Product Line Manager - Precision Optics

York (UK), Mainz (DE), or Lyon (FR)

Edmund Optics® is a leading manufacturer and supplier of optics, imaging, and photonics technology. Edmund Optics state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities combined with its global distribution network has earned it the position as being one of the largest supplier of off-the-shelf optical components and a trusted partner when it comes to customized solutions. Supporting numerous markets around the globe, including advanced diagnostics, semiconductor & electronics, machine vision, automation, and R&D;
Edmund Optics products are used in a variety of applications ranging from DNA sequencing to retinal eye scanning to high-speed factory automation.

Edmund Optics Europe, a US owned-group consisting of Edmund Optics subsidiaries in Germany, UK, Netherlands and France, is responsible for sales, marketing, distribution, engineering and application support for a wide product range throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Europe is one of the main growth markets for Edmund Optics globally, leading to a rapidly expanding and developing local team.

The Product Line Manager for Strategic Optics (PLM) is the product visionary for key and innovative optics in the industry. By developing and executing a product strategy that is consistent with Edmund Optics’ technological vision and core competencies, Product Line Managers improve customer acquisition and retention efforts and ensure the profitable growth of our standard and custom product business. Responsibilities include the strategic and tactical management of optics, including developing and expanding existing standard product families, gathering market and application information from customers, selecting new products and custom capabilities, defining an end-of-life strategy for underperforming products, and aligning with the entire Strategic Optics team in determining the future of the market.

A PLM will work closely with other functional areas including manufacturing, marketing, R&D, sales, applications engineering, and design engineering to develop objectives, presentations and financial proposals for new product initiatives.

• Responsible for defining and developing overall vision and strategy for select products. Strategy must be supported by realistic returns on investment, marketing data, and corporate strategic plan. Includes identifying new domains and applications for products and defining target metrics.
• Develop new standard product, product lines and custom capability offerings for their specific product areas
• Define and communicate the product strategy and plan for their specific product areas
• Develop business cases, business plans, product and capability roadmaps for those product areas, including forecasts, global competitive landscape, pricing, target customers, applications, markets and end-of-life strategies
• Work and collaborate cross-functionally with global sales, business development, marketing, R&D, engineering, manufacturing and supply chain teams on establishing necessary plans and technologies for product/capability development and go-to-market strategy
• Must be able to direct functional groups without direct reporting authority
• Work with marketing to define marketing strategies across different channels, geographies, and customer segments
• Remain up-to-date with current scientific literature, travel to trade shows/conferences, and regularly share new and relevant information with the team and key stakeholders
• Promote their products internally and externally by regularly hosting trainings on products and applications, and attending trade shows, conferences, and seminars
• Maintain relationships with key suppliers, partners, and customers
• Recognize expertise needed for projects and assemble/lead teams of subject matter experts as required
• Qualify, screen, assist in hiring, manage and mentor Product Line Engineers and Applications Engineers in their roles while delegating product line responsibilities through the team.
• Comply with company policies, procedures, and regulations

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Engineering, Physics, or related technical field; two (2) years’ experience in application engineering, manufacturing engineering, product line engineering and/or managing products the optics field required
• Strong optics product, manufacturing, and technology knowledge
• High level of personal initiative
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong presentation skills
• Willingness to work with many groups, across departments, and show strong team spirit
• Strong leadership skills, with ability to motivate and train people
• Ability to manage heavy workload of multiple concurrent projects and…