Industrial Automation Product Manager (PM) – VFD

Company and BG Description:

Delta, founded in 1971, is a global provider of power and thermal management solutions. Its mission statement, "To provide innovative, clean and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow," focuses on addressing key environmental issues such as global climate change. As an energy-saving solutions provider with core competencies in power electronics and automation, Delta's business categories include Power Electronics, Mobility, Automation, and Infrastructure. The Industrial Automation Business Group category (IABG) leverages Delta’s core strength in power & thermal and its key competencies of Design & Manufacturing to offer a specific subset of product technology, architecture portfolios, and system level solutions. The IABG portfolio includes a wide range of product platforms within Motor Control, Power Quality, Control, Visualization, Sensing, Networking, Robotics & Actuation, Servo Motion, and Mechatronics Sub-systems.

Position Purpose:

In this Product Manager role of VFDs, you will be responsible for the success, vision, and strategy of the product(s) as well as understanding user needs, setting the roadmap, and working w/ engineering. The VFD Product Manager will oversee the lifecycle of these products within the “Motor Control & Power Quality” category to insure integrity and consistency in robust and resilient adoption. He/she will serve as the internal and external champion for the North America region within the Sales, Applications, Solutions, and Channel frameworks – Evangelizing the product, analyze & specify market needs, understanding industry problems, finding innovative solutions and establishing Go-To-Market plans for the product and the local organization. As the product owner, this role will require a high level of commercial judgement to achieve desired business outcomes. You will be responsible for creating strong working relationships & influence across executive leadership, product management, engineering and other functional groups to execute the strategy across Delta businesses, partners and customers. This role will also be responsible for identifying and managing potential partner relationships for the product ecosystem.

Job Objectives (What and Why)

Major Responsibilities/KPIs

• Set Strategy and Vision of the product to align with business goals
• Define/Penetrate/Expand regions Focus verticals/markets & target customer profile
• Revenue projections 5+ years
• Build commercial & technical support networks, training programs and GO-TO expert systems

Product Management

• Local N.A. Region roadmap & growth initiatives
• NPI plan & execution for each series of products from GTM through migration & EOL
• Inventory control
• RMA process

Market Research

• Economic & trend information for the region
• Competitor information & critical analysis
• Product needs & VOC – Voice Of Customer (functional & certifications)
• Develop key processes to drive continuous improvement (CI)

New Business Development

• NBD Exploration and MA/FA/PA Expansion
• Creation and deployment of Sales kit and playbook
• Represent Delta at category related trade and standards organizations for networking, brand building, and opportunity innovation.

Support

• Sales tools including slide deck for commercial training & customer facing
• Documentation & Content (company website, delta pst, digital media)
• Factory & RD Liaison for Product
• Provide support at Trade shows & Promotional Events
• Technical and Commercial understanding of VFDs
• Technical capability to understand the product and applications (what it is, where to sell it, how to compete)
• Communicate ideas to a team and see the bigger picture of how your work will be used by others in the organization
• Take responsibility, being comfortable with making decisions, and taking ownership of the role & the product
• Staying up to date with industry and business: marketing trends, customer demographics, technical advances, and competition
• Able to create steps necessary to achieve realistic results-oriented goals
• Skills: Research, Data Analysis, Planning, Communication, Cross-functional collaboration, Strategic thinking
• B.S.E (EE or related) & 5+ years experience of related product experience AND product management methods
• Knowledge in motor control applications such as: Fans, Pumps, Machine Conveyance, Material Transfer, Lift, Spindle.
• Familiarity with industrial automation market space such as: HVAC, Oil & Gas, W/WW, Food & Beverage, Material Handling, Converting, Packaging.
• Historically demonstrated technical capacity with a hands-on background in designing, installing, programming or testing of AC Motor Drive systems.
• Keen understanding of industry regulations, standards, motor types, drive controls and communication technologies
• Knowledge and experience with Industrial grade VFD brands
• Conducts business professionally with a full understanding of area of specialization
• Follows policies/procedures to resolve a wide range of issues
• Solves diverse and complex problems from minimal instructions
• Able to analyze data and identify factors to select methods and techniques for obtaining solutions

All Levels

• Ability to understand a customer needs and to probe for answers, and then determine a solution and advocate that solution to the customer
• High proficiency with Microsoft office – Power Point, Excel, and Word
• Able to travel out of state and country 20-40%
• Detailed and results oriented with a strong sense of initiative in tackling tasks
• Ability to manage multiple projects and activities at one time
• Strong commitment to teamwork and the success of others
• Develop and maintain relationships
• Highly motivated self-starter with time management skills
• Ability to adapt to Delta’s unique and dynamic culture