Product Manager I

About the role

As a Product Manager at AO Smith, you will bring cross-functional leadership and strategic thinking to our product management team, driving product innovation, market expansion, customer satisfaction, and ensuring growth by monitoring P&L requirements. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence the company's growth trajectory and shape the future of water heating solutions while playing a strategic role in setting the vision for a specific product in the segments. This role will report to a Senior Product Manager or Portfolio Director.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to developing and implementing a strategic vision and action plan for the given product within a segment.
• Contribute to the development and execution of comprehensive product strategies, roadmaps, and go-to-market plans aligned with business objectives and market opportunities.
• Perform product life cycle management to maximize product line profitability.
• Create detailed business, marketing and product requirements and maintain the product plan for all channels served by the product.
• Develop and present business cases for new products, current product plans, and ensure the execution of product launches and their success to the market ensuring profitable growth to the Segment P&L.
• Perform qualitative and quantitative research with existing and prospective customers, assimilate customer and market requirements while driving strategic focus on VoC with Marketing and Sales partners.
• Conduct in-depth market research, competitive analysis, and customer insights to identify emerging trends, market gaps, and opportunities for product differentiation.
• Monitor market and technological developments and incorporate information into the overall corporate product portfolio strategy.
• Mentor and coach junior product managers, providing guidance on best practices, technical knowledge, and industry trends.
• Drive continuous product improvement and innovation by staying updated on industry trends, technological advancements, and customer feedback.
• Develop new product roadmap opportunities by partnering with customers, sales, and marketing to understand market needs.
• Serve as a product leader for a given product throughout the organization both internally and externally.
• Serve as core team member on product development projects within our AOSNPD lean product development process.
• Influence the work with cross-functional partners to create, develop and maintain product sales & service support materials.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a technical or business related field
• 3+ years of related experience

Qualifications

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate effectively at all levels of the organization
• Strong influential and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional results
• Prior experience in plumbing, HVAC, or a related field, in retail and/or wholesale channels is desired
• Ability to read and understand technical documentation such as blueprints, electrical schematics, and product specifications is desired

Skills

• Strategic Thinking
• Leading a team
• Managing others
• Executive presentation skills
• Ability to prioritize
• Data-driven decision making
• Delegating
• Financial acumen
• Customer engagement
• Customer relationships
• Relationship focused
• Cross-functional leading
• Influencing others
• Managing ambiguity
• Managing and understanding KPI’s
• Product lifecycle management

Benefits

• Medical and dental insurance
• Company-sponsored life insurance
• Retirement security savings plan
• Short- and long-term disability programs
• Tuition assistance