Global Category Manager

My client is looking for a Global Category Manager Mobile Racks & Storage to join the Mobile Rest & Storage Business Unit.

POSITION INFO :

Reports to : Head of BU Mobile Racks & Storage

Direct reports : None

Internal stakeholders : Sales, Product Development, and Operations / Manufacturing department.

External stakeholders : Customers, Consultants

Job Description : Global Product Manager - Mobile Racks & Storage

Company Overview :

The client is a global market leader in mobile living solutions, offering innovative products and services for use in recreational vehicles, trucks, and marine vessels. The organization’s mission is to make mobile living easy and comfortable for its customers. They specialize in designing and producing innovative solutions for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers around the world. As the Global Category Manager for Mobile Racks & Storage, you will play a crucial role in driving the success of our product line and ensuring that their customers have the best solutions for their travel and outdoor needs.

Position Overview :

They are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Global Category Manager to lead the development, launch, and growth of our Mobile Racks & Storage product portfolio.

As the Global Category Manager, you will be responsible for understanding market trends, customer needs, and competitor offerings to develop and execute a strategic roadmap for our Mobile Racks & Storage products. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including design, marketing, sales, and manufacturing, to ensure successful product launches and ongoing product improvements. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of our Mobile Racks & Storage product line and make a significant impact on the success of our company.

Responsibilities :

1. Strategy and Planning :
   • Conduct market research and analysis to identify market trends, customer needs, and competitive landscape in the Mobile Racks & Storage industry.
   • Develop a global product strategy and roadmap for the Mobile Racks & Storage product line, considering customer insights, market opportunities, and business objectives.
   • Define product positioning, target markets, and competitive differentiation to maximize market penetration and profitability.
   • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define product requirements, features, and specifications based on customer needs and market demands.
   • Set clear goals, key performance indicators (KPIs), and metrics to measure the success of the Mobile Racks & Storage product line.
2. Product Development and Management :
   • Lead the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from concept ideation to product launch and post-launch enhancements.
   • Work closely with engineering and design teams to translate product requirements into detailed specifications, ensuring feasibility and alignment with technical capabilities.
   • Collaborate with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure timely and cost-effective production and delivery of Mobile Racks & Storage products.
   • Conduct regular product performance evaluations, collect customer feedback, and drive continuous improvement efforts.
   • Monitor industry trends, competitor activities, and emerging technologies to identify opportunities for innovation and product enhancements.
3. Cross-Functional Collaboration :
   • Collaborate closely with sales teams to understand customer needs, gather market insights, and drive revenue growth.
   • Work with engineering teams to ensure product feasibility, timely development, and adherence to quality standards.
   • Partner with design teams to create visually appealing and user-friendly product designs that align with brand guidelines.
   • Liaise with manufacturing and supply chain teams to optimize production processes, manage inventory levels, and ensure on-time product availability.

Desired Experience & Qualification

Required Skills:

• Market Research
• Product Development Management
• Target Market Development

Candidate Requirements:

• 10-15 years product development / management experience with progressively increasing levels of responsibility, preferably in the Mobile Racks & Storage or automotive industry.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field; Master’s degree is strongly preferred.
• Strong international experience.
• Strong and proven leader of a diversified team of individuals.
• Experience from interaction with various company disciplines such as sales and marketing, manufacturing, and product development.
• Strong understanding of product development processes, including market research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and launch.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data and market insights into actionable strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute successful product strategies that drive revenue growth.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills.
• Experience from strategic product planning e.g., product generation, phase in / phase out.
• Experience from project management and knowledge of modern tools.
• Understanding of and experience from different engineering disciplines.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and understanding of CAD software and similar tools.
• Fluent English language knowledge.

Success Factors:

To be successful in this role, you understand and live our core values - We are passionate, we act responsibly, we build together, and we embrace change; these values reflect the heart and soul of the company and they define what it takes to work here and how we do things.

In addition to embracing our core values, we believe that you possess the following skills, competencies, and characteristics:

• Proven leadership skills in a multicultural environment.
• Proven strategic and commercial skills.
• Strong technical skills, analytical ability, good judgement with an operational focus.
• Excellent problem analysis.
• Excellent organization and planning skills.
• Understanding of challenges from working in a multi-cultural environment.
• High energy, with an ability to deliver results in a timely and accurate manner.
• Team player attitude who can multi-task effectively in a fast-paced, lean environment.
• Self-starter; committed to the success of the team rather than the individual.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate employees and obtain results through others.
• Superior communicator: both written and verbal.