Global Product Manager - Attachments
Location: West Bend, Wisconsin

The Product Manager for attachments ensures the perfect alignment and competitiveness of the attachment range with Manitou & Gehl machines and customer applications. They manage the product offer of their attachment range (product plan) in the markets, respecting the commercial strategy set in collaboration with the Product Units (PUs) and sales regions, and overall profitability objectives. They participate in and validate the major development milestones of the PU products.

The product manager is reporting directly to the attachment market director.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

With their knowledge of markets, customers, and competition, they propose, in collaboration with the PUs and sales regions:
 

• A product plan: product lifecycle (new products, product evolutions, end-of-life products)
• Make/buy/partner options to offer a competitive product line in terms of performance, delivery time, quality, and cost.
• Compliance with common brand “product/service” standards
   

Note: The product plan feeds into the division's development plan. The latter is managed and decided by the PU manager, but no new product development can be launched in the development plan without being previously validated in the product plan.
 

• Oversee and validate the creation of specifications for new products and product evolutions. They participate in the major project milestones.
• Work in project mode with the product unit (PU) attachments (R&D, Purchasing, Quality) and the machine part to deliver attachments that meet customer needs on time.
• Supervise and monitor the product launch/evolution plan developed by subsidiary experts.
• Diagnose commercial results for the attachment range under their responsibility (in terms of revenue and profitability) and market share trends, then determine corrective action plans with S&M if necessary, including:
  • Promotion
  • Price repositioning
  • Solution offer packaging (machine, attachments, service)
  • Training
  • Stock clearance actions
  • Advertising
• Monitor product price and margin evolution. Recommend pricing for different ranges at launch and propose price adjustments in case of significant changes impacting the attachment margin.
• Define and conduct or commission necessary market studies and surveys to describe their market, its mechanisms, including:
  • Market size, value chain actors, operating modes
  • Key indicators and market trends, regular monitoring
  • Market developments, provide market insights, especially for budget framing
• For each market segment, analyze the market strengths and attractions, and identify short and medium-term actions.
• Long-term, propose a strategic development plan to VP sales to optimize the presence of the Group's products and services in target segments, thus maximizing market penetration. Monitor developments.
• Identify and validate new market/product opportunities and assist in their development.
• Maintain continuous direct contact with customers, dealers, or users.
  • Accompany customer visits
  • Organize expert meetings
  • Participate in organizing and attending trade shows
  • Organize and deliver accessory training: Share the adopted strategy and explain the technical advantages and customer benefits of various accessories.

EXPERIENCE:
 

• Field experience in product management, development or sale of attachments in agricultural, construction, and/or industrial markets
• Knowledge of agriculture and/or construction machinery
• 5+ years experience required
   

EXPERTISE:
 

• Autonomous and responsible; proactive and have a sense of leadership
• Customer-oriented
• Product management
• Google drive, sheets, docs, slides, …
• Training of salespeople
   

EDUCATION:
 

• Bachelor’s Degree with significant experience in marketing project management in an international environment.
   

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL CONNECTIONS:
 

• Internal customers : the position will interact with Business unit attachments, spare parts department, machine product units (PUs), machine product managers, operational marketing, finance, pricing …
• External customers : the position will interact with Manitou group subsidiaries, Manitou & Gehl dealerships and sales managers, OEM partners, ...
   

LOCALIZATION AND TRAVEL EXPECTED:
 

• Position based at the West Bend site with 25% business travel (USA and international).