What are the responsibilities and job description for the General Manager, Safety Business Unit position at Watts Water Technologies?
We’re Watts. Together, we’re reimagining the future of water.
We feel proud every day about what we do. We're all part of the same crucial mission, no matter what function we support - it's to provide safe, clean water for the world, and to protect our planet's most valuable resource.
What we do:
For 150 years, Watts has built best-in-class products that are trusted by customers in residential and commercial settings across the world. We are at the forefront of innovation, working with cutting-edge technology to provide smart and connected, sustainable water solutions for the future. Watts is a leading brand with a quality reputation — and we have a dynamic future ahead.
The Business Unit General Manager for the Safety business unit will have full P&L responsibility for a product line generating roughly $50M in revenue, including enclosed safety showers, safety fixtures, tankless water heaters, and more. This role will be responsible for the development and execution of a growth strategy, driving innovation, and leading the business to meet and exceed annual operating plans (AOP). The General Manager will also serve as the primary representative for customer engagement and product strategy, aligning New Product Development (NPD) with customer needs and market trends. This position will work cross-functionally in a matrixed environment, managing Product Management and Engineering teams, and collaborating closely with the Watts Water Technologies team.
Principal Responsibilities and Duties
- Profit and Growth Responsibility
- Full accountability for the growth and profitability of the Safety business unit, including metrics such as orders volume, sales, and contribution margin (CM).
- Develop and execute the product line business plan with a focus on revenue, market share, and profit targets.
- Achieve pricing and product mix targets within the product line to support profitability and growth.
- Leadership and Execution
- Provide leadership to Product Management and Engineering teams, ensuring alignment on strategy, goals, and NPD execution.
- Ensure strong cross-functional collaboration with Sales, Marketing, Sourcing, and Technology to execute the business plan.
- Drive accountability and performance against AOP and strategic initiatives, focusing on customer needs and market positioning.
- Innovation and New Product Development (NPD)
- Lead and drive innovation in product development and market approach, with a focus on maintaining competitive advantage and addressing evolving customer demands.
- Develop and execute global NPD launch plans, working with internal and external stakeholders to ensure product success.
- Collaborate with the Marketing and Sales teams to align on NPD marketing budgets and launch strategies.
- Customer Engagement and Market Intelligence
- Act as the voice of the customer, consolidating customer feedback and incorporating it into the NPD strategy.
- Understand market needs, trends, and competitor intelligence for the safety product line and leverage this knowledge to inform business strategy and decision-making.
- Design, develop, and track competitive intelligence and market penetration strategies.
- Matrix Management and Cross-functional Collaboration
- Build strong working relationships across functional teams at Bradley and Watts, ensuring alignment and dedication of resources to support the execution of strategies.
- Work with Sales and Marketing to develop a go-to-market strategy that ensures sufficient and effective sales resource allocation and channel partner management.
- Lead efforts to improve process and metrics within the sales, marketing, and technology teams.
- Global Strategy and Operations
- Represent the product line's view on orders, sales, and CM during major reviews and operating pulses (Business Plans, Strategy Plan, AOP).
- Drive the mid-term strategy in terms of business development, partnerships, and market prioritization.
- Own the reporting of global product quality issues, ensure timely resolution, and represent the product line in cross-functional decision-making processes.
Experience and Required Skills
- Experience
- 10 years of relevant experience, ideally within product line management, marketing, or business operations in the plumbing or manufacturing industry.
- Proven experience in managing P&L with an understanding of market, sales, and operational dynamics.
- Experience working in a matrixed environment with cross-functional teams, particularly in Product Management and Engineering.
- Leadership and Collaboration
- Hands-on leadership style with a strategic vision and the ability to "roll up your sleeves" to drive execution.
- Demonstrated success in leading teams through the development and implementation of growth strategies, with a focus on innovation and market expansion.
- Strong influencing skills and ability to manage teams, both onsite and virtually across several locations.
- High-level interpersonal and communication skills, with a focus on team building and collaboration.
- Innovation and Market Focus
- Experience driving innovation and launching new products in highly competitive markets.
- Strong understanding of market segmentation, customer needs, and competitive intelligence in the plumbing and safety space.
- Familiarity with quality management processes and regulatory standards relevant to plumbing and washroom products.
- Additional Requirements
- Willingness to travel (approximately 25%).
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field (MBA preferred).
- Expertise in Microsoft Office suite and strong computer literacy.
Preferred Experience
- Experience within the plumbing or commercial washroom industry.
- Background in Sales Management or Engineering, with a track record of driving quality management processes and product development initiatives.
- Proven experience managing products and markets relevant to Bradley’s product lines.
Watts in it for you:
Please note that the following benefits apply only to permanent roles and do not apply to internship roles.
- Competitive compensation based on your skills, qualifications and experience
- Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits
- Family building benefits, including paid maternity/paternity leave
- 10 paid holidays and Paid Time Off
- Continued professional development opportunities and educational reimbursement
- Additional perks such as fitness reimbursements and employee discount programs
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Learn more about our benefit offerings here: https://tapintowattsbenefits.com/
How we work:
At Watts, our culture is team-oriented and supportive. Employees here genuinely care about the quality of their work, and about each other. Our people are the heart of who we are and contribute to our longevity and continued success.
And this is a place where you can have a big career. No matter your role, there are opportunities for learning and development, and your daily contributions make a meaningful impact on the lives of people who use our products and on the future of water.
Watts is committed to equal employment opportunity. We follow a policy of administering all employment decisions and personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic disposition or carrier status, marital status, military or veteran status, minorities, or any other category protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Consistent with the obligations of state and federal law, Watts will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Any employee who needs a reasonable accommodation should contact Human Resources.
