Product Manager- Carts

About the Role

Drive the success of a key product category within Wanzl North America’s portfolio of retail solutions. Oversee product category performance, shape product strategy, and manage the full product lifecycle—from concept and development through launch and ongoing optimization. Champion internal strategy execution, building the expertise, processes, and infrastructure needed to scale and grow the Segment that is the heart of Wanzl’s brand and legacy. This in-office position is located at Wanzl’s main factory in Newton, NC, and involves close partnership with Global Product Centers and operations teams in Europe to transfer knowledge and accelerate growth in the North American market.

About the Company

Wanzl North America (WNA) is a solution provider creating value along the retail supply chain, serving marquee customers such as Walmart, Amazon, and major grocers. Headquartered in the Charlotte Metro Area, WNA employs around 500 people and generates ~$200M in sales. In addition to being the largest manufacturer of shopping carts in North America, WNA offers Access Systems (customer guidance and loss prevention), Shelving & Fixtures, Material Handling products, and integrated digital solutions—including smart exit gate technology and innovations for autonomous retail. WNA is part of the global Wanzl Group, with 12 plants in 8 countries.

Responsibilities

• Define and communicate a compelling product vision and strategy aligned with company objectives.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify opportunities and risks.
• Drive internal alignment to develop the knowledge, business processes, and organizational structure needed to sustain and grow the Carts segment.
• Train and support internal teams in product knowledge and best practices.
• Oversee the entire product lifecycle, from ideation and development to launch and post-launch activities.
• Gather and prioritize product and customer requirements; develop and maintain a product roadmap balancing short-term needs with long-term goals.
• Manage portfolio depth and breadth—expand product lines while rationalizing underperforming or misaligned products.
• Collaborate with R&D to guide product development and ensure technical feasibility.
• Work with sales, marketing, and support teams to align product strategy with business goals.
• Coordinate with European product management and operations teams to leverage expertise and accelerate North American market success.
• Engage with customers and stakeholders to gather feedback and insights; act as the voice of the customer within the company.
• Set and achieve revenue and margin lifecycle targets; monitor performance using key metrics and analytics.
• Conduct detailed market research to understand customer needs, trends, and competitive landscape.
• Develop and execute go-to-market plans for product launches, including promotional materials, sales training, and customer communications.
• Own pricing strategy and policy, optimizing for feature-based value realization and the price/volume dynamic to maximize segment share, revenue, and margin.

Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience as a Product Manager or similar role.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in retail or companies supplying the retail market—preferably related to CAPEX products.
• Experience in Sales and/or Finance preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree; MBA strongly desired.
• Strong leadership and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated success defining and launching products.
• Excellent teamwork skills; proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without formal authority.
• Must be able to travel up to 10%, including international.

Schedule

This is an in-office position located at Wanzl’s main factory in Newton, NC.