Product Planning Directors #IN1299

Cummins Inc.; Columbus (IN); On-site; USD 177,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Job summary

Cummins Inc. is seeking a senior product leader to drive long‑term planning across portfolios and markets. You will oversee the master road map, guide key product decisions, and apply DMAIC/DFSS to improve offerings.

Collaboration with Market Segment teams and Account Managers will shape customer-led plans. You will analyze financial metrics, craft compelling value propositions, and lead scenario planning to maximize growth while maintaining portfolio strengths.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business or Strategy Management, or related field plus 4 years in Product Manager/Engineering/Technical role.
• Alternative: Bachelor’s degree in Business or Strategy Management, or related field and 6 years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead current and future product planning across products, platforms, and markets.
• Own the consolidated product road map and communicate with stakeholders.
• Drive SBP and MPL ownership; oversee PPP to align with business goals.
• Apply Six Sigma (DMAIC/DFSS) to improve products and processes.
• Develop value propositions and position products within the portfolio.
• Interpret financial indicators to guide strategic decisions.
• Engage in scenario planning and market insight derivation.
• Prioritize market opportunities to maximize value.

Skills

HCD principles

SBP

PPP process

DMAIC/DFSS

Value proposition

Product Planning Excellence

Financial indicators

Tradeoff evaluation

Scenario planning

Market insights

Prioritizing opportunities

Education

Master’s degree in Business/Strategy Management

4 years PM/Engineering/Tech experience

Bachelor’s degree +6 years experience

Job description

Responsible for leading the current and future product planning across products, platforms, and markets. Oversee and direct the establishment of products to result in profitable growth. Monitor macro, market, or technology trends, to shape the long‑term product portfolio. Collaborate with Market Segment teams and Account Managers utilizing Human‑centered Design (HCD) principles to understand requirements and develop customer‑led product plans. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of the current product portfolio to set direction of future products. Own total consolidated product road map and communicate widely across the organization. Provide leadership in Synchronized Business Planning (SBP) as the owner of the Master Project List (MPL) and guide key product related decisions. Lead the Pre‑program Planning (PPP) process for relevant business unit and drive customer focus Six Sigma initiatives using Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC) and Design for Six Sigma (DFSS). Develop value proposition for new products and articulate appropriate position within the portfolio. Apply principles of value proposition by interpreting internal and external customer needs based on relevant applications and explaining and demonstrating products, solutions, and services to distinguish strengths and weaknesses to meet customer's specific needs to differentiate against competition. Establish and maintain strong relationships with business leaders. Promote Product Planning Functional Excellence and best practice sharing within the business. Interpret and apply understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions. Apply knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization’s goals. Perform Product Tradeoff Evaluation by comparing and contrasting the interplay of potential product features, regulatory and customer requirements, budget, and technical capabilities to evaluate and decide what can be offered to win in the market. Engage in scenario planning by creating alternate scenarios each including an assessment of variances to business or financial goals, strategy, vision, and capabilities to enable strategic decision making. Derive market insights by researching and collecting market and competitor's product data, trends, and positioning using a variety of primary and secondary sources. Effectively prioritize future product opportunities for the portfolio to maximize business profitability. Analyze the information to develop strategic responses, propose projects and solutions, and appropriately allocate resources in order to maximize business value.

Qualifications

Positions require a Master’s degree in Business or Strategy Management, or related field and 4 years of experience as a Product Manager, Electronic or Systems Engineer or Technical Specialist, or related. Alternatively, the employer will accept a Bachelor’s degree in Business or Strategy Management, or related field and 6 years of experience as a Product Manager, Electronic or Systems Engineer or Technical Specialist, or related.

Experience

Experience to include:

• Human-centered Design (HCD) principles
• Synchronized Business Planning (SBP)
• Pre-program Planning (PPP) process
• Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC) and Design for Six Sigma (DFSS)
• Value proposition principles
• Product Planning Functional Excellence
• Develop and interpret key financial indicators
• Product Tradeoff Evaluation
• Scenario planning
• Derive market insights
• Prioritizing Market Opportunities.

Annual USD Salary Minimum – Maximum

$177,091 - $225,000

Location & Arrangement

Location: Columbus, IN

Position: ON SITE

Job Type: Exempt - Experienced

Relocation Package: Yes

100% On-Site: No

Organization

Organization: Cummins Inc.

Role Category

Role Category: On-site with Flexibility

Job

Job: Marketing

Equal Opportunity Statement

At Cummins, we are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer dedicated to diversity in the workplace. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, gender, color, disability, national origin, age, religion, union affiliation, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship, gender identity and/or expression, or other status protected by law. Cummins validates the right to work using E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. Visit http://EEOC.gov to know your rights on workplace discrimination.