Product Development Manager

JOB SUMMARY: The Manager, Product Development manages the staff, resources and processes required to implement the vision and strategy for new product development.

• The Manager, Product Development is also responsible for lifecycle management of existing products, coordination of internal resources and third parties/vendors for the accurate execution of projects and ensures that all projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.

• The Manager, Product Development incorporates research and the concepts of development projects and capabilities with market analysis, industry intelligence, and customer monitoring to support roadmaps and innovate new products, enhancements, and redesigns.

• The Manager, Product Development reports directly to the Director, Product Development and Sales Enablement.

• The direct reports for this position include: Product Administrator and Product Analyst.

• This position regularly supports and interacts with all levels of leadership and personnel across the business units of Telesystem.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: The Manager, Product Development is responsible for:

• The creation of the project scope and objectives, involving all relevant stakeholders and ensuring technical feasibility.
• Ensuring that a detailed project plan is maintained to monitor and track progress. In addition, validate availability and allocation of resources.
• Managing change to the project scope, project schedule, and project costs using appropriate verification techniques.
• Successfully manage the relationships with our customers and all stakeholders. This will also include the establishment and management with third parties/vendors.
• Ensuring the creation and maintenance of comprehensive project documentation.
• Managing and overseeing the responsibilities of the Product Analyst and the Product Administrator.
• Creating Project Charters that outline objectives, scope, assumptions, constraints, risks, initial budget, schedule, and identification of key team members.
• Prepares and delivers detailed status reports, communicating overall project status with issues and accomplishments.
• Aligns the project scope and objectives with strategic company goals in collaboration with senior management and applicable stakeholders.
• Working with the finance group and other stakeholders on the development of, subsequent adherence to, and detailed reporting of project budgets.
• Collaborates with consultants, vendors, and contractors as necessary to support planning, coordination, certification functions, and supplemental work.
• Collaborates with Marketing to implement targeted product campaigns under the framework defined by organizational leadership.
• Outlining, tracking, and adhering to departmental budget.
• Monitoring the department to determine workforce skills and needs including the assessment of strengths and weaknesses of the team members and supervises the program accordingly. Coach and guide team members as appropriate.
• Attending and participating in regular meetings with the Managers in the organization to ensure alignment relative to the product roadmap and competitive positioning.
• Maintaining professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing industry publications, specifically publications with a channel focus.
• Ensures a consistent dialog between sales engineering, sales support, product development, and product management to maintain common and shared value propositions in the field.
• Identifies, assigns, and attends vendor and industry events (virtual and in-person) to build relationships, identify new development opportunities, and gather competitive analysis.
• Displays initiative and commitment in carrying out the organization’s mission, strategy, and culture. Aligns with corporate values to inspire, motivate, and guide others to accomplish company initiatives.
• Following and enforcing the Company’s policies and procedures, including the EEO guidelines and safety, at all times.
• Performing any miscellaneous department duties as needed.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or GED – required
• Associates Degree in a Technical Field and 5 years of industry experience OR 7 plus years relevant practical experience – required
• At least 2 years in a management, supervisory role or similar role – required
• 2 years Project Management experience – required
• Firm understanding of Telecommunications, WAN, LAN and Network Security technologies – required
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or Equivalent certification - Preferred

Skills

• Self-motivated, drives issues and projects to closure
• Demonstrates competence in analyzing, understanding, and problem-solving of complex issues
• Demonstrates aptitude for technical subject matter, has relevant experience with technical projects
• Ability to coordinate multiple assignments at the same time and prioritize tasks
• Communicates well both verbally and in writing, creates accurate and punctual reports, delivers presentations, shares information and ideas with others.
• Listens attentively to others, asks clarifying questions, actively listens, stays open to other viewpoints, and manages distractions and interruptions.
• Conducts positive negotiations, ability to compromise, handles conflict, seeks common ground, articulates own and other’s goals, stays focused on positive outcomes.
• Prioritizes well, shows energy, reacts to opportunities, instills urgency in others, and meets deadlines;
• Maintains composure during stressful times;
• Evidence of good organizational skills;
• Careful attention to detail;
• Present professional appearance and demeanor through verbal and non-verbal communication
• Demonstrates good working relationships with other members of the Telesystem team
• Demonstrates proficiency in conducting research into project-related issues
• Proficient in Microsoft Project or Mac OmniPlan, Excel, Word, Smartsheet and PowerPoint. Visio skills a plus.

Other Requirements

• Background record that meets Company standards;
• Reliable means of transportation at all times;
• Present professional appearance and demeanor;
• Strictly maintains confidentiality of financial and/or other information acquired in the course of work; discloses only when authorized, unless legally obligated to do so.
• Valid driver’s license and driving record that meets company standards at all times.