Product Line Manager - Chicago - Carlo Gavazzi Automation

Description

Title: Product Line Manager – Switches (Americas)

Location: Full-time, On-site - Buffalo Grove, IL, USA

Region: Americas

Reporting To: Regional Managing Director

Company Overview

Carlo Gavazzi is a recognized global leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of components and networked solutions for Industrial Automation and Building Automation. The Group offers a broad portfolio spanning sensors, relays, and energy management solutions, serving customers worldwide with innovative, high-quality products.

Position Summary

In this role, you will be accountable for sales growth, market expansion, and product line strategy execution in alignment with the regional budget and the company's five-year strategic plan. You will collaborate closely with the International Product Management team and National Sales Companies (NSCs) to identify market trends, define product requirements, and drive new business generation with strategic OEM customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute marketing and sales plans in collaboration with National Sales Company leadership to drive profitable sales growth in line with or exceed budget targets.
• Build, maintain, and formally document a comprehensive understanding of strategic OEM customer needs through CRM systems and dedicated white papers.
• Maintain a strong focus on new business generation aligned with the company's industry-driven strategic priorities.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for upselling, cross-selling, and introducing new products to key prospects and customers, including the pre-seeding of major product releases with OEMs.
• Partner with Strategic and Key Account Managers across the Americas to identify customer needs and unmet requirements (Voice of Customer), ensure high levels of customer satisfaction, and gain a clear understanding of customer business objectives.
• Collect and analyze market intelligence from strategic OEMs to influence the global product roadmap led by International Product Managers; provide product requirements and market-based pricing inputs, and formally validate roadmap projects through sign-off.
• Ensure sales teams are equipped with appropriate tools, materials, and training to effectively prospect strategic OEMs, continuously generate new projects for standard products, and support product adaptations or roadmap initiatives, while driving timely project execution.
• Collaborate with National Sales Company leaders to develop effective customer prospecting strategies within the strategic industries of Food & Beverage, Semiconductor, Plastics & Rubber, and HVAC.
• Maintain consistent communication with International Product Managers regarding strategic market trends, Voice of Customer insights, and new product development; prepare and deliver management reports covering key customer activities, performance metrics (including wins and losses), and CRM documentation.
• Collaborate with regional sales teams, International Product Managers, and Product Support teams to design and deliver tailored solutions for key customers.
• Support the International Product Manager in the annual update of the Product Line strategy, including identification of emerging opportunities, establishment and maintenance of regional price lists, and definition of key marketing promotion (marcom) drivers to strengthen brand recognition in strategic industries.
• Participate in peer Product Line Manager forums to exchange best practices, recommend updates to the PLM role definition, and address operational challenges to improve day-to-day effectiveness.

Key Accountabilities

• Revenue and gross margin performance for the Switches Product Line
• New business generation with strategic OEM customers
• Successful execution of New Product Introduction (NPI) launches
• Regional market trend identification and analysis
• Establishment and maintenance of regional price lists
• Contribution to and validation of the global product roadmap

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Electronic Engineering (required)
• Additional education in Marketing and/or Business Administration (preferred)
• Minimum 5 years of experience in product management or application engineering within industrial automation
• Strong knowledge of automation markets and products, particularly solid-state relays, soft starters and/or variable frequency drives
• Proven B2B sales experience with OEMs, panel builders, or distributors
• Industry experience in one or more of the following sectors: Food & Beverage, Semiconductor, Plastics & Rubber, HVAC
• Prior experience as a Product Specialist or Application Engineer (preferred)
• Fluency in English (spoken and written); additional languages are an asset
• Willingness to travel up to 35% within the Americas region

Competencies & Personal Attributes

• Self-motivated, proactive, and results-oriented
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills
• Comfortable working independently in an international environment
• Adaptable, flexible, and open to change
• Analytical mindset with the ability to challenge the status quo for continuous improvement

Benefits

• A dynamic role within a globally respected automation company
• Collaboration with passionate, high-performing teams
• The opportunity to influence innovative, end-to-end product solutions
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
• Career growth opportunities within a fast-growing international organization

Application Process

Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV to:

Please reference "Product Line Manager – Switches, Americas" in the subject line.

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