North America Category Product Manager

The North America Category Product Manager (CPM) is responsible for driving the upstream and downstream end-to-end Product Management of one or more products (e.g., lens coatings, designs (pediatric, young, adult, mature), materials, and treatments) category(ies) in North America, with responsibilities spanning Category Management, NPI Execution and Product Category Growth & Performance. This role involves understanding market trends, customer needs, competitive landscapes, and business objectives, while working on the product category(ies) strategy, support the development & maintenance of lens product roadmaps, product implementation and life cycle management.

The CPM will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure product success, profitability, and alignment with overall business goals.

• Define and articulate the vision and strategic direction for the product category, aligning with company objectives.
• Supports and communicate clear product goals and roadmap to ensure all teams are aligned on priorities.
• Collaborate with leadership to ensure the product category supports broader business goals.

• Conduct in-depth market research to identify customer needs, emerging trends, and potential growth opportunities.
• Engage with customers and key opinion leaders directly through surveys, interviews, & focus groups to understand pain points and gather feedback.
• Analyze market data and customer feedback to continuously refine product strategies and improve product offers.

• Develop and maintain product positioning, tiering, naming conventions, and value propositions aligned to the North America market & channel needs; identify gaps and support the development of product management documentation, workflows & standard operating procedures.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive product category roadmap, balancing short-term needs with long-term goals.
• Prioritize product features and enhancements based on business impact, customer & key opinion leaders' feedback, and technical feasibility.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure timely execution of the roadmap and adjust priorities as necessary.

• Collaborate with global product category and engineering teams to ensure product concepts meet user needs and are feasible to implement.
• Contributes to the product review process, ensuring that all products are aligned with the product strategy and customer requirements.
• Provide constructive feedback on product concepts, ensuring user experience principles are adhered to.

• Manage the complete product lifecycle, including portfolio strategy, new product introduction, enhancements, discontinuations, and rationalization initiatives.
• Oversee North America product setup, validation, and launch readiness, serving as the primary product liaison with supply chain, lab network, and key channel partners.
• Act as the primary liaison with HOYA manufacturing, HOLT / HMHU / HOLA / HLCA labs, commercial stakeholders (including Global Key Accounts), and third-party partners.
• Participate in the development of the product from conceptualization/ideation through the commercialization phase, ensuring all necessary steps are followed for successful product launch and life cycle.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams (e.g., customer support, IT, Operations, Revenue Management, Supply Chain) to ensure product scalability, cost efficiency, and quality standards are met.
• Ensure smooth transitions from development to production while maintaining alignment with the original product vision.

• Maintain clear and consistent communication with stakeholders, ensuring alignment on goals, timelines, and expectations.
• Provide regular updates on product progress, key milestones, and any adjustments to the roadmap.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to ensure successful product development and delivery.

• Collaborate cross-functioning to plan and execute product launches & discontinuations, ensuring clear communication, alignment on implementation plans and adherence to timelines; partner closely with Global Marketing to define requirements, specifications, and performance targets.
• Partner with NA Marketing to ensure consistent branding, messaging, and launch materials across product categories.
• Work closely with sales, marketing, revenue management, and customer support teams to ensure the product meets customer expectations and achieves business goals.
• Provide support for product launches, promotional campaigns, and sales enablement tools to drive category growth.
• Maintain effective communication with stakeholders, ensuring alignment and transparency on product initiatives.

• Integrate the voice of the customer by gathering feedback,…