Product Manager - North America

Product Manager – North America

Mars, PA 16046

Description

JOB TITLE: Product Manager – North America
EMPLOYER: VAG USA, LLC | GA Industries brand
DEPARTMENT: Sales / Marketing / Product Management

REPORTS TO: Director of Sales and Marketing

ABOUT US:

GA Industries, founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1895, is a leader in the manufacture of valves for industrial and municipal water and wastewater industries in North America. GA Industries is owned and operated by VAG USA, LLC in Mars, Pennsylvania, USA. VAG USA, LLC is a member of Georg Fischer headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

VAG USA, aka GA Industries, plays a leading role wherever water is purified, conveyed, stored, and distributed. With a robust and growing valve-focused product line, our innovative and customized solutions are used in multiple applications and industries. With a focus on the customer, we set new standards in quality and service and strive for manufacturing excellence. 

THE ROLE:

We are currently seeking a motivated individual for a Product Manager – North America position. The Product Manager is responsible for executing global product strategies within the North American region for a portfolio of valves used in water and wastewater applications.

The Product Manager will drive product growth, profitability, and market share by translating global product direction into action plans, supporting commercialization activities, monitoring product performance, and providing market, customer, competitor, and regulatory insights to inform product strategies and execution. This position works closely with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Customer Support, and Global Product Management to support successful product launches, sales enablement, product availability, documentation, and customer satisfaction.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Execute product strategy for North America in alignment with global product and segment strategy.
• Monitor product sales, margin performance, profitability, and market share; recommend actions to improve portfolio performance.
• Gather and communicate Voice of Customer, market, competitor, application, and regulatory insights to support product decisions and future roadmap input.
• Identify  market opportunities, customer needs, product gaps, and improvement ideas; maintain input for product requirements and business cases.
• Support product launches, commercialization plans, product positioning, sales tools, technical documentation, training, and promotional materials.
• Collaborate with Sales and Marketing to develop product messaging, sales enablement materials, product presentations, data sheets, launch materials, and training content.
• Maintain in-depth technical and application knowledge of the valve portfolio and its use in water and wastewater applications.
• Maintain and localize product documentation, including specifications, technical documents, instruction manuals, and sales release materials.
• Support product availability and stock-keeping recommendations in collaboration with Supply Chain and Global Product Management.
• Work with Engineering, Operations, and Customer Support to address product quality issues and customer feedback
• Analyze customer feedback and product claims; recommend corrective actions such as product improvements, documentation updates, or training measures.
• Provide product training and ongoing support to channel partners, customers, and internal stakeholders.
• Represent the company at customer meetings, industry events, trade shows, and conferences as required.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 4+ years of product management, portfolio management, technical sales, marketing, or application experience in water, wastewater, industrial, municipal, valve, or process equipment markets.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Engineering, and Operations teams.
• Willingness and ability to travel across North America as required.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Product strategy execution
• Product portfolio and lifecycle support
• Market, customer, competitor, and regulatory insight development
• Product launch and commercialization execution
• Technical and application-based product management
• Sales enablement and product training
• Data-driven performance management
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Customer-focused problem solving

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• Global product strategies are effectively executed in North America.
• Product growth, profitability, and market share objectives are achieved.
• Sales teams and channel partners are equipped with clear product positioning, tools, training, and launch support.
• Product documentation, master data, and sales release materials are accurate, localized, and current.
• Customer, competitor, market, and regulatory insights are consistently captured and shared with relevant internal stakeholders
• Product quality issues, claims, and customer feedback are addressed through timely corrective actions and continuous improvement.
• The Product Manager is recognized as a trusted product resource for Sales, customers, and internal stakeholders.

SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Strong understanding of product management practices, including market analysis, product requirements, commercialization, launch execution, and lifecycle support.
• Technical aptitude with the ability to understand valve applications and communicate product value to commercial and technical audiences.
• Excellent analytical, communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong project management abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience with ERP and CRM systems

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, and communicate orally.
• Ability to use hands and fingers dexterously to operate office equipment.
• Occasional travel by plane, train, and automobile.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 30 pounds.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually mild to moderate during work activities.

EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS:

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Short-Term Disability & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Health Savings Account
• Matching 401K Program

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT:  VAG USA, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.