About this role
<div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:16.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">Company / Location Information</H2> </div><div><p><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">A.O. Smith is a global leader applying innovative technologies and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products for residential and light commercial applications. A. O. Smith is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with approximately 12,000 employees at operations in the United States, Canada, China, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.</span></span></p></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:16.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">Primary Function</H2> </div><div><p><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Product Manager is responsible for the product planning and execution for assigned products throughout the lifecycle, including: gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements, defining the product vision, and working closely with engineering, sales, marketing and support to ensure revenue and customer satisfaction goals are met. </span></span></p> </div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:16.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">Responsibilities</H2> </div><div><ul> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Manage assigned product life cycle from concept through development, introduction, cost optimization and obsolescence. </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Conduct market research by ongoing visits to retail and wholesale customers, sales groups, job sites, contractors, service agents and trade shows</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Drive specifications and solutions across cross-functional development teams through to implementation.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Conduct competitive studies to identify product strengths and weaknesses</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Innovator</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Extend core product lines and increase profitability</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Identify and terminate products that are no longer needed</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Develop new products </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Identify the need for and conduct research to determine future products or services</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Business Partner</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Educate Marketing Communications/outside agencies and serve as SME in development of the go-to-market strategy </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Work within Product Engineering’s Stage Gate process and develop Multi-Generational Product Plans (MGPPs) for their products </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">With Finance, develop business plan/case for products including sales forecasts, target pricing, and cost targets </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Help profitably grow market share by providing Sales with extensive product information, competitive information and appropriate training</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Keep Customer Service up-to-date on new products and requirements affecting the order entry process</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Provide Distribution with relevant information to move products through our system efficiently and in good condition</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ensure service training and support materials are developed, available, and distributed to the Service group at time of launch; gather information on products in the field that can be used for improvements or to identify quality concerns before they become major issues</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Collaborate with Procurement on new component options, volume forecasts and cost reduction opportunities</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Other responsibilities may be assigned as needed.</span></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> </div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:16.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">Qualifications</H2> </div><div><ul> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bachelor’s degree, preferably in business or a related field</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">3+ years of related experience</span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS</b>:</span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Prior experience in plumbing, HVAC, or a related field, in retail and/or wholesale channels</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Core competencies include analytical ability & problem solving, strong verbal & written communication, technical aptitude, portfolio management, and working knowledge of Microsoft Office</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Successful track record of adding profitability to a product line using data and consumer insights</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Strong interpersonal skills and decision-making ability</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Effective and professional communication and organization skills.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Superior negotiation skills</span></span><br> </li> </ul> </div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:16.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">We Offer</H2> </div><div><p>Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.<br>#LI-AO<br>#LI-Hyrbrid<br>#Appcast</p></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:16.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">ADA Statement & EEO Statement</H2> </div><div><p><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In developing this job description care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. However, for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.</span></span></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:14.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local law.</span></span></p><p> </p></div></div></div>