Product Manager – Anton Paar USA

The Product Manager is responsible for the economic success of their product or product line over the entire life cycle of Anton Paar QuantaTec’s material characterization instrumentation for surface area, density, and pore size analysis.

The Product Manager plays a central role in the company and is responsible for:

• Providing products and solutions in line with the market requirements
• Maintaining responsibility over budget, price, and cost of the products
• Combining market and product knowledge to ensure the most appropriate product placement

Roles and Responsibilities

• The Product Manager is a self-starter who has excellent leadership skills, product knowledge, and engages with inter-company teams to drive successful initiatives. Job duties include:
• Coordinating all measures concerning the product or product portfolio, within the company and with external partners, in order to achieve the highest sales and contribution margins.
• Providing product-specific basic, technological, market, application, and service knowledge to support sales, customers, internal departments, and cooperation partners
• Monitoring the market and competition
• Leading the strategic planning of the product portfolio in coordination with the Business Area Manager
• Participating in R&D projects by drawing up frameworks and NPV calculations and participating in reviews as a member of the steering board
• Defining specifications for the continuous improvement and further development of the product and accessory portfolio
• Evaluating ideas for the improvement of products with regard to their effectiveness in the market
• Making decisions regarding the development of applications, development of new markets and applications, development of norms, standards, and approvals for the products
• Defining prices for products, accessories, and services in coordination with the Business Area Manager
• Planning of and working on product launches, marketing campaigns, and promotional activities in cooperation with Technical Marketing Manager (TMM) and sales
• Creating and preparing the content, performing, and follow-up work of and for sales trainings, supported by “International Training Coordination”
• Supporting the strategically important customers in coordination with Sales/Key Account Management
• Conducting worldwide instrument presentations as support for sales at customer sites
• Participating at seminars and exhibitions, if necessary content-related participation and presence at the booth
• Creating and approving internal sales documents (sales guides, sales presentations, training materials, competitor guides, etc.)
• Approving and, if necessary, assisting with creation of customer documents (brochures, press releases, customer presentations, pharma qualifications) and other technical or application documents
• Organizing and coordinating a possible delivery stop of products
• Monitoring the sales budget and, if necessary, initiating sales promotion measures
• Planning of the sales and marketing budget annually in coordination with the Business Area Manager
• The position essentially requires up to 30% overnight travel domestically and internationally
• All other duties as assigned

Skills and Qualifications

The Product Manager will possess strong product knowledge, industry knowledge, technical expertise and soft skills to engage with customers, including:

• Accountability: Takes responsibility for all work activities and personal actions, follows through on commitments, and acknowledges and learns from mistakes
• Collaboration: Works well with others on internal and external teams by using effective interpersonal skills
• Communication: Provides clear instruction, clearly explains how product or process works and is available to answer any questions that may arise
• Critical Thinking: Performs analysis to determine and assess the needs of the customer and then create a plan to meet the requirements
• Customer Focus: Ability to meet or exceed customer needs and expectations and provide excellent service in a direct or indirect manner
• Problem Solving: Ability to effectively identify challenging or complex issues, evaluate options, and resolve in the best interest of the organization
• Quality of Work: Works to the highest of quality standards by anticipating problems, testing and checking their work, and pays close attention to detail
• Self-Starter: Uses trusted and efficient work methods to launch projects and balances multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• Strategic Thinking: Develops a broad, big-picture view of the organization and its mission by analyzing competitive advantage and threats, industry trends, emerging technology, market opportunities and stakeholder focus
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrates depth of knowledge and skills, and develops solutions to highly complex problems by applying technical acumen
• Time Management: Ability to deliver on time with optimal use of resources, achieve desired results within given time frames and decide between conflicting priorities

Education and Experience

The Product Manager requires a combination of technical education, business understanding and good communication skills. This role requires the following:

• Master’s Degree in the field of Material Sciences, Chemistry, Physics or related field
• 6-8 years of experience in international product management or sales of analytical instrumentation
• Analytical and structured work experience with a high level of initiative
• Exposure to business management concepts
• Strong presentation and communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment

Preferred skills include:

• Ph.D. in Science, Engineering or a related field
• Masters in Business Administration
• Multi-lingual

Supervision Exercised

This role is an individual contributor who participates in multiple projects and cross functional teams and does not have direct supervisory responsibilities.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, observe, communicate and handle items such as computers, machinery and other equipment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

Position requires the ability to obtain a Passport for international travel.

In regards to organizational issues, the employee will comply with the regulations set forward in the Anton Paar Employee Handbook, except if otherwise stated.

Anton Paar QuantaTec Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities at Anton Paar QuantaTec Inc. are based upon one’s qualifications and capabilities to perform the essential functions of a particular job. All employment opportunities are provided without regard to: age, race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, sickle cell trait, marital status, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.