Product Information Specialist

Position Qualifications

Education: Typically requires a bachelor's degree in business, data, operations, marketing or a related field.

Experience/Skills/Abilities: Minimum of two to three years of experience managing product data and specifications regarding electrical switchgear, metering and enclosure products, product data and specifications. Technical electrical background required.

Duties and Responsibilities

The main role of the Product Information Specialist is to manage and maintain Milbank's product data model. The Product Information Specialist is responsible for ensuring that this data model aligns with industry standards in the electrical sector as well as with retail and Milbank's own data standards. In addition, the position primarily involves providing support for various software solutions used by marketing, sales and data teams for various business channels nationwide.

The Product Information Specialist plays a crucial role as an internal link connecting the marketing, engineering, product data and sales teams. Product Information Management (PIM) software will be used for the management of all published product information and the various external channels where data is syndicated. In addition, this position will work closely with positions responsible for upholding standard work and processes related to setting up and maintaining items in Milbank's ERP system (IFS).

Product Data Model(s):

• Ensures that inRiver PIM data flows through the PIM software in a timely manner.
• Executes a structured approach to the collection, creation and maintenance of master product data through Product Information Management.
• Verifies that ERP content uploaded to PIM from ERP meets standards based on the inRiver Data Model(s)

Product Data Audits:

• Audits the published data to verify that it is current and synchronized in each output channel in inRiver, IDW, Trade Service, Web, Print, Content Store, etc.
• Maintains and monitors images and customer drawings for published products to ensure URL links are intact and functioning properly.
• Submits engineering change requests for creation of rendered product images and customer drawings.
• Audits data at distribution/branch websites and e-commerce partners.
• Develops and runs data audit reports for ERP product data and PIM product data to maintain compliance and completeness on a regularly scheduled basis.
• Monitors and corrects any product data issues that arise on Milbankworks.com, IDW, trade service, print and/or additional content channels.
• Performs regular data maintenance including updating records, forms, marketing lists, etc.
• Creates, reviews and approves product master change requests to ensure accuracy of data attributes.

Continuous Improvement:

• Assists in the implementation of lean, change management, culture transformation and policy deployment principles and tools in area of responsibility.
• Works cooperatively with others to implement best practices leading to improvements throughout the organization.
• Establishes and works toward aggressive performance goals.
• Utilizes resources, internally and externally, to enhance learning for self and workforce.

Lean Enterprise:

• Establishes and utilizes frameworks and systems, including tools such as visual management, problem solving, standard work and kaizen.
• Adheres to and promotes the HR Pledge.
• Cooperates and commits in a team environment to achieve goals and deliverables.
• Resolves difficult or complicated challenges using the problem-solving process.
• Actively embraces our core principles.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Communication:

• Oral Communication Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive and negative situations, demonstrates group presentation skills and conducts meeting and training seminars to company and rep personnel at all levels of expertise.
• Written Communication Writes clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations in corresponding with all external and internal customers.

Planning and Organization:

• Ability to understand business goals of the corporation and translate into short-term and long-term actions for self and department.
• Ability to establish efficient courses of action for self and others including priority setting and process checkpoints.
• Ability to develop comprehensive, well defined and realistic plans and execute all facets of the plans while maximizing the use of available resources to complete the plan.

Computer and Software Skills:

• Proficient (above average) in all Microsoft suite applications, corporate ERP systems and Product Information Management (PIM) software
• Prior experience using InRiver or similar PIM software preferred.
• Knowledge of Google Analytics, website editing a plus.

Key Performance and Evaluation Metrics

Master Data Management:

Process Improvements and Tools:

• Continually look to identify existing processes that can benefit from improvement in the Marketing Department.
• Help the stakeholders of processes selected for improvements to document, rollout and implement changes.
• Help with the development of standard work specific to the Marketing Department.

Communication:

• Communicate regularly with Marketing Manager, scheduling periodic calls or meetings to provide an update on sales and operations in your area of responsibility.
• Have strong follow-up skills and timely responses to emails and calls from management, your team and internal and external customers.

Attitude:

• Have a winning attitude, always looking for creative ways to grow the business.
• Must have a positive attitude with personnel on your team as well as others on the Sales team.

Culture:

Accountability: