Workholding Global Product Manager
Company Overview
Founded in 1962 and headquartered near Minneapolis, Minnesota, Mate Precision Technologies is a world-class manufacturer of factory productivity solutions servicing both the metal cutting and metal forming industries. Mate manufactures quick-change zero-point workholding systems designed for 3-, 4-, and 5-axis machining centers, including families of standard vises, bases and mounting options, and custom solutions for the metal cutting industry. Mate is an industry leader in CNC punch press and press brake tooling as well as laser consumables and accessories in the metal forming industry. Mate products and services are supported by more than 80 dealers in every industrialized country. For more information, visit www.mate.com.
Position Summary
The Workholding Global Product Manager will support the company’s sales growth worldwide by influencing product and market strategy. The successful candidate will need to effectively communicate with internal stakeholders, influence functional teams, and represent the company in the industry and the public domain.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Be the workholding subject matter expert with strong technical, application and commercial experience
- Develop and maintain a deep understanding of the global metal cutting industry, including trends and changes, competitor activities and customer expectations
- Be skillful at gathering, analyzing and synthesizing data into actionable information that can be used in product development and market strategy decisions
- Actively participate in new product development decisions, including coauthoring business cases and scope definitions that are aligned with the corporate strategy
- Understand competitive pricing and promotion programs as key inputs to pricing strategy and direction
- Develop and conduct education and training programs for internal and external audiences
- Support Sales and Marketing at tradeshows, open houses, key customers and/or other partner events and contribute information that supports all forms of marketing promotions and communications
Qualifications and Experience
- High level of business acumen, able to spot market and business trends and recognize patterns
- Strategic thinker, able to balance and flex between high-level strategy and tactical work
- Self-starter, comfortable dealing with abstract or ambiguous problems independently
- Able to develop and communicate strategy and a vision of the future that inspires others
- Successful track record for problem solving, idea generation, and program execution
- Strong cross-functional and leadership skills, able to manage complex projects
- Proven team player with professional conduct and excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills
- Data-driven, with the ability to analyze data and recommend action based on the information
- Must be able to manage work to given deadlines
- Knowledge of the metal cutting industry, including major technologies, trends, suppliers and products
- Thorough understanding of multi-axis machining and workholding principles
- Knowledgeable in uses and applications of robotics and automation in the machining environment
- Skilled and experienced in project management, including project leadership
- Possess technical writing skills and have experience in producing clear reports and records
- Skilled and experienced in data analysis using Excel and MS Access
- Skilled and experienced in public speaking and effective communication using PowerPoint
- Skilled in MS Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)
- Experience with CAD and CAM software used in the machining process
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 20%
- Fluency in any foreign language but especially German, Italian, Spanish or Chinese is preferred
