Director of Product Management – Europe

Director of Product Management – Europe
Automotive Aftermarket – Automotive OEM

A Director of product management based within the Yorkshire region is needed to manage our client’s product management activities and the product management team operative across the UK and wider European territories.

Ideal base – Yorkshire (Commutable from York, Leeds, Hull, Doncaster, Sheffield)

C£54,000 – £72,000, Basic + Bonus + Car Allow + Exceptional Benefits Package + Pension

The Role

• Reporting directly to the UK MD and the Global Product Management Director, this role carries a significant responsibility for managing and implementing product management strategies for all of the company’s product groups on a European platform.
• The remit will focus heavily on product positioning, lifecycle management and maintaining the company’s leadership and number 1 positioning within the markets in which they operate.
• The role will also include responsibility for NPI and NPI procedure, along with accountability for meeting tight annual budget and margin targets.
• You will lead the product management team from the front, encompassing responsibility for all elements of the product mix from technical product support through to new product and market developments.
• Integral to the role will be to build a detailed knowledge and understanding of current customer requirements from a product perspective, along with developing a clear and visionary outlook for future products, product ranges and potential markets.
• Evaluating market trends and technologies to improve product developments will form part of your responsibility along with working closely with R&D to assist in prioritising product evolvement.

The Candidate

• Our ideal candidate will preferably be operating in a senior product management or senior product marketing function within the automotive, OEM or allied industries and possess supervisory or people management skills.
• Knowledge specifically of the automotive aftermarket and OEM parts & components sectors would be of distinct interest, particularly heavy duty applications such as commercial vehicle, off-highway and agricultural sectors, however this is not essential.
• Exceptional experience and a track record in delivering combined product management and brand strategies is highly desirable along with evidence of developing new ideas and new products to both new and existing markets.
• Ability and capability of operating at all levels across diverse markets and cultures will be integral.
• An ability to manage and motivate a multi–cultural product marketing team is a vitally important element to this challenge therefore in addition to senior product marketing skills the role requires a people manager and motivator.
• Full and advanced pc literacy is vital particularly Microsoft applications and in particular excel and power point.

Personal Characteristics

• Gregarious and socially aware.
• Pragmatic, analytical able to work under pressure.
• Articulate & confident.
• Hands on approach.
• Technically biased and adept.
• Persistent, energetic and enthusiastic.
• Ambitious with ability and desire to progress into a senior post.
• Professionally presented and smart in appearance.
• Excellent communication skills in both verbal and written formats.
• High levels of numeracy combined with attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret technical information.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Strong commercial acumen.

Qualifications

• Degree educated preferably within a business, marketing or engineering discipline
• Previous measurable experience within a senior product management / product marketing role
• A second European language would be advantageous, though not essential.

The Company

Our client is a major player in the development, manufacture and sales of their product type throughout various industries including automotive, OEM, aftermarket, off highway, agricultural, emergency services and commercial vehicle sectors.

With global locations they operate on an international scale, this position offers huge scope for a dynamic and professional product marketing professional looking to exceed performance expectations.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a market leading organisation with an excellent career offering along with comparable remuneration and benefits.

Way Forward

Interested in the position of Director of Product Management? Then please email your current CV to Glen Shepherd of Glen Callum Associates Ltd.

Established over 16 years Glen Callum Associates are a leading automotive and industrial Recruitment Agency dealing with successful manufacturers within these sectors.