Senior Manager of Products & Innovation

Position Summary

The Manager of Products and Innovation is a Senior Leadership role in Product Management. This role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities essential to the success of product lines. The responsibilities include aligning product strategies to Business Unit goals, driving innovation and new product solutions development and launch, innovating productivity, and maximizing product line profitability. The Manager of P & I must have excellent business, product, and technical knowledge; as well as interpersonal skills to lead, communicate, and influence both internal and external to the organization.

Steffes Core Values 

• Trust: We promote growth and long-term success by making wise decisions with trust as an essential component.
• Respect: We unleash creative talents of our diverse workforce by treating each other the way we would like to be treated.
• Teamwork: We believe people achieve much more by working together.
• Integrity: We follow through and keep our word while being open, honest, ethical, and fair.
• Safety: We view our co-workers as family members of our business and strive to ensure safety for all.
• Humility: We recognize and appreciate strengths and contributions beyond one’s self. We are modest, genuine, and authentic.

Key Responsibilities 

1. Leader of development and execution of 5-year Product Plan.
2. Communication with high level contacts outside of Steffes to help create Product Plan.
3. Recognized outside of Steffes as a leader. Presenting and involved with industry organizations.
4. Able to “see around corners” for where our products need to be positioned for success in the future.
5. As a key Business Unit decision maker - plays a critical role in shaping the direction and vision for product line solutions.
6. Leadership oversight and development of Product Managers – (This responsibility varies by Steffes Business Unit)
7. This person divides their time working with Steffes Product Managers, customers, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and sales.
8. Typically located either in the market, design, or a production location.
9. Deep understanding of product innovation, product processes, and product life cycle leadership.
10. Work with team to accelerate product development cycles, product launch cycle, support for sales, manufacturing, and marketing plans.
11. Strategic oversight of the product life cycle and collaboration on production site selection.
12. Prioritize engineering and manufacturing project selection processes.
13. Provide accurate and timely technical/systems/application/customer specification review/complaint resolution support to the field organization.
14. Oversee price administration. Price and cost equipment for projects within company policies.
15. Co-create product line price strategies.
16. Lead design for manufacturability and materials cost effectiveness.
17. Prepare pricing recommendations and analysis.
18. External awareness of major competitor product lines, marketing strategies, current system types, and relative costs.
19. Be capable of effectively communicating this information with the field, sales department, and other functional areas.
20. Work with account managers to develop strategies to sell products to specific customers.
21. Participate in customer visits in support of product sales, training, and product promotion.
22. Ensure product lines are fully competitive from the standpoint of performance, quality, reliability, and on-time shipping by calling out deficiencies and seeing proper continuous improvement action is initiated to correct issues and concerns.
23. Initiate and provide clarity message for all affected Steffes team members on how we create out competitive advantage.
24. Administrate monthly financial forecasting, price reviews, and annual product line budgets from the production cost perspectives.
25. Communicating with internal staff on a regular basis to understand their business problems and help find solutions.
26. In conjunction with appropriate departments, assist in establishing employee training requirements for product related tasks.
27. Assist in the training of new marketing personnel and field employees.
28. Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in collaborative manner with customers, suppliers, co-workers, and management.
29. Support and help develop their team with professional development short- and long-term goals.
30. Helps company meet its Strategic, Quality, and Safety objectives.
31. Other duties may be assigned.

Core Expectations

• Customer Service - Demonstrate excellent customer service and display a positive attitude and behavior consistent with the Steffes Code of Conduct and Core Values.
• Environmental, Health, Safety (EHS) – Perform work in compliance with EHS training and identified procedures/standard work. Report any EHS incident or concern to your supervisor immediately. Cooperate and contribute to the overall success of the EHS program.
• Quality – Participate in job-specific training. Complete work as indicated by standard work, processes, and/or procedures. If your work can’t be completed as required, notify your supervisor immediately for guidance.
• Conduct - Demonstrate and support the Steffes Code of Conduct.
• Policies and Procedures - Demonstrate and support Steffes Policies and Procedures by:
• • Using tact, sound judgement, and maintaining a professional attitude in communication and relationships with others.
  • Striving to deliver the best quality in daily work.
  • Promoting a positive image of Steffes and its products.
  • Being timely and punctual in attendance and following all policies and procedures.

Job Requirements/Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent experience preferred. Master’s Degree is a plus.
• 5 years of experience working as a manager in engineering, manufacturing, marketing, or sales.
• Experience working with product related solutions with customers.
• Intermediate computer knowledge (Windows, email, internet, etc.)
• Written and verbal communication skills.

OR

• An acceptable combination of education and experience

Functional & Cognitive Requirements of Position 

• This position requires walking, sitting or standing to a significant degree.
• Must have the ability to lift 50 pounds from floor to waist, carry 50 pounds, and push and/or pull up to 50 pounds.
• Must have the ability to climb ladders and/or stairs.
• Stooping, crouching, kneeling and bending.
• Handling, feeling, and gripping would be required for some activities.