Location: This is an onsite position based in our Milwaukee, WI office. Relocation assistance will be provided for the selected candidate.
Position Summary
The Director, Product Management - Packaged Boiler, leads the strategic planning, development, and lifecycle management of Cleaver-Brooks' packaged boiler product portfolio. This position is responsible for defining and executing the engineering product roadmap, ensuring alignment with business objectives, customer requirements, industry regulations, and emerging technologies.
The Director serves as the primary link between engineering execution and product strategy, leading cross-functional efforts to develop innovative boiler solutions that enhance performance, reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and customer value. The role provides leadership for new product development, product platform strategy, lifecycle management, and technology investment decisions while ensuring projects are delivered on schedule and within budget.
Key Responsibilities
Engineering Product Strategy
- Develop and maintain the packaged boiler technology roadmap and engineering product strategy.
- Establish product platform strategies that support long-term business growth and operational efficiency.
- Evaluate market trends, customer requirements, regulatory developments, and emerging technologies to identify future product opportunities.
- Lead product lifecycle management activities including new product introductions, upgrades, cost optimization initiatives, and product rationalization.
New Product Development
- Direct engineering product development programs from concept through commercialization.
- Establish product requirements, performance targets, and development priorities.
- Lead cross-functional teams to ensure successful product launches and achievement of project objectives.
- Drive innovation in efficiency, emissions reduction, alternative fuels, electrification, controls integration, and connected technologies.
Technical Leadership
- Provide technical leadership for the packaged boiler portfolio, ensuring products meet performance, reliability, quality, and compliance requirements.
- Guide engineering teams in the development of innovative and manufacturable solutions.
- Oversee validation, testing, and product qualification activities.
- Ensure compliance with ASME, UL, CSA, National Board, environmental regulations, and other applicable standards.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Service, and Quality teams to translate customer needs into engineering solutions.
- Support strategic customer engagements and key account opportunities.
- Collaborate with partner and sister company engineering and product leadership teams to leverage technology advancements and support global initiatives.
- Align engineering priorities with business objectives and market opportunities.
Organizational Leadership
- Lead engineering product management resources supporting the packaged boiler business.
- Develop budgets, policies, processes, and performance metrics that support efficient product development, product management and align with the long term vision of the company.
- Mentor and develop technical and product management talent.
- Promote a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or related), Business, or a related technical field required; MBA or master's in engineering strongly preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in product management or commercial/technical roles within industrial equipment, HVAC, thermal/combustion, or related capital-equipment manufacturing.
- 3+ years of people leadership experience directly managing product managers or comparable professional staff.
- Demonstrated success owning a product portfolio through the full lifecycle, including new product introduction and profitable growth.
- Working knowledge of boiler, burner, combustion, or thermal-systems technology strongly preferred; M&A or integration experience a plus.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong commercial and financial acumen — portfolio P&L, pricing strategy, business-case governance, and capital allocation.
- Proven people leadership: building, coaching, and retaining high-performing product teams.
- Technical fluency sufficient to set direction with engineering and translate between technical and executive audiences.
- Ability to lead and influence across a matrixed organization and operate effectively with senior leadership.
- Command of stage-gate / NPD governance and product lifecycle management (PLM) practices and tools.
- Understanding of manufacturing operations, ERP systems, supply-chain workflows, and engineer-to-order / configure-to-order environments.
- Awareness of relevant codes, certifications, and regulatory drivers (ASME, UL/CSA, emissions and efficiency standards).
- Excellent written, verbal, and executive-presentation skills — able to communicate from the plant floor to the boardroom.
- Strong strategic, analytical, and decision-making skills with sound judgment amid ambiguity and competing priorities.
Key Competencies
Competency
What It Looks Like
Strategic Leadership
Connects product strategy to enterprise growth and makes resource trade-offs across the portfolio.
Builds & Develops Talent
Attracts, coaches, and retains a high-performing product team with clear accountability.
Portfolio & Commercial Judgment
Allocates resources and governs pricing to maximize portfolio value, growth, and margin.
Executive Influence
Earns trust across functions and credibility with senior leadership.
Technical Credibility
Sets direction with engineering and grounds decisions in real applications.
