delegates effectively.

•    Exhibits accountability and asserts accountability on others.

•    Exhibits the ability to organize, prioritize, and trade off.

•    Employs thoughtfulness with strong empathetic sensitivity.

•    Develops and maintains strong relationships with customers and internal departments.

•    Possesses strong work ethics and cultural sensitivity.

•    Is flexible and able to work in a fast-paced environment with frequent travel.

SCHEDULING AND PLANNING:  
Must be able to schedule and organize time efficiently to complete tasks and manage projects to successful and timely conclusion.

 

PHYSICAL EFFORT:
The physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Ability to travel extensively on a global basis is required.
 

Bourns is an equal opportunity employer. At Bourns, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Employees fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law. Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran

If you are results-oriented, have the drive to find industry-leading ways to meet ongoing technological challenges, and go the extra mile to maximize customer relationships, then we invite you to apply to join the Bourns team. 

Employment Type: Full Time
Years Experience: 10 - 15 years
Salary: $160,000 - $170,000 Annual
Bonus/Commission: No