Product Manager - Digital Solutions

Product Manager - Digital Solutions at Kadant South America

KADANT BLACK CLAWSON LLC is an established leader in equipment and systems for the international pulp and paper process industries. With 150 years of experience, Kadant has helped customers reduce input costs and improve efficiency through innovative products and technologies. The company’s sustainability efforts have been nationally recognized and Kadant is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (KAI). The state‑of‑the‑art manufacturing facility is located in Lebanon, Ohio, where products are designed and manufactured for customers worldwide.

• Lead product life‑cycle planning, development, and market introduction for assigned digital technologies and connected services.
• Collaborate with engineering, R&D, and service teams to continually improve digital‑enabled equipment and service offerings.
• Perform application engineering duties and train others to support inquiries for digital services.
• Assist in the direct selling and marketing of Kadant technology by delivering customer presentations on capabilities and benefits.
• Conduct market research and analysis to identify customer needs and market trends.
• Provide written reports, including annual offering plans, corrective actions, follow‑up for mill visits, product knowledge communication, and other appropriate documentation.
• Initiate, evaluate, and support R&D efforts for digital offerings.
• Drive product and service improvement and upgrades.
• Perform performance tests and warranty claim evaluations.
• Assist with project management as needed.
• Analyze market and competitive pricing models and ROI.
• Conduct field studies and evaluations for marketing, target selling, and guarantee purposes.
• Collaborate in reviewing field problems with personnel and develop corrective actions.
• Lead system startup and process balancing at customer sites.
• Train Kadant personnel and client staff on digital offerings.
• Author and present technical papers at conferences.
• Prepare technical bulletins, videos, and standard presentations for digital offerings with the marketing team.
• Document and disseminate competitor information.

• Strong technical understanding of process equipment and controls, with the ability to link equipment data to process improvement opportunities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including professional presentation abilities.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Ability to thrive in a high‑paced, sometimes stressful environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and related software, as well as Kadant tools such as Salesforce and Tableau.
• Demonstrated alignment with Kadant values of personal accountability, discipline, trust, and proactive action.
• Bachelor’s degree in Process Control Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Pulp & Paper Science, or a related accredited field.
• Extensive knowledge of digital technology within the industry.
• Minimum of five years’ experience in process engineering, production management, or technical sales support.
• Direct experience with recycling and approach flow systems is preferred.
• Prior experience with digital process technologies, data analytics, or automation systems strongly desired.

Due to frequent visits to customer sites and mills, this position is safety‑sensitive. All Kadant employees in safety‑sensitive positions will be subject to random drug testing.

Must be able to handle frequent travel, approximately 30‑50% of the time.

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veteran

All benefits are effective upon hire and include medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) plans.

Mid‑Senior level

Full‑time

Product Management and Marketing

Machinery Manufacturing