Product Line Leader - nVent KING INNOVATION & GARDNER BENDER

nVent; New Berlin (WI); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Volunteer time off

Well-being program

Life insurance

Job summary

nVent in New Berlin, WI is seeking a Product Line Leader to define the vision and drive performance for the Retail & Specialty Brands portfolio, including King Innovation and Gardner Bender. You will lead end-to-end lifecycle management, build multi-year roadmaps, and ensure strategic alignment across Sales, Marketing, Engineering and Operations.

This role demands strong financial acumen, experience with channel leadership, and a proven ability to grow revenue and margins while advancing product

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA preferred.
• Proven track record in product management/marketing with P&L ownership.
• Experience leading and mentoring teams in a matrix organization.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with financial literacy.
• Experience with marketing automation tools and CRM systems.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive portfolio strategy, category leadership, and multi-year roadmaps.
• Own P&L performance including revenue, margin, pricing, and costs.
• Lead cross-functional teams from concept to commercialization.
• Partner with Sales/Marketing to execute GTM strategies and promotions.
• Develop and coach a high-performing Product Management team.
• Monitor performance metrics and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Strategic leadership

P&L ownership

Cross-functional leadership

VOC analysis

Product lifecycle management

Financial acumen

Strong communication

Hybrid collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA preferred

Tools

CRM systems

Marketing automation

Job description

We’re looking for people who put their innovation to work to advance our success – and their own. Join an organization that ensures a more secure world through connecting and protecting our customers with inventive electrical solutions. nVent located in New Berlin, WI, is seeking a Product Line Leader. This position is a strategic and execution-focused leader responsible for defining and driving the vision, strategy, and performance of the Retail & Specialty Brands product portfolio. This role will lead mainly our King Innovation & Gardner Bender brands. This role is responsible for the end-to-end product lifecycle, including category strategy, new product innovation, portfolio optimization, and commercial execution across retail, e-commerce, and distribution channels. This leader will elevate product management capability, drive accountability for business performance, and ensure alignment across Sales, Marketing, Engineering, and Operations. The role requires a balance of critical thinking, financial ownership, and hands-on execution, with a strong focus on delivering growth, margin expansion, and market leadership.

WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE IN THIS POSITION:

• Portfolio Strategy & Category Leadership
  • Develop and guide the team in carrying out a 3–5 year product and category strategy aligned with business growth goals.
  • Own category P&L performance, including revenue, margin, pricing, and cost targets.
  • Lead portfolio prioritization, SKU rationalization, and lifecycle management.
  • Identify and drive opportunities for share gain, category expansion, and channel growth.
• New Product Innovation (NPI) & Roadmap Development
  • Build and lead a focused New Product funnel and multi-year product roadmap.
  • Translate voice of customer (VOC), market insights, and competitive analysis into actionable product strategies.
  • Lead cross-functional teams to deliver innovation from concept through commercialization.
  • Ensure strong business cases with clear return on investment, financial impact, and strategic alignment.
• Commercial Execution & Go-to-Market Leadership
  • Partner with Sales and Marketing to develop and implement go-to-market strategies, promotions, and PLRs.
  • Ensure product positioning, messaging, and value propositions are clearly defined and differentiated.
  • Drive alignment across retail, e-commerce, and distribution channels to increase performance.
  • Support key customer engagements, line reviews, and strategic account initiatives.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Organizational Impact
  • Lead and develop a team of Product Managers, building a high-performance, accountable organization.
  • Drive alignment across Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance, and Marketing to accelerate execution.
  • Serve as the central point of accountability for product strategy and performance.
  • Influence without authority across matrixed teams to deliver results.
• Financial & Operational Performance
  • Monitor industry trends, competitor activity, and consumer behavior to find opportunities and mitigate risks.
  • Analyze sales data, market share, and profitability metrics for actionable insights.
  • Provide regular channel performance reports to key partners.
  • Own financial outcomes, including: Revenue growth Gross margin expansion Cost reduction/tariff mitigation Inventory optimization and SKU productivity.
  • Monitor performance through critical metrics and dashboards; take corrective action as needed.
  • Ensure focused execution of pricing, cost management, and product profitability initiatives.
• Market & Customer Leadership
  • Act as the voice of the customer and market authority across assigned categories.
  • Engage directly with customers, end users, and channel partners to identify unmet needs.
  • Lead competitive analysis and ensure clear differentiation vs. key competitors.
  • Spend meaningful time in the field to advise strategy and execution.
• Leadership Expectations
  • Establish clear ownership and accountability for product performance across all channels.
  • Elevate product management from tactical execution to strategic business leadership.
  • Drive speed, rigor, and prioritization in decision-making and execution.
  • Build a culture focused on results, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

YOU HAVE:

• A bachelor's degree is required (MBA preferred).
• 12+ years of experience in product management or product marketing, preferably in the electrical space.
• Experience outside the electrical space will also be considered (e.g., construction, mechanical, industrial, CPG).
• Ideally, 10+ years of experience leading and mentoring teams.
• Consistent track record of driving product strategy, new product introduction, and P&L performance.
• Solid understanding of product positioning, messaging, and branding.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Experience with marketing automation tools and CRM systems.
• Strong presentation abilities.
• Strong financial competence and ability to lead sophisticated product portfolios.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.
• Ability to work hybrid from our New Berlin, WI HQ and travel 25% of the time.
• A valid driver's licence is required.

WE HAVE:

nVent is a leading global provider of electrical connection and protection solutions. We believe our inventive electrical solutions enable safer systems and ensure a more secure world. We design, manufacture, market, install and service high performance products and solutions that connect and protect some of the world’s most sensitive equipment, buildings and critical processes. We offer a comprehensive range of systems protection and electrical connections solutions across industry-leading brands that are recognized globally for quality, reliability and innovation. Our principal office is in London and our management office in the United States is in Minneapolis. Our robust portfolio of leading electrical product brands dates back more than 100 years and includes nVent CADDY, ERICO, HOFFMAN, ILSCO, SCHROFF and TRACHTE. Learn more at www.nvent.com.

Commitment to strengthen communities where our employees live and work. We encourage and support the philanthropic activities of our employees worldwide. Through our nVent in Action matching program, we provide funds to nonprofit and educational organizations where our employees volunteer or donate money.

Core values that shape our culture and drive us to deliver the best for our employees and our customers. We’re known for being:

• Innovative & adaptable
• Dedicated to absolute integrity
• Focused on the customer first
• Respectful and team oriented
• Optimistic and energizing
• Accountable for performance

Benefits to support the lives of our employees

• Medical, dental, and vision plans along with flexible spending accounts, short-term and long-term disability benefits, critical illness, accident insurance and life insurance.
• A 401(k) retirement plan and an employee stock purchase plan — both include a company match.
• Other supplemental benefits may include tuition reimbursement, caregiver, personal and parental leave, back-up care services, paid time off including volunteer time, a well-being program, and/or legal & identity theft protection.

Inclusion and diversity means that we celebrate and encourage each other’s authenticity because we understand that uniqueness sparks growth.

At nVent, we are committed to equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by national, federal, state or local law.

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