Upstream Product Manager

About the role

The Upstream Product Manager at Medisca is responsible for driving the front end of product innovation and strategy, translating market needs into actionable product opportunities and line extensions. This role leads the development of long-term product roadmaps, performs in-depth market and competitive analysis, and partners with cross-functional teams—including R&D, Engineering, Sales, and Marketing—to define requirements for new product development and extensions of existing lines.

Responsibilities

• Owns the 5-year new product roadmap for the portfolio.
• Develop and manage product roadmaps, ensuring alignment with business goals and customer requirements.
• Evaluate and prioritize new product opportunities, ensuring feasibility and alignment with Medisca’s strategic objectives.
• Lead the development and ownership of key strategic planning documents for the portfolio, including the Product Charter, Opportunity Assessment, and Business Case, to define the product’s vision, evaluate market potential, and justify investment decisions.
• Reviews potential expiring patents for early entrance into the market as a competitor.
• Complete internal documentation and works with the patent attorney for any innovative ideas that can be patented.
• Monitor and assess product portfolio for gaps, identifying areas for improvement and driving innovation.
• Perform market sizing, segmentation, and white space analysis to guide new product development.
• Analyze product data, voice of customer (VOC) information and market trends to identify and generate new business opportunities, define product requirements, and assess market development opportunities.
• Engage with customers and industry experts to gather insights and feedback for continuous product improvement.
• Participate in sales calls and visit customers when needed to gather feedback for new product additions.
• Identify and attend tradeshows that will help drive innovation, meet new potential partners, and understand industry trends.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D, Engineering, Marketing, and Sales, to define product requirements and drive product development.
• Create and maintain the Marketing Requirements Document (MRD) by gathering and consolidating input from cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., sales, regulatory, engineering, marketing, and R&D).
• Ensure regulatory requirements and design inputs are captured early in product planning.
• Manage projects for new product additions until commercial launch, reporting on timelines and risks.
• Prepare products for commercial launch and collaborate with downstream product manager for launch execution.
• Train salespeople on the launch of new products.
• Serve as the SME for launching new products and integrating them into the portfolio.
• Define key launch metrics and success criteria for new product introductions.
• Works with the Procurement team to find ideal partners for new product additions.
• Review and evaluate the industry and suggests potential strategic partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field (MBA or advanced degree is a strong asset)
• Three (3) to five (5) years of experience in upstream product management, product development, or strategic market analysis
• Proven ability to lead opportunity assessments, market sizing, and development of product roadmaps
• Strong experience with voice-of-customer (VOC) research, competitive analysis, and product requirements gathering
• Demonstrated success in building business cases, product charters, and supporting early-stage innovation
• Solid understanding of the product development lifecycle, from concept through to commercial launch
• Experience working with cross-functional teams including R&D, engineering, regulatory, legal, marketing, and procurement
• Familiarity with project management tools and methodologies (e.g., Gantt charts, stage-gate processes)
• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication and presentation abilities, with experience influencing stakeholders and executive decision-makers
• Knowledge of intellectual property and patent considerations is a plus
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and taking initiative in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment
• Proven track record in leading projects and new product offerings from inception through development and successful completion