Since 1873, Kohler Co. has been improving the lives of its customers with exceptional products and services.

Our diversity of products and powerful portfolio of brands lead the way in design, craftsmanship and innovation.

We offer a breadth of products and services, including plumbing fixtures, furniture, tile and stone, and primary and backup power systems, as well as award-winning hospitality and world-class golf destinations.

Senior Product Manager

Job Description:
Primary Function:
The Senior Product Manager has primary responsibility for a few large or multiple aligned/related product lines and is accountable for the marketing management and the financial performance of the respective product lines. This would involve developing and implementing short-term marketing plans and long-term marketing strategies, consistent with the strategic and financial objectives of Plumbing Americas and Kohler Co. Responsible for planning and managing the company's short-and long-range marketing programs. Also responsible for developing marketing plans and programs in support of group profit objectives to include sales forecasts, customer marketing programs, pricing, and product line development plans. The Senior Product Manager operates as the groups recognized central authority on all marketing and business matters related to assigned product. Has multiple P&L responsibility. Typically has more than 2 direct reports.

Other competencies associated with primary function and scope are as follows:

Mentor lower level managers.

Specific Responsibilities:
1. Provide senior management with information and recommendations on the most profitable strategies for the business via annual marketing plan presentations and longer-term business plans.
2. Manage product prices, terms of sale and discounts recognizing our objectives and our competition.
3. Monitor current, and anticipate future, consumer and customer needs and preferences on a worldwide basis by working closely with Field Sales and Market Research.
4. Manage all products in assigned line throughout all stages of their life cycle, developing strategies for development, introduction, continuing contribution, and discontinuance, while maximizing their profitable existence and synergism with all products of the business.
5. Provide Market Research with market demand projections to guide the preparation of forecasts.
6. Work with Operations to ensure needed product supply at the lowest possible product cost while maintaining quality standards.
7. Work in close contact with Advertising to develop promotional plans, advertising campaigns, catalogs, brochures, displays, exhibits, and other support materials.
8. Create, execute, and maintain a product strategy to guide new product development efforts for each product line. Full responsibility for coordinating the new product development process across all functional areas.
9. Closely monitor and steer all Engineering and Manufacturing activities concerned with new product or new technology development and product maintenance activities related to products.
10. Prioritize the efforts of Group Materials through necessary forecasts and product information as they relate to customer service. Work with Materials to monitor activities of critical vendors.
11. Develop proposals for new product introduction.
12. Develop a personal expertise on assigned product markets including a complete intelligence file on competitors' products, pricing, field activity, customer service channels of market distribution and end user preferences. Become familiar with product materials, manufacturing, packaging, transportation and promotions.
13. Review and approve engineering change requests to products.
14. Coordinate the development of effective packaging, advertising, sales and incentive programs, sales displays, trade show displays, and publicity programs.
15. Provide Product Engineering with market preference and trends on products considered for development or redesign.
16. Relate and recommend changes in established market distribution and strategy as necessitated by market and consumer preferences.
17. Coordinate the interpretation of plumbing codes and distribution of this information to the field sales organization.
18. Seek legal advice from corporate counsel to ensure propriety of pricing mechanism, trademarks, product labeling, policies and contractual agreements.
19. Demonstrate appropriate level of competency in the following areas: Drive Continuous Improvement, Set High Standards of Performance, Leadership, Teamwork, Communication, Business Acumen, Management of Self, Management/Development of Others, Focus on the End Customer, and Build Trust.

Supervisory Relationships: Reports to a higher level manager wit

Minimum Education Required: Bachelor

Years of Experience Required: More than 5 years

Expected Travel Time: About 50%

This company may offer relocation assistance.

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