Director, Robotics Program Management

FORTNA partners with the world’s leading brands to transform omnichannel and parcel distribution operations. Known world-wide for enabling companies to keep pace with digital disruption and growth objectives, we design and deliver solutions, powered by intelligent software, to optimize fast, accurate and cost-effective order fulfillment and last mile delivery. Our people, innovative approach and proprietary algorithms and tools ensure optimal operations design and material and information flow. We deliver exceptional value every day to our customers with comprehensive services and products including network strategy, distribution center operational design and implementation, material handling automated equipment, robotics and a comprehensive suite of lifecycle services.

At FORTNA, we believe in fostering a workplace that isn't just a job but a movement – a collective effort to redefine success and transform challenges into opportunities. "Join the Movement" encapsulates our commitment to a workplace culture that thrives on collaboration, celebrates diversity, and empowers every individual to contribute to something greater than themselves. Our Team. Our Passion. Our Approach.

Summary

As the Director, Robotics Product Management, you will be responsible for defining the overall strategy and development of our Robotics Product Platform & Vision Technology. You will be responsible for analyzing market, business, and product financials to identify opportunities for product innovation, revenue growth, margin accretion, and market share gain through definition of a multi-generational product strategy. You will collaborate across key stakeholders, including program management, engineering, sales, manufacturing, finance, and installation teams, to ensure execution of platform strategy.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for creating the vision and defining the overall multi-generational product roadmap and commercialization for our robotics product platform and associated vision systems.
• Ensuring the “voice of the customer” is reflected into product decisions and the roadmap, by building external customer relationships to gather feedback and understanding commercial offerings. You will own competitive analysis / benchmarking across product platform
• Collaborating across key-stakeholders, including program management, engineering, sales, manufacturing, finance, and installation teams, to ensure execution of platform strategy.
• Defining and delivering key platform metrics (product & financial requirements) and ensuring differentiation. Will develop and maintain visual dashboard of metrics (month over month progress vs. target)
• Business case ownership for active NPIs (NPV, IRR, Cashflow, margin%, Product Vitality %, etc.)
• Partner with sourcing to define sourcing strategies to support platform growth (make/buy/2nd)
• Partner with engineering to define intellectual property strategies
• Define and lead pricing strategy for across product platform
• Define and execution productivity strategy across platform
• Working with global sales & marketing to develop positioning/messaging, value propositions, sales training materials & collaterals, and creative commercial launches and sales campaigns for NPIs
  
  
  

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical, Electrical, or Controls Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Ten (10) years of experience with multiple roles.
• Roles of increasing responsibility in three (3) or more functions (Engineering, Marketing, Product Marketing or Management, Sales, Services, Project Management). At least one role in a customer-facing function.
• 3 yrs experience with robotics equipment and vision technology. Experience in the material handling industry
• Demonstrated experience leading product or project teams. Above-average influencing skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in technical discipline or role.
• Demonstrated experience with customers in B-to-B environment. Ability to balance empathy with business needs.
• Competitor and competitive analysis. Creates strong value propositions to differentiate products.
• Proficient in program budgets and business plans. Demonstrated performance in achieving plans.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, both in-person and virtual.
  
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• MS in Engineering or MBA.
• Global experience in the European Union, particularly Italy and the Netherlands.
• Roles of increasing responsibility in four (4) or more functions.
• 6 yrs experience with robotics equipment and vision technology. Experience in the material handling industry
• Direct management experience, especially multi-functional or multi-location teams. Experienced negotiator.
• Black Belt or equivalent. Proficient in Microsoft Project or equivalent. Ability to balance process vs. judgment.
• Direct Sales or Service experience. Has applied quality tools to resolve problems. Ability to communicate “tough” issues.
• Experienced in marketing communications & media. Strong industry knowledge & network. Active in technical or trade organizations.
• Functional budget and planning execution. Experienced team member in M&A, business and product synergies.
• Communicates well at all levels from shop floor to C-suite.
  
  

The base salary range for this role is $153,300 to $229,700. This base salary range represents the low and high end of the base salary range for this position. Actual base salary offered will vary based on various factors including but not limited to location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and performance.



This job description describes the general nature and level of work expected of a person assigned to this position. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. Employees may be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor.


It is the policy of FORTNA and its affiliated companies to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, citizenship status (if authorized to work in the U.S.), or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, FORTNA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.