Product Line Director

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Product Line Director

Job Description

Product Line Manager - Grade 50

The Product Line Manager is the leader and senior product manager for a designated product line. The Product Line Manager is responsible for leading the product strategy, executing the product roadmap in a matrix organization and achieving profitable margin for those products within a business or a high revenue product line. The Product Strategy includes: alignment with Brooks strategy, total and addressable market sizing, customer segmentation and prioritization, customer needs analysis, capabilities assessment and current positioning, and product line roadmaps and plans including the life cycle from product introduction through service, repair and upgrades. The Product Line Manager develops a 3 year product and business plan including growth strategy, prepares pro-forma P&L including a financial model for their product line and owns the gross margin and investments for products in their portfolio. The Product Line Manager is the business leader and develops business plans, marketing strategy, forecasts, product positioning, pricing and Go-To-Market plans in the marketplace. They are responsible for defining and sustaining differentiation amongst competing products. This leader oversees market research, monitors competitive activity, identifies customer needs, defines product requirements and sets technology plans. Responsible for the product lifecycle management process which includes: actively managing product lifecycle/ EOL, setting the services offering strategy, and managing the comprehensive electronics lifecycle management minimizing component EOL issues and maximizing cost savings; setting pricing and contracting to reflect lifecycle, E&O and lot size costs; and driving acquisition of profitable customers with sales.

Works cross-functionally with engineering, operations, service and sales to develop new products or enhance existing product(s) or product line(s). Synchronize product development schedules with engineering and operations. Maintains current status of customer requirements for existing and future products. Identifies, evaluates and recommends marketing opportunities with product line objectives. This position includes a responsibility for maintaining knowledge of technical aspects of product (not actual engineering design/prod dev). Product Line Managers fund and drive operations and engineering to deliver NPI projects on -time, value engineering savings and overall cost reductions.

A Product Line Manager may have other Product Managers reporting to them. Direct reports would have product management responsibility for similar products within the business segment.

Required Skills:

Must exhibit leadership skills to shape/lead growth vision and marketing strategy, growth strategy and business plan. An innovative acumen to develop new ideas through collaboration and to execute on creative ideas. Team leadership oriented, having the ability to motivate and work well with diverse, cross-functional teams including engineering, operations sales, service and finance.

The ability to conduct market analysis and create and maintain a 3- year business plan with product technology roadmap which ties into the financial plan. Identify market segments (OEM tool types, wafer sizes, regions, etc.), sizes, market share, trends and communicate results to management. Review changes to industry standards and communicate high impact items to management. Develop product requirements, product value proposition and technology plans.

The ability to create and maintain a focus on competitive analysis. Collect and use all available material within the company and from other sources on competitive products. Identify how Brooks' products compare in each key category, including cost, features, cleanliness, reliability and serviceability. Drive recommendations and investment for product changes to enhance or maintain competitiveness. Set product requirements and fund development and lifecycle efforts including value engineering and operational cost reduction activities.

The ability to analyze existing product line business and market needs to redefine current product lines, including product requirements, performance specifications, scope of supply, options and configurations. Develop product positioning statement for target market segments . Integrate customer buying criteria and competitive analysis to determine the vector of differentiation in order to position the product line. Establish technology and product roadmaps for the assigned products based on market requirements.

The ability to develop and drive planning for new product introductions on a global scale. Determine customer priority to achieve business goals. Develop and manage beta release programs at customers. Coordinate with Applications Engineering to drive beta feedback directly into Engineering. Own new product introduction issues and resolutions until product release.

The ability to drive customer account planning and management to achieve profitable revenue growth. To provide a base unit configuration to sales for standard products and budgetary quotation requirements. Provide quotation information to Sales with standard pricing and specific part numbers. Perform gross margin calculations and support customer negotiations to achieve required business unit profitability targets. Prepare special proposals as required for key accounts and high profile business.

The ability to maintain and communicate the business unit's booking, billing and backlog information. The Product Line Manager "owns" the revenue forecast for the product line. Constant awareness of current status and anything that could affect the forecast is essential. Interface with finance, sales, business unit management and operations to ensure forecast consistency. Provide book-to-bill estimates as required.

In addition to the processes listed above, the Product Line Manager will be required to travel with the End User and OEM Sales personnel globally to support ongoing sales and customer activities.

A Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Physics or a related technology field with 10+ years of experience in product marketing. MBA or similar advanced degree is a requirement.

Strong analytical and problem solving skills; self initiative. Strong level of proficiency in the use of personal computers and software packages, especially Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.

Detail oriented, have strategic thinking skills, and strong organization and interpersonal skills. Poised presenting in front of customers and members of the Senior Leadership.

Travel:

Greater than 25%

If any applicant is unable to complete an application or respond to a job opening because of a disability, please email at [email protected] for assistance.

Brooks Automation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company considers candidates regardless of race, color, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.