Global Product Line Director

Smiths Interconnect, is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance interconnect solutions. Our products are used in mission-critical applications across industries such as aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and industrial markets. At Smiths Interconnect, we are committed to innovation, quality, and providing cutting-edge solutions that connect the world’s most demanding systems.

Smiths Interconnect is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, to help create a safer, more efficient and productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defense, space & aerospace and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs c.16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries. 

The Product Marketing Director will be a leader of the Product Line Managers in the Connectors business unit as well as a Defense/Space/Aerospace portfolio subject matter expert. The key objective of this role is to drive revenue growth according to the Smiths Interconnect Connector Business Unit strategic ambition.
 
 
With a clear understanding of product-market segment attractiveness and competitive success factors, you will own the product vision, and technology roadmaps. This includes but is not limited to planned and reactive product development to address short, medium and long term agreed market and customer needs.  You will work closely with key internal and external stakeholders. You will clearly analyze, position, validate and communicate our competitive position in terms of critical customer success factors and ensure this is reviewed and communicate frequently.

This will require a structured and systemic approach to competitive benchmarking and dialog with elements of the customer decision making unit. Help manage the Defense/Space/Aerospace (D/S/A) product portfolio (business plan, positioning, buying process, market requirements and marketing plan). Articulate and prioritize problems that solutions should be built. Build an effective relationship and team with Engineering, Operations, Sales, Finance and Marcom. With fellow D/S/A Product Management team members, work closely in value proposition development and communication in advance of product launches and measure the effectiveness. Develop, own and gain agreement for a portfolio investment plan which allows the business to outperform the market, and provides insights into the portfolio life cycle and performance.

• Lead development, recommend, agree, implement, and manage a D/S/A portfolio product-market plan to deliver growth to the business. Own the Contribution Margin for your portfolio.
• Monitor and analyze key performance indicators to determine how well the product is performing in the market, how it impacts the company operations and how it ultimately contributes to profit. Agree KPIs such as Contribution Margin, Revenue, Vitality, Adoption and Availability, measure and report on their effectiveness and efficiency.
• Be the subject matter expert for the D/S/A product portfolio and its position within the external environment. Proactively update stakeholders with the portfolio's progress.
• Input into market level plans and into the marketing communication system.
• Segment market-product sales, communicate and agree priorities for existing and new potentials. Lead the business in “STP” – Segmenting, Targeting and Positioning of your portfolio to ensure success.
• Measure and own the portfolio product life cycle. Take action to revive and reposition portfolio as needed
• Execute an agreed portfolio of planned product launches and support opportunistic customer opportunities in line with company processes

Job Duties:

• Through competitive analysis and the customer, lead the building of key messages and support of early, mid and late-stage collateral
• Emphasize and understand competitive differences, drive differentiation through benchmarking programs and external audits.
• Define specific launch goals and strategies. Develop launch plans and supporting documentation. Ensure cross-organizational readiness. Track and communicate launch status.
• Provide product and market expertise for events such as conferences, tradeshows, webinars and seminars.
• In conjunction with the D/S/A Commercial Director, work with key stakeholders to drive ideation of new technology/products to drive alignment to the business strategy.
• Develop and manage pricing strategy.
• Design and deliver training programs to help the sales channels focus on how to sell the product, not how to use it
• Systematically review opportunities to drive higher sales.
• Lead, support and partner with fellow D/S/A Product Management team members, including but not limited to the Product Commercial Director and the Product Specialist.

The Individual:

• 8+ years of technical product experience, defense and aerospace experience preferred
• Engineering degree or equivalent
• Experience of managing P&L for a product line
• Ability to build and maintain relationships internally and externally.
• Demonstrated skills working across functional structures and teaming with Marketing, Operations and Engineering to achieve business objectives.
• Effective communicator and business leader with excellent management competencies

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)