Product Manager

Description

The Product Manager drives growth for assigned product lines by identifying new markets, defining new products, and building strategic partnerships. The role owns the full product lifecycle, from market opportunity through launch, enhancement, cost reduction, and end of life, with primary emphasis on expanding Pearson's reach in packaging automation.

• Find and pursue growth opportunities. Identify new target markets, industry verticals, and applications through ongoing competitive analysis, market segmentation, and assessment of market size, share, and growth, along with evaluation of Pearson's current portfolio and positioning. Build the business case for new products, partnerships, and market entries.
• Define what gets built. Gather voice-of-customer input through customer visits, sales and service feedback, and industry events. Translate it into clear product requirements, including performance targets, target cost, target price point, and compliance and safety needs, that engineering uses to design new machines and enhancements.
• Lead development through influence. Initiate and prioritize new product and service development projects in partnership with engineering and project engineering. Track milestones and work with operations and design teams so products launch on schedule and meet customer, performance, and margin objectives.
• Own go-to-market and commercial success. Plan and execute product launches across all four elements of the marketing mix: 
  • Product: Finalize launch configurations, standard options, and aftermarket offerings (parts, upgrades, retrofits) so the offering matches target customer and application needs.
  • Price: Set list pricing, option pricing, and discount guidelines based on value to the customer, competitive positioning, and margin targets. Monitor price realization after launch and adjust as needed.
  • Place: Define the channel strategy across direct sales, distributors, and integrator partners, including target territories and verticals. Equip each channel with the training and tools it needs to sell and support the product.
  • Promotion: Develop positioning and messaging, and partner with marketing on launch campaigns, demos, case studies, and sales collateral. Serve as the go-to product expert for customers, sales, and internal teams.
•  Manage product line business performance. Develop and maintain product line business plans covering revenue, margin, and forecasting for new and existing products. Drive cost reductions, manage ongoing enhancements, and lead end-of-life transitions. 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or a technically related field, or equivalent experience 
• Minimum of five years of product management experience or a comparable background 
• Proven ability to set strategic direction and manage the entire product life cycle effectively 
• Effective and creative problem-solving skills with a focus on collaboration and innovation 
• Demonstrated ability to provide sound judgment and the ability to lead and organize cross-functional meetings, committees and people in a professional manner.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, organizational, and presentation skills.