Job Description

GENERAL SUMMARY:
Directs a comprehensive product strategy from product conception and definition through end of life. Functions as a central resource with design, process, manufacturing, quality, test, marketing, and distribution as the product(s) and/or product line(s) move through their lifecycle. Formulates and executes long-term roadmaps for cost/profit control. Promotes use of new technologies and industry-leading trends. Directs those involved in the design, modification, and evaluation of all phases of a specific product or group of products. Involvement lasts throughout all stages of a product’s lifecycle including modifications, upgrades, and maintenance of the product or product line.

The responsibilities of this role include:
• Working independently with little supervision.
• Making decisions that are significant in impact; errors are not readily apparent due to the complexity of work process/product or time between decisions and results; errors typically result in significant expenditure of time, resources, and funds to correct.
• Using verbal and written communication skills to convey complex and/or detailed information to multiple individuals/audiences with differing knowledge levels. May require strong negotiation and influence, communication to large groups or high-level constituents.
• Having a moderate amount of influence over key organizational decisions (e.g., is consulted by senior leadership to provide input on key decisions).
• Completing tasks that require multiple steps that can be performed in various orders; tasks require simultaneously executing multiple cognitive abilities and maintaining information in short- or long-term memory.
• Exercising exceptional creativity to innovate new ideas and develop innovative products/processes without established objectives or known parameters.
• Using deductive and inductive problem solving; multiple approaches may be taken/necessary to solve the problem; often information is missing or conflicting; advanced data analysis and interpretation skills are required.
• Occasionally participates in strategic planning within own area affecting immediate operations.

The responsibilities of this role do not include:
• Financial accountability (e.g., does not involve budgeting responsibility).

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Identifies gaps in market based on complex analyses of market, customer, technology, and other ecosystem demands and provides this information to guide design conversations.
• Leads team collaboration in the creation of business cases and validates cases for development of a new, complex product to ensure they are appropriate given business direction and asks appropriate questions to understand relevance of program to roadmap.
• Markets new and complex products and technologies through technical marketing opportunities such as conferences, congresses, and direct customer contact and drives product launch efforts.
• Prepares and delivers highly complex technical presentations regarding a product roadmap that explains and demonstrates products managed to customers.
• Translates customer feedback and external environment into potential changes for the differentiated product roadmap and communicates this to senior leaders.
• Directs and oversees the development of highly complex products or new products areas and services, independently; maintains communication with individuals across functional teams.
• Completes product development and definition activities for a new or highly complex, owned product, including determination of cost and impact, and interacts with sales team to generate forecasts.
• Holds self and team(s) accountable for remaining up to date on competitors, technological advances, and the product ecosystem and taking the lead on development and design innovation of new and complex products to articulate differentiation of products to customer and identify trends.
• Communicates regularly with leadership following a communication plan to ensure cross-functional understanding of product plans for a product line.
• Ensures successful cross-functional collaboration by ensuring that agreed upon KPIs and specifications are met for a new, complex product(s), upon delivery by engineering team.
• Collaborates with key stakeholders and program sponsors to develop product goals (e.g., performance, cost, timeline, customer schedules), discuss product feasibility, and facilitate cross-functional decision making for products they own.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
•    Frequently transports between offices, buildings, and campuses up to ½ mile. 
•    Frequently transports and installs equipment up to 5 lbs.
•    Performs required tasks at various heights (e.g., standing or sitting).
•    Monitors and utilizes computers and test equipment for more than 6 hours a day. 
•    Continuous communication which includes the comprehension of information with colleagues, customers, and vendors both in person and remotely.