Director - Product Management, Wipes

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the strategic vision for the Consumer Wipes Product Line; leading the product technologies including Airlaid, Carded, Spunmelt, and Magnera’s proprietary Spinlace technology
• Champion and lead cross-functionally to achieve strategic initiatives
• Identify new business needs, internally and externally, as well as growth opportunities
• Define and develop associated strategic investment plans with cross-functional collaboration
• Lead coordination of ongoing market and competitive intelligence; analyze and effectively communicate market trends, customer/consumer demands and competitor strategies for product and pricing
• Provide product assortment and price direction for new business opportunities
• Participate in customer meetings and trade events to drive growth and keep up with product trends, channel and consumer influences, and competitive challenges
• Multi Generation Product Planning
• Develop and execute 1 and 3 year product development roadmap for channel and product line effectiveness, growth and profitability
• Define and develop next generation products, collaborating with Sales, PD, and cross-functional teams
• Define direction of technical resource investment to the most impactful projects
• Manage all aspects of new product launches
• Oversee for channel and product-specific competitive information
• Product Line Profitability
• Manage new product and customer pricing and profitability, collaborating with Finance, Operations, Sourcing, Supply Chain and Sales
• Manage pricing strategies and monitor channel conflict
• Champion cost-reduction projects; manage product mix and margin erosion on mature items
• Identify changes in equipment and process technology to improve cost position
• Work with Supply Chain for raw material sourcing, validation and cost-improvement
• Support Of Existing Business
• Collaborate with Sales leadership for top target growth (current and new)
• Develop clear product positioning and communication strategies; collaborate with Marketing, manage product positioning tools, including web, trade, ad, sell sheets, research and presentations
• Support cross-functional teams to bring solutions to resolve quality, operational, and supply challenges
• Work with cross-functional teams to define service needs for new/changing/outgoing items
• Maintain oversight for new and modified products; working with Marketing, Operations, and Product Development

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ Product Management experience, preferably with experience with Non-Wovens and Films technologies and/or experience in the Personal Care Hygiene market.
• A strong financial Acumen.
• 5+ years’ experience leading a team of direct and indirect reports
• Thorough knowledge of product management strategy and new product development techniques.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Textiles or Engineering.
• MBA preferred.
• Understanding of analytical tools to benchmark customer and market needs; relate and translate to existing operational infrastructure and prospective new acquired assets.
• Ability to design and translate effective strategies and tactics to the commercial team.
• Capability to build and foster excellent rapport with cross-functional leadership and teams.
• Team player with ability to influence without direct authority.
• Solid understanding of business functions: Sales, Finance, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Sourcing, and Engineering.
• Strong negotiations skills.
• Ability to comfortably interact with customers at all levels, from shop floor to C-Suite, and demonstrated success influencing at all levels in a matrixed organization.
• Ability to identify, cultivate and execute on market and product opportunities. Delivering solutions that delight customers and shareholders alike
• Strong financial and business accumen, able to identify value drivers in B2B, Nonwovens environment
• Ability to organize, coordinate and direct cross-functional teams in a dynamic, evolving organization.
• Have been consistently identified as top talent in their career.
• Ability to perform complex category analysis, and confidence driving forward data informed decisions
• Capable of managing team of direct reports
• Work effectively with Sales leaders and internal functional leadership to consistently drive profitable growth
• High proficiency level with MS Office applications required.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with demonstrated meeting facilitation skills.
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task
• Ability to travel up to 50%