Product Manager, Electro-Voice Portable Sound (Jan. 2024)

Company Description

The Communications Systems Division of Bosch Security Systems is headquartered in Burnsville, Minnesota. Our product segments include Critical Communications Systems, Pro Sound, and Public Address & Conferencing.  With our premium brands: Bosch, Dynacord, Electro-Voice, RTS and Telex, we provide solutions that reflect our brand values for audio quality, and innovation. The company’s broad portfolio of products and systems are used by government agencies, hospitals, critical infrastructure facilities, broadcast TV stations, cable head end stations, electronic media campuses, mobile sports production truck companies and in many other commercial and industrial environments throughout the country.

Job Description

The Product Manager, Electro-Voice Portable Audio, functions as an entrepreneur, propelling sustainable and lucrative growth beyond market norms within the Electro-Voice product category. Serving as the customer advocate within the organization, the Product Manager is entrusted with owning full responsibility for this product segment. As professional audio expert responsibilities include, but not limited to, overseeing the entire lifecycle of the product portfolio, portfolio management, new business creation, and market introduction processes.

Essential Functions:

• Evaluate the market landscape and implement strategies (marketing mix) to enhance market presence and strengthen positioning across the portable speaker segment.
• Conduct the voice of customer and end-user feedbacks sessions as needed.
• Provide financial and technical justification for product selection, define, and prioritize product development plans, and assess financial requirements to launch products and potential return on investment.
• Consult with engineering team regarding packaging of features, cost estimates, product requirements and/or features, and physical/mechanical aspects. 
• Define the product strategy and roadmap.
• Manage global product portfolio and evaluate market potential for new products.
• Analyze relevant market and market trends and identify end-user / customer needs.
• Define target markets and generate market data including in-depth and insightful analysis of competitors, their pricing, positioning, etc.
• Initiate the Product Engineering Process (PEP), outline the Commercial Requirements Specification (CRS), and provide support throughout the entire PEP for all designated procedural stages.
• Collaborate with external third parties to assess partnerships and licensing opportunities.
• Lead cross-functional teams to create products and manage the product development process from concept through development and manufacturing.
• Ensure product data sheets accurately reflect specifications and capabilities of product.
• Deliver product messaging, positioning, features, benefits and USPs for end- users and customers.
• Partner with sales and marketing to prepare and deliver presentations and materials that educate sales personnel and customers on functionalities and features of products.
• Participate in key sales and voice of customer situations as required.
• Create, author, publish, and disseminate marketing collateral to all relevant parties both external and internal.
• Work with internal teams to plan tradeshows and create effective demonstrations. Attend tradeshows such as InfoComm, NAMM, Prolight + Sound, etc. Train sales force, dealer and rep firms on product capabilities and features.
• Communicate technical requirements and features to engineering staff, signing off on all Engineering Change Orders.
• Develop and manage product mid-life correction or end of life strategies as appropriate.
• Monitor market acceptance, track revenue and profit performance.
• Identify partnering opportunities for complementary third-party products to broaden product line. Negotiate contracts and licenses for new technologies or products.
• Meet with procurement and inventory control staff to coordinate product build and sales forecasts.
• Adjust forecasts and schedules based on ability to build and current sales activity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing with minimum 5 years’ experience in product management or equivalent education and experience.
• Professional Audio industry knowledge and experience including but not limited to portable PA, professional PA, install sound, studio & home recording and broadcast, audio system design and consulting.
• Knowledge of key marketing principles and demonstrated ability to apply them in a business environment including ability to effectively analyze markets and competition to identify customer needs.
• Solid working knowledge of market research, product sales and sales promotion activities
• Ability to grasp technical concepts relating to professional audio.
• Ability to work effectively in a global organization serving a worldwide customer base, and to lead cross-functional teams through the process.
• Leadership qualities and an ability to influence others in a matrix organization, ability to initiate change.
• Ability to plan, organize and follow through/implement to achieve timely, accurate results, focusing on key priorities and effectively juggling multiple projects.
• Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to deliver reports, to make public presentations and to deal eloquently with leaders and the respective sales force. 
• Strong customer focus: able to anticipate customer needs.
• Ability to recognize and capitalize on market opportunities, generate financial analysis relating to product costs, return on investment, etc.
• A knowledge and flair for what will appeal to targeted customers when creating marketing collateral.
• Up to 20% travel may be required.
• Knowledge of MI sales channels (i.e.: retail, distribution, reps, dealers, etc.)

Physical Demands:

• May be required to lift and carry up to 50 pounds when setting up or tearing down booths at trade shows

Additional Information

• All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
• We take pride in our commitment to safety, and we are proud to be an MNSTAR certified site.
• By choice, we are committed to a diverse workforce - EOE/Protected Veteran/Disabled.
• BOSCH is a proud supporter of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) Initiatives: FIRST Robotics (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) & AWIM (A World In Motion)
• Indefinite U.S. work authorized individuals only. Future sponsorship for work authorization is not available.