Associate Product Manager

Description

Conair, as part of Piovan Group, is the leading producer of auxiliary equipment for plastics processing. We make and market over 450 products, including resin-drying systems, blenders, feeders, and temperature-control equipment. Conair is also a leader in plastics process integration, engineering, and installation, supporting customers with advanced systems to enhance yield and manage raw materials. After equipment installation, Conair provides industry-leading support via Parts, Service, and Industry 4.0, ensuring our customers Make Every Pellet Count! 

ROLE

The Associate Product Manager is a subject matter expert in their respective product line, developing a positive track record of leading that product line to drive positive changes in market share and profitability by increasing competitive advantage. This role supports the development of the market and the product development process for the product line through market research, product planning, and support of the field sales force. 

In this role, you will interact with Sales, Engineering, Production, and other staff. Furthermore, you will work in areas such as NPD, VA/VE activities, marketing tactics, sales support, price and margin analysis, and product line strategies. To help support the sale of new and existing products, you will be interacting with Conair customers, partners and industry experts. Discussions with customers, as well as insight gained from sales reps, trade shows and industry events will enable you to understand the competitive landscape. You will use this insight to guide and influence key decisions on your products.

This position reports to the Senior Director Engineering and will be located at our Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania location.

DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Product Line Strategy and Optimization

• Provide guidance on product line issues and ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Monitor market trends and competitive strategies to drive product line performance and identify growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with Piovan and other brands to enhance product offerings, market share, and profitability.

2. Market Insights and Customer Engagement

• Engage with sales teams, regional managers, and customers to gain market insights and identify trends.
• Leverage customer interactions and competitive analyses to inform product and market strategies.

3. Training and Marketing Support

• Develop and deliver product training for staff and sales teams.
• Collaborate with marketing on product literature, promotions, and trade show participation to support sales efforts.

4. Sales Collaboration and Business Development

• Work with sales teams to identify and pursue new customer targets and market share opportunities.
• Support seamless sales integration by collaborating with "product captains" and other internal stakeholders.

5. Performance Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

• Utilize financial KPIs and other metrics to assess product line performance and implement improvements.
• Participate in profitability and Value Add/Value Engineering (VA/VE) initiatives to optimize margins.
• Perform regular self-reviews and set measurable goals for professional and business growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Product Management  (or related field);
• Must have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written; 
• Able to address customers and Conair staff in discussing product configuration and work progress. Engages in dialog with internal staff to ensure proper information is provided and communicated;
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Teams and Excel;
• Must be able to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks;
• Must be adaptable and able to effectively manage in a dynamic environment;
• Knowledge of Conair or other plastics auxiliary equipment is a plus.