Provide overall management of designated products.  Provide product direction and vision.  Manage, promote, direct, plan and coordinate activities for specific products and ensure synergy with related marketing functions to ensure that product line objectives are accomplished within prescribed time frame and parameters.

Promote total quality management.  Demonstrate and encourage the importance of internal and external customer satisfaction and quality work.

This position typically reports to a Senior Manager, Product Management, a Director, Product Management, or to a Vice President, Product Development.

• Responsible for multiple products or entire product family
• Responsible for features, performance, reliability and maintenance of designated products. Use market feedback for product improvements and new product development process.  Document potential product features and extensions, and continuously review and prioritize according to the established process.
• Direct planning of each product development activity.
• Interface with all appropriate internal departments to communicate product roadmap timelines. Maintain product plans for designated products and initiate new product development.
• In concert with Product Marketing, distribute product information to applicable internal departments, including sales, marketing, support and professional services.
• Supervise technical product training programs for internal departments, such as sales, support and professional services.
• Identify customer needs and sales challenges.  Continuously monitor competitive offerings, maintain knowledge of competitive features, and incorporate competitive features, as appropriate.  Provide key competitive product comparisons to product marketing for the timely maintenance and publication of competitive materials.
• Propose new product concepts and/or line extensions to meet existing or anticipated market needs as appropriate and according to the established process. Document product specifications required (PRD); prioritize features and requirements according to the established process; initiate and prioritize the project within engineering
• Provide proposal/bid and development assistance.
• Initiate and negotiate contracts and licenses for new technologies using the established process and coordinating, as appropriate, with VP, Technology; research; and legal after corporate approval.

While the job description describes what is anticipated as the requirements of the position, the job requirements are subject to change based upon any changing needs and requirements of the business.

Required Skills Required Experience

• S. in appropriate scientific or engineering area and at least five years experience in product management.
• Proven ability to effectively communicate with several types and levels of staff and external contracts, both in writing and verbally. Effective presentation skills.
• Ability to effectively work simultaneously on many priorities, which change frequently.
• Proven ability to function in a team environment.
• Thorough knowledge of contracting and licensing process.  Ability to effectively negotiate terms and conditions for licenses and contracts with outside parties.

Key Performance Indicators: 

Product quality, delivery to schedule, product functionality vs. market needs, execution within budget