Marketing & Product Manager - Sheboygan, United States - VPI Corporation

Description

Company Overview:

VPI, based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, has been a catalyst of innovation and a leader in the flooring industry since its formation nearly 80 years ago. VPI invented static control tile and set the standards by which all other static control tiles are judged. Today, VPI has a full line of flooring products including industrial and static control tile, wall base, transition moldings, stair treads and accessories. Going forward, VPI continues to seek opportunities to diversify its product line, discover new uses for its wealth of technical expertise, display its ability to manufacture products with unequaled quality, consistency, and reliability, and recognize and support the efforts of its employees. VPI understands its strengths and is focused on them to secure a bright future for its customers, its employees, and for itself.

Job Summary:

Marketing & Product Manager will coordinate and develop marketing policies, programs, and campaigns along with developing and launch new products – both VPI branded and private label. Additionally, the successful candidate will be capable of successfully getting menial, low level and senior executive level tasks complete.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Must be willing and capable of working unsupervised with customers, on warranty claims including dealing with customers who are emotional about their warranty claim, sales reps, vendors and senior executives of prospective customers.
• Create marketing literature.
• Update, manage and oversee the VPI website.
• Be a product expert. Hands on, be able to demo our products including how to maintain, install and test them.
• Gathers and analyzes information to identify new markets and customers, demand for products and services, and efficacy of existing marketing campaigns and strategies.
• Conducts market research, sales forecasting, and strategic planning to assess and ensure the sale and profitability of products.
• Conducts pricing research and analysis to ensure competitive product and service pricing.
• Maintains knowledge of trends and developments in the market; identifies needs for new products and services and makes recommendations to leadership.
• Analyzes and evaluates financial aspects of product development.
• Collaborates in the development of new products.
• Composes, develops, evaluates, and conducts training on marketing activities, strategies, and policies.
• Collaborates, participates in, and coordinates promotional activities or trade shows.
• Negotiates contracts for services needed to execute a marketing strategy.
• Leads an interdepartmental team to complete an assigned project on time, to specifications, and with accuracy and efficiency.
• Outlines the tasks involved in the project and delegates accordingly.
• Conducts cost analysis, estimating expected costs for the project.
• Prepares and implements a budget based on estimates.
• Conducts risk assessments; reports identified risks to management; provides recommendations for mitigation of risk (including termination of the project if appropriate).
• Addresses questions, concerns, and/or complaints throughout the project.
• Acts as a liaison between company, customers, and vendors.
• Communicates and collaborates with sales and marketing teams to provide training and information required to promote and sell new projects, programs, and systems.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, specifications, and best practices.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
• Ability to create, implement, and monitor budgets.
• Thorough understanding of principles and methods used to promote, display, and sell products and services.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.

Education and Experience:

• Associate's degree is preferred. A 4-year degree would be an advantage.
• At least three years of experience in a related field.

Physical Requirements & Other:

• Strong work ethic. From time-to-time deadlines force long hours
• Must be capable of understand the "big picture ask" and then unsupervised, work on the details required to make "the ask" happen.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be willing and able to travel, at times extensively.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.

Reports to:

• The President
• Dotted line report to SVP of Finance / Amin and SVP of Operations / Technology.