Director of Product Management

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.

The Director of Product Management for the Contractor Division is a key strategic role within the division, responsible for executing the division’s product development and strategy to align with global marketing objectives. This role involves leading teams of managers and individual contributors to plan, develop and maintain a 5-year product roadmap and manage the product lifecycle. This role will also oversee SKU rationalization, portfolio management, technology optimization and collaborate cross-functionally to ensure product success and market competitiveness. This leader must have the ability to see the bigger picture for the organization and correlate the tactical and executional KPI’s to an ROI to reach desired business outcomes.

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What You Will Do at Graco

Strategic Product Planning and Roadmap Development

• Develop, implement and lead 5-year product roadmaps that are in alignment with the division’s global marketing strategy, and lead a team of product managers to execute upon the strategy.

• Define strategic goals, prioritize initiatives, and ensure the roadmap supports overall business objectives.

• Lead team efforts in executing Customer Requirements Documentation (CRD) and effectively partner with operations and engineering for product development execution

• Manage the product portfolio to ensure it meets market needs and supports the division’s strategic goals.

Product and Technology Optimization

• Strategically optimize technology across different verticals and applications to enhance product functionality and customer value.

• Oversee SKU rationalization to streamline the product portfolio and maximize profitability.

Market Research and Insight Utilization

• Lead the efforts to conduct comprehensive technical market research to understand customer needs, industry trends, and competitive dynamics.

• Use research insights to inform product strategies, optimize marketing efforts, and maintain a competitive edge.

• Continuously optimize products based on performance metrics, customer feedback, and market trends.

Performance Reporting

• Prepare and present detailed reports on product performance to the VP of Global Marketing and other senior leaders.

• Provide actionable recommendations based on performance data to guide strategic decisions.

• Monitor and report overall product and portfolio performance and KPIs in accordance with strategic product roadmaps.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Engage with key stakeholders, including marketing, sales, engineering, and customer support, to gather insights, address challenges, and drive cross-functional collaboration in the development and execution of the product roadmap.

• Facilitate coordination between teams to support product development and execution.

Team Leadership and Financial Management

• Lead, mentor, manage, and staff a team of product management leaders and individual contributors, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and promoting a culture of excellence.

• Drive team performance by setting clear goals, providing ongoing feedback, and facilitating professional growth opportunities.

• Establish, manage, and be accountable for the annual product management budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and alignment with organizational strategic objectives.

What You Will Bring to Graco

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or a related field; an MBA or equivalent advanced degree is preferred.

• 10+ years of experience in product portfolio management, with a strong track record in strategic planning, product lifecycle management, and marketing execution.

• Excellent leadership skills; 5+ years of team leadership experience preferred. 

• Strong technical background with the ability to understand and communicate complex technical concepts to a non-technical stakeholder

• Strong understanding of product financial metrics and the ability to develop business cases and ROI analysis for new product initiatives.

• Proven experience in optimizing technology across verticals.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and manage complex projects.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with experience reporting to senior leadership.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.

• Ability to travel approximately 20% of the time, domestic or international

Accelerators

• Global industrial manufacturing experience and knowledge.

• Fluid and material management equipment product development knowledge.

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Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This role is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, F-1 OPT).

At Graco, you truly make a difference. Your unique talents contribute to our organizational growth and future. Not only do you make a difference, but Graco’s culture empowers employees to create their own career path. Whether you choose to advance within your current department or explore new opportunities in different divisions, you have the ability to build your future. Our managers are here to provide support and guidance as you continue to grow within your career.

Graco has excellent opportunities available to individuals who want to be part of a fast-moving, growing company that is committed to quality, innovation and solving fluid handling problems for our customers. Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022. Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities. Graco’s comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.

Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment and eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

The base pay range for this position is listed below, exclusive of fringe benefits or other compensation.  If you are hired, your final base hourly rate will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, competencies, education, and/or experience.  In addition to those factors, we will also consider internal equity of our current employees.  Please keep in mind that the range provided is the full base salary range for the role.  Hiring at or near the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued salary growth.