Product Manager - Material Handling

Position Overview

The Product Manager - Material Handling is responsible for category business results, category strategy, product planning and execution throughout the Product Lifecycle, including gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements, defining the category vision, and working closely with R&D, operations, sales, services, marketing and support to ensure revenue, margin and all other business goals are met. The Product Manager will also work closely with sales, product management and operations in Europe and other Wanzl Group regions to leverage know-how and accelerate success in the North American Market, which includes Mexico, Canada, the United States and some areas of the Caribbean.

The Product Manager will ensure the strategy is being driven internally and that the company is developing the know-how, business processes, and structure to sustain and grow this segment.

This position will be located at the Corporate Headquarters for Wanzl North America (WNA) in Denver NC.

Wanzl North America’s (WNA) vision is to be a leading entrepreneurial player in terms of market share, agility, and game-changing solutions. WNA is a solution provider, creating value along the supply chain of our customers, from the online purchase to the delivery to their customers.

WNA, which includes the Technibilt and Cari-All brands, headquartered in Denver, North Carolina. With nearly 500 employees and 175 MUSD of sales, WNA focuses on the retail and distribution market segments with marquee customers such as Walmart, Amazon, and the majority of large grocers and retailers.

In addition to being the largest manufacturer of shopping carts in North America, WNA has three (3) additional main product segments as well as a Service business, providing turnkey solutions for customer guidance (Access Systems) and Shelving & Fixtures, as well as Material Handling/Rolling Stock products. Additionally, WNA is active in building a “digital” business line with products for shopping cart containment, smart exit gate technology, and solutions for autonomous and/or semi-autonomous retail stores.

WNA is part of the Wanzl group, headquartered in Germany, and has 12 plants in 8 countries, providing comprehensive, solutions-driven service and expert knowledge of local markets for customers across the globe through their 360° service.

• Ownership of business planning and P&L for the category
• Development of category budget
• Ownership of product strategy and product & solutions roadmaps
• Delivers market and product requirement documentation with prioritized features and corresponding justification for use with product stage-gate development process
• Develop core positioning and messaging for the product
• Drive product extensions and rationalization
• Set pricing to meet revenue and profitability goals
• Be an expert with respect to the competition
• Maintain, and develop where needed, expertise in retail operations, material handling and other present or future retail trends
• Build a positive relationship with Wanzl counterparts overseas
• Manage category monthly revenue forecast and inform semi-annual plan revisions
• Seize opportunities as they arise and act to capitalize on those opportunities
• Lead development of sales tools and collateral
• Brief and train the sales force at sales meetings
• Anticipate problems, roadblocks and major obstructions, and plans accordingly
• Create new plans and ideas when situation changes
• Act as a leader within the company
• Effectively present your projects in front of executive team and company monthly

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience as a Product Manager or similar role
• Minimum of 3 years' experience with Material Handling carts or shelving, the ideal candidate also having experience in Last Mile order fulfillment, Robotics or Automation.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in retail or companies supplying the retail market
• Bachelor’s degree, MBA strongly desired
• Strong leadership and excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications
• Understanding of international and domestic supply chain principles
• Demonstrated success defining and launching products
• Excellent teamwork skills
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without formal authority
• Must have a passport
• Must be able to travel 25-50% including international