Product Line Manager, Fluid Power

at  Gates Corporation

Product Line Manager, Fluid Power
Are you inspired by challenging the status quo? Do you thrive in collaborative environments that drive results? If so, Gates could be for you.
At Gates, we are a leading manufacturer of application-specific fluid power and power transmission solutions. We constantly push the boundaries of material science to engineer innovative solutions that exceed customer expectations.
Think belts and hoses. Our products can be found in a wide range of applications such as motorcycles, cars, tractors, blenders, vacuum cleaners, bicycles, and even 3D printers. We do it all!

ABOUT YOU

• We are looking for a Product line Manager who has at least 5 years’ experience and a degree in engineering; business or marketing.
• preferably you worked already in an hydraulic environment.
• As a seasoned professional, your strong communication and interpersonal skills will serve as pillars of success in this role. You have a strategic mindset and a strong business acumen.
• Your self-directed and self-motivated nature will be crucial in driving initiatives forward and achieving exceptional results. With your wealth of experience, you possess the unique ability to make informed decisions with limited guidance, demonstrating your seasoned expertise and leadership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Gain insights of the European Hydraulics market and consolidate for integration into global product line strategies, regional commercial strategies, and overall commercial success and leadership in the market. Includes tracking market trends, indices, and participating in industry organizations.
• Maintain a view of the European competitive landscape, identifying key players, authoring competitive profiles, and enabling competitive benchmarking assessments.
• Drive the progress of new production adoption and product line initiative KPIs and integration into the commercial plans - including tracking actual performance to targets.
• Provide input into the product roadmap based on market and application-driven needs and opportunities. Outline New Product Development projects with a scope and opportunity overview.
• Drive approved VAVE (Value Add / Value Engineering) projects to completion to gain cost and productivity savings for the product line - including supporting the validation of the savings realization.
• Contribute to demand planning by translating market indices and industry reports into projected business implications on end market performance.
• Evaluate, adjust and align cell-level Demand and Supply plans based on commercial initiatives, market conditions, and financial commitments.
• Identify, rationalize, optimize and execute inter-company sourcing - balancing P&L, service level, and Working Capital considerations.
• Resolve high impact service level and quality issues that impact customer satisfaction and financial performance.
• Manage and action Excess & Obsolete (E&O) inventory.
• Provide insights and input into capacity requirements and documentation. Lead select CapEx investment justification and implementations.
• Provide field sales training on products, application criteria and creating compelling value in the market.
• Resolve backlog situations with Sales & Operations Planning, Customer Service and Operations to achieve financial and other operating metrics.
• Capture VOC through participation in customer meetings, Distributor Advisory Council meetings, industry events, and engagement with field sales while engaging as a subject matter expert in customer and distributor meetings.
• Support evaluation of high value or strategic quote packages in terms of pricing and scenario planning around market conflicts.
• Lead the product line specific price increase evaluation and recommendations associated with inflation, 80/20 pricing action implementation, or targeted pricing actions - aligning with and with the support of the pricing team meeting overall objectives.
• Execute the pricing and positioning strategy for new product introductions at a regional level for commercialization.
• Lead catalog creation for regional market needs.
• Provide regional support for vertical market research, content creation, target identification, training and market insights for marketing campaigns.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams for local trade shows, industry associations, and standards bodies participation

As a Product Line Manager, you provide a critical role within the organization - enabling the profitable growth of the hydraulics product line. The PLM works cooperatively with the Technical Development, Operational and Commercia teams to create successful opportunities that improve the overall financial health of the hydraulics product line.

• Based in Erembodegem and working full-time, you’ll have the opportunity to give strategic input and leadership, support the operational excellence, drive customer satisfaction and commercial success and growth