SFR Recruitment Solutions are very excited to being working on this position as a Product Manager. Our client is a leading brand, designer and manufacturer of window and door hardware.

JOB PURPOSE

To support and develop the Product Management, Marketing, Technical Support and Engineering Services requirements of the business. Ensure that the business is in the best possible position to take advantage of all sales opportunities, working closely with the Sales team and taking information from the market, customers and prospects.

Work with Inter-departmental personnel, customers or suppliers both home and abroad to ensure that product specifications, quality and stock levels meet the demands of the company and its customers.

DIRECT WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH:

Exec, Sales Force, Customer Care, Technical Support, Marketing, Operations team, Quality Management, UKAS Laboratory.

KEY PRIORITY AREAS

External activities

Working in conjunction with the sales-team to:

• Investigate customer specific hardware requirements.
• Support sales team with technically related customer visits.
• Seek out ‘new sector’ markets and product opportunities.
• Exploit and develop relationships with industry contacts to keep abreast of market and product developments.
• Maintain and develop “System House” relationships ensuring reciprocal information regarding product and system developments.

In house activities

• Support the Product Management team, with a positive friendly constructive attitude.
• Maintain the company reputation for innovation and first class customer care.
• Ensure efficient and harmonious relationships between departments.
• Encourage a positive departmental style that can be detected by colleagues.
• Ensure that department duties are carried out in a professional, efficient, calm and timely manner.
• Personal organisation – Adopt a systematic and structured approach to tasks with the ability to prioritise and deal with interruption.
• Manage the creation and maintenance of NPI documentation.
• Investigate ‘Group’ product ranges to determine possible suitability for the UK market.
• Work with the Technical Director, Product Development Review team and overseas personnel to promote continuous product innovation.
• Assist oversees colleagues with translation of literature, Newsletters, exhibition material etc.
• Work positively with fellow employees and customers to investigate and resolve issues.

Technical Support

• Ensure that the External and Internal sales and Technical Support teams have ‘computer’ access to technical information relating to all products enabling prompt and accurate response to technical enquiries.
• Ensure all technical support documentation are correct and available via a structured up to date system. All additions or withdrawals of information must be informed to all necessary persons in a recorded manor.
• Ensure that the External and Internal sales and Technical Support teams are kept up to date and trained regarding product innovation, product strategy and new product introduction.

 Product Design and Application Engineering

• Creation of concept designs and/or prototypes required to support business introduction to Group or other suppliers.
• Responsible for producing detail drawings, production specifications and inspection specifications for the production of new and existing products.
• Responsible for creating technical documentation to support selling activity.
• Responsible for investigating variations of existing products to suit specific customer requirements
• Liaison with suppliers to modify existing products to meet changing demand.
• Develop an understanding of market sector legislation (via business networking) and report business potential or risk to NPD meeting.

 Sales and Marketing Support

• Attend, and man trade exhibitions as required
• Produce product literature for marketing purposes. Including: Technical specification and drawing, rendered images, graphics, written content and layout
• Feedback information to the company regarding market trends, Product Innovation and competitor activities.
• Monitor competitors products and feedback to the New Product Development meeting.
• As required attend sales and/or strategy meetings to ensure good communication and relations with the external sales force.
• Attend UK industry exhibitions, gather information.

Quality

• Produce QIR and the QD quality reports and communicate these with the Group.
• Liaise directly with customers or suppliers on quality issues and visit when necessary.
• When necessary assist the “Warehouse Technician” in the creation of reports to customers or suppliers regarding quality issues.

Technical Support to Laboratories

• As directed by the Technical Manager create design and detail drawings for the manufacture of new or refurbished laboratory equipment.
• As directed by the Product Manager manage the outsourcing of parts / services associated with new or refurbished laboratory equipment.
• In line with Purchasing matrix rules, organise all cap–ex approvals for equipment investment.

General

• Uphold the company reputation for innovation and first class customer care.
• Occasional overseas travel will be necessary.
• Occasional UK travel including overnight stay will be necessary.
• Must be willing and able to render regular and efficient service.
• Maintain competency in all company CAD and Microsoft office software solutions

Architectural Ironmongery | Internal & External Doors | Access Control | Window & Door Hardware