Senior Product Manager - Industrial Drives (VFDs)

Manpower, Inc.; Milwaukee (WI); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

ManpowerGroup is seeking a Senior Product Manager for the North American strategy of a flagship Variable Frequency Drive portfolio in Southeast Wisconsin. This hybrid role partners with engineering, sales, and global product teams to drive growth and commercialization.

You’ll own the roadmap, lead VOC initiatives, and balance long‑term strategy with day‑to‑day execution across a broad industrial customer base, with domestic travel around 25%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, or related discipline.
• 5+ years of Product Management experience in industrial/technical environment.
• Experience with VFDs, motor controls, motion control, or automation technologies.

Responsibilities

• Own the North American strategy and roadmap for a mature drives portfolio.
• Drive VOC initiatives and influence product development and commercialization.
• Collaborate with customers, distributors, sales, engineers, and global product teams.
• Identify growth opportunities and build the business case for investments.
• Influence product positioning, pricing strategies, and portfolio decisions.

Skills

Product Management

Voice of Customer (VOC)

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Influence without authority

Commercial mindset

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, or related discipline

Job description

• Reference Number: 415360
• Published Date: 10/28/2026
• Job Type: Permanent
• Industry: Architecture and Engineering
• Hours: Full Time

Senior Product Manager - Industrial Drives (VFDs) | Southeast Wisconsin | Hybrid

Own the Strategy. Shape the Roadmap. Drive the Growth.

Most Product Managers inherit a roadmap.

This opportunity gives you the chance to build one.

We're partnering with a global leader in industrial technology to identify a Product Manager who will lead the North American strategy, growth initiatives, and commercialization efforts for a flagship VariableFrequency Drive (VFD) portfolio.

The challenge isn't maintaining an existing business.

The challenge is identifying where the market is heading, understanding what customers need next, and developing the strategy required to accelerate growth, expand market share, and strengthen an already established product line.

For the right individual, this is an opportunity to become the business leader behind a significant industrial technology portfolio while working alongside some of the industry's most experienced product, engineering, and commercial professionals.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This role offers much more than traditional product management responsibilities.

• Own the strategy and direction for a critical product portfoli
• Drive Voice of Customer initiatives and influence future product development
• Work directly with customers, distributors, sales leaders, engineers, and global product teams
• Identify growth opportunities and build the business case for investment
• Influence product positioning, portfolio decisions, pricing strategies, and commercialization efforts
• Gain visibility across a global organization known for developing industry leaders
• Build the commercial, strategic, and leadership skills that often lead to broader opportunities within the organizatio
• Long-Term Career Opportunity: This role offers far more than ownership of a single product line.
• Executive leadership
• Strategic business planning
• Global product organizations
• Broader leadership opportunities across the enterprise
• Successful Product Managers gain exposure to:
  • Executive leadership
  • Strategic business planning
  • Global product organizations
  • Additional product portfolios
  • Broader leadership opportunities across the enterprise

What You'll Be Responsible For:

You’ll be responsible for a mature and well-established drives portfolio serving a wide range of industrial customers throughout North America.

The portfolio already has a strong foundation. What it needs is someone willing to ask:

• What's next?
• Where are the growth opportunities?
• How do we better serve our customers?
• How do we strengthen our competitive position?
• What investments should be prioritized to drive future success?

What We're Looking For:

We're seeking a Product Manager who can combine strong business acumen, technical credibility, and commercial thinking.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, or a related discipline
• 5+ years of Product Management experience within an industrial, technical, manufacturing, automation, or related environment
• Experience managing product portfolios, product roadmaps, and lifecycle strategies
• Experience with Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), motor controls, motion control products, industrial automation, or closely related technologies
• Demonstrated ability to develop product strategies based on customer and market insights
• Experience conducting Voice of Customer (VOC) activities
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills
• Proven ability to influence without direct authority
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Strong technical credibility
• Commercial curiosity
• Strategic thinking skills
• Customer-first problem-solving abilities
• A growth mindset
• High levels of ownership and accountability
• The ability to balance long-term strategy with day-to-day business needs
• Comfort operating across engineering, sales, operations, and executive leadership teams
• Most importantly, they enjoy building something better rather than simply maintaining the status quo.
• Ability to travel domestically approximately 25%

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience with industrial drives and drive applications
• Experience with electrification, motion control, automation, motors, or power electronics
• Product launch and commercialization experienceExperience supporting OEM, distributor, channel, or industrial end-user markets
• Exposure to pricing strategy and profitability initiatives
• Experience working in a global organization

Work Arrangement:

• Hybrid work environment
• Southeastern Wisconsin location
• Approximately 2-3 days onsite per week

For someone looking to expand their influence, deepen their business acumen, and play a meaningful role in shaping the future direction of a highly visible industrial technology portfolio, this represents a compelling career opportunity.

** Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. Visa sponsorship, visa transfer, and employment-based immigration support are not available for this position. ** * Please note all resumes and candidate information submitted are kept in the strictest confidence. No resume will be released without the candidate's prior permission. *

About ManpowerGroup, Parent Company of Manpower Engineering

ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower Engineering, Experis, Talent Solutions – creates substantial value for candidates and clients across more than 75 countries and territories and has done so for over 70 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity - as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality and Disability and in 2026 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 17th year - all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.