Associate Product Manager

Description

Dynabrade, Inc., a leading manufacturer of pneumatic and abrasive tools is looking for an Associate Product Manager to join our Product Management team.

Summary of Job: The Associate Product Manager is responsible for supporting the execution of product strategies, managing project timelines, and contributing to cross-functional initiatives across the product lifecycle. Working closely with other Product Managers and the Global Manager – Product Development to build the expertise needed to grow into a full Product Manager. Assists with requirements gathering, product data management, and stakeholder communication while increasing ownership of defined product areas and projects. The Associate collaborates directly with cross-functional partners including Engineering, Operations, Purchasing, Sales, and Marketing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Product Strategy & Portfolio Support

· Market Research: Assist in researching local and global markets to identify key competitors, consumer trends, and emerging opportunities.

· Roadmap Contribution: Support the development and maintenance of product roadmaps in partnership with Product Managers and the Global Manager – Product Development.

· Requirements Gathering: Translate product concepts and stakeholder feedback into documented product specifications and requirements.

· Financial Analysis: Assist in conducting profitability analyses by segment, hierarchy, and SKU to support product rationalization efforts.

· Continuous Improvement: Collect and integrate market and user feedback to inform product refinements and ongoing development.

Project Management & Operational Execution

· Timeline Support: Monitor project milestones throughout the product lifecycle and assist Product Managers in maintaining project schedules to ensure on-time delivery.

· PIM Administration: Serve as a contributor to the Product Information Management system, executing individual and mass data updates to maintain accuracy across digital sales channels and partner portals.

· Attribute Research: Research technical tool specifications to fulfill requests for new product attributes from external partners.

· Stakeholder Communication: Proactively communicate project status and critical developments to relevant stakeholders and cross-functional teams.

Sales, Marketing, & Launch Support

· Launch Support: Assist in preparing and delivering cross-functional launch presentations, helping to translate technical specifications into a clear product narrative.

· Commercial Assistance: Provide product knowledge and technical expertise to support the development of sales tools and marketing collateral.

· In-Field Research: Conduct field tests, site visits, and end-user call to gather product intelligence; attend major tradeshows to represent the brand.

· Review promotional materials to ensure continuity in product line strategy and consistent messaging.

Requirements

Essential Competencies:

· Written | Oral Communication- clear and informative; presents numerical data effectively, speaks clearly and persuasively in situations; strong group presentation skills; participative in meetings.

· Mechanical Aptitude- able to understand, apply, and work with concepts, systems, and tools. 

· Customer Service- manages difficult or emotional customer situations; responds promptly to customer needs; solicits customer feedback; responds to requests for service; meets commitments.

· Planning - prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; sets goals and objectives. 

· Mentorship: Work closely with Product Managers and the Global Manager – Product Development to build expertise in product strategy, project management, and cross-functional leadership.

· Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build effective working relationships with Engineering, Operations, Purchasing, and Sales to develop inter-departmental communication skills.

· Proactive Growth: Demonstrate an internal drive to expand understanding of the company’s business philosophy; pursue ongoing education and third-party training in qualified fields of interest.

· Innovation: Identify new opportunities to innovate for product and process improvement and bring forward creative ideas that benefit the team.

Knowledge, Skills & Ability: 

· Bachelor’s degree in project management, Business or Engineering, or related field of study. 

· Proficiency in Microsoft (Excel for data analysis, PowerPoint for presentations, and Word for documentation); experience with PIM or ERP systems,  and project management software. 

· Well-organized, capable of managing multiple projects and a diverse set of objectives.? 

· Ability to work individually, in a team and in a fast-paced environment.? 

· 2-4 years of technical-commercial or product-related experience, preferably manufacturing, or similar technical industry; ability to manage tasks and projects within a structured environment.

· Foundational mechanical intuition and interest in industrial tools; ability to interpret basic technical drawings and product specifications.

· A motivated self-starter with strong communication and organizational skills; eager to build the ability to translate technical data into a compelling product narrative.

· Ability to travel up to 15% of the time for field research, site visits, and industry tradeshows.