Product Manager - Hybrid

Klein Tools; Lincolnshire (IL); On-site; USD 89,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Vacations & Holidays

Profit Sharing & Matching 401(k)

Health Insurance (Medical, Vision, &​s

Discounts on Klein Tools products

Education and Professional Development

Job summary

Klein Tools is seeking a Product Manager to develop and execute strategy for large-volume product categories, aligning with company goals and financial targets. You will lead cross-functional teams, oversee 3-year lifecycle plans, and ensure timely marketing plan execution.

Expect travel and collaboration across sales, sourcing, and marketing to drive growth and profitability. The role requires a business-focused background with five years in consumer goods product management, plus strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in business or related field with 5 years of consumer goods product management experience.
• MBA or related advanced degree preferred.
• Experience managing budgets, forecasts, and business plans to achieve financial objectives.
• Knowledge of identifying growth opportunities and launching new product lines via stage-gate development.
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written, with proficiency in MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Develop short- and long-term product plans to deliver growth and profit.
• Prepare annual plans for each major product line and achieve targets.
• Provide strategic recommendations for growth based on market and internal capabilities.
• Maintain a 3-year product life-cycle plan including launches, modifications, promotions, and end-of-life decisions.
• Guide marketing plans, product launches, and promotions to drive sales.

Skills

Product management

Market research

Budgeting

Pricing strategy

Cross-functional leadership

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA (preferred)

Tools

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

At Klein Tools, curiosity powers discovery, ownership inspires excellence, and urgency means we run towards opportunities. We deliver quality and innovation in everything we do, designing and launching hundreds of groundbreaking products each year. Join us and be part of a legacy built to last.

Perks for you include:

• Paid Vacations & Holidays
• Profit Sharing & Matching 401(k)
• Health Insurance (Medical, Vision, & Dental)
• Discounts on Klein Tools products
• Education and Professional Development Assistance

The Product Manager is responsible for developing and executing product strategy plans, including 3 year life-cycle plans that fit the company's selling tactics, distribution channels, strategy, and financial goals on the large volume, strategically important product categories. This position ensures timely execution of marketing plans and effectively communicates critical information. This position will supply market and product data, analysis, and recommendations as needed. This position is responsible for understanding competitive product lines and can compare and contrast product features and benefits with a compelling selling story. This position is also responsible for understanding, initiating, and utilizing all tactical business drivers to obtain financial objectives.

• Develop short- and long-term product plans designed to deliver growth and profit performance that aligns with the overall goals or the organization.
• Prepare annual plans for each major product line. Responsible for achieving plans for each major product line.
• Provide strategic, specific, and targeted recommendations for growth as the recognized expert in the competitive environment, existing internal capabilities, and potential new capabilities. Seek out, evaluate, and prioritize opportunities for product improvements, product line additions, new markets, improved merchandising, promotions, and other growth prospects.
• Responsible for maintaining a product line portfolio strategy that includes a 3 year product life-cycle plan that will include new product launches, product modifications, promotions, and end of life discontinuations.
• Provide direction and ensure timely execution of marketing plans including product launches, product modifications, and promotions to drive sales of products.
• Display leadership qualities when working with cross-functional teams and internal departments. Drives effective communication and collaboration within the organization. Foster good working relationships among team members and other functional contacts. Mentor less experienced Product Management personnel.
• Market & end user expert through interaction with sales people, distributors, and end users through a variety of venues. Collect and maintain market information. Conduct market research as necessary. Spend 10% of time in the field and documents this time and how and where it is spent learning about customer needs.
• Serve as the product expert on performance, functionality, pricing, packaging, merchandising, and value propositions to internal and external customers. Provide product-related assistance to other areas of the company as needed.
• Provide monthly narrative on major product line performance to plan focusing on product lines that are significantly above or below plan along with corrective actions. Provide recommendations for delivering growth.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Bachelors Degree in business or related technical field and five (5) years relevant experience in consumer goods product management or a minimum of three (3) years product management combined with five (5) years of other relevant business experience. MBA or other relevant advanced degree preferred.

Must possess knowledge managing budgets, forecasts, and business plans to achieve financial objectives.

Must possess knowledge in identifying plus justifying a growth opportunity, then launching new product lines and working with a stage-gate development process.

Demonstrate strong communications skills, verbal and written. Demonstrate proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word).

Ability to understand basic financial calculations, simple market research techniques, basic implementation of marketing activities (PR, Advertising, Promotions, POP, Packaging), developing strategic plans (pricing strategy, brand positioning, competitive analysis) with limited assistance, exposure to various manufacturing/sourcing supply chains, and a basic project management proficiency.

Ability to be an effective team player that takes initiative and ownership, while influencing cross-functional team.

Travel Requirements: This role requires international travel; candidates must be willing and able to travel internationally as needed.

Salary: This role has an annual salary range of $89,000 - $111,000. In addition to salary, you’re eligible for competitive benefits that support you and your family as part of your total rewards package at Klein Tools Inc. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors, including, but not limited to, skills, experience, and location.

Your main focus:

• Quality
• Customer Obsession
• Innovation
• Ownership
• Teamwork

Klein Tools is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. For candidates with disabilities and needing assistance, please email us at [e-mail].