Product Manager

C & L Supply, inc is a leading distributor of OEM repair parts and equipment in North America. The Product Manager is responsible for determining the company’s product assortment through effective analysis and selection, managing vendor relations, and ensuring appropriate product offerings and pricing.

Responsibilities:

• Identifies and evaluates new and existing vendors with the goal being to work with the best 1 or 2 vendors in each product category
• Coordinates meetings with primary vendors as required
• Conducts pre-notification communication in advance of each meeting to the sales, accounting, and operations departments to request meeting agenda items
• Develops and prepares purposeful meeting agendas
• Develops and prepares meeting notes and documentation. Ensures distribution of notes / documentation to affected department heads
• Performs vendor program management by communication to the appropriate departments, requests and gathers recommendations. Annual programs are to be summarized and documented. Seasonal programs are to be individually communicated via email
• Manages company rebate program ensuring that the company industry leading rebates and incentives from Vendors
• Manages and tracks open vendor issues, resulting in complete resolution and communication
• Develops and manages performance analysis for evaluating vendors. Provides annual vendor review noting both high and low performing vendors
• Maintains competitive product knowledge and information database
• Manages product lifecycle from introduction to discontinuance or obsolescence
• Assists in defining product positioning and product sales strategy. Provides training and supporting documents
• Provide recommendations for the selection of new products
• Conducts stock status management by determining products stocked by quantities and location. Makes recommendation for changes on products falling below minimum sales standards
• Manages non-stock product disposition by providing recommendation for best method of disposal of non-stock or obsolete products
• Makes recommendation of initial pricing levels and sales margins
• Ensure best cost on products
• Conducts product forecasting by soliciting feedback from various departments for anticipated sales and provides recommended stock levels to the purchasing department
• Manages and hubs the recall process
• Plans, organizes, and facilitates bi-weekly product meetings
• Plans and provides newsletter content regarding content for the product section of the newsletter
• Creates and administers new product process introductions
• Makes recommendations for and coordinates branch product training
• Maintains proficiency with company computer systems in aspects related to job, such as data entry, messaging, call logs, data notations, queue updates, batching, or other job & office functions and requirements
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• High School diploma or its GED equivalent
• 8 or more years' experience with business product planning and related functions
• High degree of personal ethics, customer service, and commitment to safety
• Knowledge of MS Office applications as needed to satisfactorily perform work assignments – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint as well as have the ability to learn company enterprise systems as needed – Solar Eclipse, etc
• Aptitude for mathematical operations and numerical analysis
• Use computers, photocopiers, fax machines, scanners, and phone systems relative to the needs of the job
• Must be organized, able to prioritize, set and keep deadlines, change direction quickly, and adapt to various work environments easily
• Must be able to work independently and at times discreetly, use sound judgment, and make thoughtful decisions in a timely manner
• Must be able to communicate well interpersonally, written, and in group settings as well as follow verbal and written instructions
• Must be able to work effectively in group settings through collaborative, solutions oriented, and win-win approaches
• Must be able to understand and abide by company policies and procedures
• Minimum keyboarding skills of 40 words per minute
• 10 or more years' experience with HVAC business product planning and related functions