Product Manager

KELTEC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

KELTEC, in Chicago, seeks a Product Manager to drive the product portfolio, collaborating with Sales, Finance, Customer Service, Operations, Engineering, and Manufacturing to develop, price, and expand products.

We value experience in product management, strong analytical skills, and the ability to manage data and drive profitable growth for a diverse set of filtration products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years in product management or related roles.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and MS Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Identify and prioritize new products and portfolio improvements using customer needs, market trends, competitive analysis, feasibility, and business impact.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and Sales to develop, launch, and improve products.
• Develop pricing strategies, including list and MAP pricing; evaluate costs, margins, profitability, and positioning.
• Maintain accurate product taxonomy, classifications, specifications, data sheets, and supporting documentation across company systems.
• Coordinate with internal teams to validate technical details and improve product-data integrity.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Communication

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Sales support

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Excel

Job description

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Product Manager

Full Time Chicago, IL, US

About KELTEC/AJR

At KELTEC and AJR Filtration, we are more than filtration manufacturers. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Northeast Ohio, KELTEC provides high-quality filtration solutions for compressed air, hydraulics, refrigeration, gas, and vacuum applications. AJR Filtration, established in 1997 and located in West Chicago, Illinois, specializes in manufacturing industrial liquid and dust filtration products.

Together, we combine decades of manufacturing expertise, innovation, and a commitment to quality to serve customers across diverse industries. As we continue to grow, we remain dedicated to operational excellence, teamwork, and creating meaningful career opportunities for our employees.

Summary: The Product Manager oversees KELTEC's product portfolio to drive profitable growth, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Serving as the link among Sales, Finance, Customer Service, Operations, Engineering, and Manufacturing, this role leads product development, pricing, portfolio optimization, product data, and market expansion initiatives.

Duties / Responsibilities:

• Identify and prioritize new products, line extensions, and portfolio improvements using customer needs, market trends, competitive analysis, feasibility, and business impact.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and Sales to develop, launch, and improve products.
• Develop and validate product cross-references and competitive comparisons to support product positioning, replacement opportunities, and market expansion.
• Develop pricing strategies, including list and MAP pricing where applicable; partner with Finance and Sales to evaluate costs, margins, profitability, and competitive positioning.
• Review product-line performance and recommend SKU expansion, consolidation, or discontinuation to improve profitability and operating efficiency.
• Maintain accurate product taxonomy, classifications, specifications, data sheets, and supporting documentation across company systems.
• Coordinate with internal teams to validate technical details and improve product-data integrity, accessibility, and reporting accuracy.
• Serve as a product knowledge resource for Sales and Customer Service, supporting selection, application, specification, cross-reference, and training needs.
• Provide leadership with recommendations on product strategy, portfolio gaps, market opportunities, and long-term development priorities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Three to five years of experience in product management, product development, technical sales, or a related function, preferably involving industrial, manufacturing, distribution, or technical products.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain accurate product data and documentation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience with industrial filtration, aftermarket replacement parts, ERP or product information systems, SKU rationalization, product lifecycle management, pricing analysis, technical cross-referencing, competitive analysis, and new product launches.

Key Competencies: Strategic thinking and business acumen; product and market knowledge; analytical problem-solving; cross-functional collaboration; data accuracy; continuous improvement; customer and sales support; project management and prioritization.

Key Performance Indicators: Revenue and margin growth; portfolio profitability; product-data and documentation accuracy; reduction of obsolete or redundant SKUs; expansion and accuracy of cross-references; timely completion of product initiatives; and effective support of Sales and Customer Service.