Assistant Product Manager, Ground HSVS

PURPOSE

Manages all HSVS products in the Close Combat Forces segment of the Gentex Ground portfolio. This position is responsible for managing the product lifecycle and roadmap for Headborne Systems Ground portfolio products. Additionally, they are responsible for aligning with the ground business team and setting pricing on all saleable items to ensure that the business is meeting its contribution margin goals.

Product Managers understand their market, the customer, and advocate for them during the lifecycle of the product to ensure that products meet their needs. They are subject matter experts for their portfolio and act as the product leader with internal and external customers. This position serves as a customer interface to promote our products and shares the responsibility for ensuring positive customer experience via interfaces with sales administration, customer service, marketing communications and outside field representatives.

• Own the product lifecycle of products in the HSVS Ground CCF portfolio
• Lead the development of strategic product portfolio roadmaps and product strategies
• Develop product pricing strategy, as well as initial new product pricing
• Manage the distribution strategy and objectives for the product portfolio
• Manage product line definition, product configuration management, product line extension and “cradle-to-grave” aspects of product portfolio
• Manage the development of business case for investments in product capability
• Manage product development priorities. Coordinate with functional managers to ensure product portfolio priorities and objectives are aligned and achieved
• Identify and develop key customer and partner relationships
• Proactively manage internal and external customer satisfaction continuous improvement
• Plan, pursue & capture long term (purchase) agreements with commercial and government customers
• Interface with customers and end users to determine product requirements, identify and suggest products that satisfy customer requirements
• Prepare proposals and/or bids based on knowledge of products
• Monitor the status of orders and communicate with customers, as necessary
• Coordinate activities with product distributors, scheduling, manufacturing, engineering, quality, purchasing, and shipping departments to ensure the appropriate products are shipped per customer specifications, as necessary
• Collaborate with a wide variety of functional areas such as sales, marketing, engineering, production, quality control and manufacturing to develop and produce products responsive to customer needs and market opportunities
• Interface with Marketing Communications in product launch planning and deployment using New Product Launch Standard Operating Procedures
• Track revenue achieved from new product introductions versus business cases and identify opportunities to accelerate market uptake of new products.
• Manage business case analysis process to ensure business objectives are defined and achieved with new product introductions
• Participate in trade shows, customer visits, conferencing, and marketing events, as necessary
• Schedule flexibility to support critical deadlines may be required

A four-year degree, preferably in an Engineering, Design, or Business discipline along with two years prior experience with ground military products and technologies. Five years of experience in related ground military product technical and customer/user support if no technical degree. Advanced technical or business degree is a plus.

Must have experience in defense to include project and program management activities, with at least 3 years in a marketing, business development, product development, or senior sales role in a quality-driven organization. Should possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills, an understanding of the military and or Law Enforcement, related regulatory requirements, and government evaluation and acquisition process is preferred.

• Establish strong relationships at the management/executive level with current and prospective customers to positively position GENTEX Corporation in the current business environment
• Requires a high degree of self-motivation and is responsible for coordinating efforts with varying levels of internal and external individuals to ensure that finished products satisfy established requirements
• Ability to build a quick rapport with the customer and able to persuade customers that our products will best satisfy their needs in terms of quality, price and delivery
• Communicate effectively and demonstrate solid sales abilities in all facets of sales and marketing
• Possess strong project management skills
• Strong presentation skills are essential to engage the attention of both customers and colleagues
• Possess an inquisitive mind capable of analyzing complex situations and reaching conclusions through logical process of elimination and reasoned debate
• Good communicator including strong verbal and written…