Drives Results
Holds the team and the portfolio accountable for measurable outcomes.
Working Conditions & Physical Requirements
- Combination of office, manufacturing plant, and field/customer environments.
- Travel approximately 30%–50% to manufacturing facilities, distributors, trade shows, and customer sites.
- Personal protective equipment (safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toe footwear) required in production and field areas.
- Occasional lifting and ability to navigate active industrial environments.
Benefits of Being a Cleaver-Brooks Employee:
- Competitive salary
- Comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, maternity support program, discounted virtual physician visits, voluntary medical benefits (Critical Illness, Hospital Care, and Accidental Injury), FSA, HSA, life insurance, short term and long-term disability
- Cash matching 401(k) plan
- Employee assistance program (EAP)
- Pet insurance
- Employee discount program
- Tuition assistance
- Paid time off and 11 paid holidays
Who is Cleaver-Brooks:
Cleaver-Brooks is the market leader in providing fully integrated boiler and burner systems. We lead the boiler/burner industry due to our unmatched distribution network’s ability to deliver the knowledge, service, training, and support that are essential to long-term performance. Our customers will tell you that we are the only equipment provider that manufactures boilers, burners, controls, and a full array of ancillary and aftermarket products. They will also mention that our unique single-source capability means that we can deliver fully integrated boiler room solutions that reduce overall costs and optimize space. It is our focus on products that deliver the most efficient, reliable, safe, and environmentally sustainable solutions that differentiate us in the marketplace. Cleaver-Brooks continues a 90+ year legacy of providing the customers we serve with extraordinary products designed to deliver unsurpassed performance through the power of commitment.
This description indicates the general nature of the tasks and responsibilities required of positions given this classification. It is not intended as a complete list of specific duties and responsibilities. Nor is it intended to limit or modify the right of management to assign, direct, and control the specific duties of individuals performing this function. The Company reserves the right to change, modify, amend, add to or delete from any section of this document as it deems, in its judgement, to be proper.
By applying for this job and providing your mobile number, you consent to receive an initial text message from a Cleaver Brooks Talent Team member. You will have the option to opt out upon receiving the message. Messages may include updates on your application, scheduling initial screenings or interviews, and similar communications. Standard message and data rates may apply, and message frequency may vary.
Equal Opportunity EmployerThis employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related technical field
- MBA or master's in engineering
- 10+ years progressive experience in product management or commercial/technical roles in industrial equipment, HVAC, thermal/combustion, or related capital-equipment manufacturing
- 3+ years people leadership experience directly managing product managers or comparable professional staff
- Demonstrated success owning a product portfolio through full lifecycle, including new product introduction and profitable growth
- Working knowledge of boiler, burner, combustion, or thermal-systems technology
- Experience with M&A or integration
- Strong commercial and financial acumen (portfolio P&L, pricing strategy, business-case governance, capital allocation)
- Proven people leadership: building, coaching, and retaining high-performing product teams
- Technical fluency to set direction with engineering and translate between technical and executive audiences
- Command of stage-gate / NPD governance and product lifecycle management (PLM) practices and tools
- Understanding of manufacturing operations, ERP systems, supply-chain workflows, and engineer-to-order / configure-to-order environments
- Awareness of relevant codes, certifications, and regulatory drivers (ASME, UL/CSA, National Board, emissions and efficiency standards)
- Excellent written, verbal, and executive-presentation skills
- Ability to lead and influence across a matrixed organization and operate effectively with senior leadership
What We Do
Cleaver-Brooks, Inc., a manufacturer of boiler room products for over 90 years, is the only single source manufacturer and supplier of boiler room products including boilers, burners, accessories and controls. With the vast changes in Environmental and Government regulations in North America and around the world, Cleaver-Brooks, Inc. is committed to heavily investing in cutting edge burner and boiler development. This development provides industrial and commercial users with the highest efficiency and lowest NOx emitting packages on the market today. Our commitment to technology and the environment offers our customers a payback on their investment whether purchasing a new boiler or retrofitting an existing one. High efficiency boilers contribute to the reduction in fuel and carbon footprint resulting in dollars saved and a clean environment.


