Product Manager Food Pathogens Gold Standard Diagnostics

Product Manager Food Pathogens Gold Standard Diagnostics

Gold Standard Diagnostics is an international business line focused on providing fast, reliable, and easy-to-use diagnostic test kits and instruments in the field of bioanalytical testing for the food & feed industries.

Their in-house R&D teams have expertise in developing a wide range of innovative methods and applications to meet the testing needs of both research and industry.

Job Description

Being part of the Gold Standard Diagnostics Industrial Solutions team, Product Managers' overall objective is the sustainable and profitable growth of the assigned product & solution portfolio by assessing and understanding customer needs. They define product requirements and specifications and build business cases to justify new product development activities. Product Managers analyze the competitive landscape and understand, segment the market. They document market size, market share and market growth and provide competitive intelligence to the management and commercial teams. Product Managers train and support sales & marketing colleagues to win customers and business.

The Food Safety range and market is composed for Food Pathogens and Food Allergens testing. The mission of the Product Manager is to position the different solutions to address this particular segment of market. The addressed market is made of Food Industries, Public and Private Food testing laboratories.

Strategy/Launch/Promotion/Positioning/Marketing and Messaging

• Provide and maintain a product launch overview, including product launch dates.
• Prepare and execute the Marketing and Sales Plans for existing products and new product launches. Assess the market of interest to focus the plan accordingly and support sales network to approach this market.
• Secure post launch support (prio1 and 2): Collect regular feedback from sales team/customer/market. Monitor performance (sales in EUR/units sold) on a quarterly basis and compare to target. Analyse average pricing and compare to launch plan. Propose and implement corrective actions if required to ensure customer satisfaction and profitability. Active attention and contribution on customer complaints review. For prio1 products set review meeting with MD IBL, MD IS/AH, IBL Marketing and Sales Directors (6 months post product launch). For prio2 projects provide report.

Portfolio Strategy/Promotion/Maintenance/Support

• Develop and maintain current market size and market share estimates for own product portfolio and competitor portfolios; provide market segmentation by geography, industry segment and technology. Set 3 and 5 years market strategy, share targets/sales targets and track progress (actual sales) versus targets and implement corrective actions together with marketing and sales team. Identify competitor activities and develop action to address them.
• Go-to-Market strategy: work closely with marketing team to develop and execute a joint promotion and communication plan on an annual basis for existing product lines. Also identify and implement appropriate promotional tools for field marketing, trade shows and exhibits as defined in the marketing plan. Provide content and input for online and social media activities and promotion. Share annual plan with MD IBL, MD IS/AH, MDs and SDs.
• Drive sales of existing products/portfolios in current and new markets by supporting the regional and local sales teams globally. This includes product updates, trainings, joint customer visits, cross-sales ideas and identifying opportunities to support sales and marketing initiatives.
• Develop and deliver training to sales and marketing organizations, distributors, and sales support functions (e.g.: customer care) to demonstrate core message, features and benefits, competitive advantage and USP, build sales support tools (like battle cards), identify common objections and effective responses. Initiate and inform about new applications, addressing customer specific needs. Communicate relevant regulatory changes. All to drive product sales and operating income.
• Work closely with QM and customer services to understand critical complaints that impact commercial and technical product performance.
• Work in a team approach with other Product Manager to address common topics and interest (e.g.: Automation and Service) keeping the vision of Solution provider approach to differentiate GSD offer from other players.

Life Cycle Management, NPDP

• Portfolio analysis & Portfolio review
• Work with sales, technical and research personnel globally to identify and evaluate new products and technologies (competitors, start up's) via close feedback from sales/customers/conferences.
• Support product feasibility, provide relevant market data (e.g.: total market size) and sales forecast for new products to be developed following the NPDP (prio1 and 2).
• Provide design input for new product development (NPD) in R&D, representing the global voice of customer and market.
• Engage in the R&D ideation and gate reviews. Act as project sponsor with interest of complete effort in quality, time, and budget. Cooperate with R&D project leader.
• Assure demand planning management for all product line under own responsibilities in collaboration with Customer Service and Sales team.

Outreach

• Become recognized as expert for the assigned category/products. Develop and maintain relationships with professional organizations/ companies and key opinion leaders (KOL) to enhance understanding of products and positioning.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor of Science degree (Master degree /diploma) or relevant equivalent education/degree.
• Graduation/Qualification in Food Sciences, Food Technologies, Food Safety or Microbiology.

Experience:

• 3 to 5 years Previous work experience in a similar position or similar sector(Industrial diagnostics, Food Laboratory, Food testing)
• Prior experience with diagnostics reagents, hardware and software preferred.
• Previous experience in international environment

Knowledge, Skills and Other Abilities:

• Proficient in Microsoft MS-Office
• Effective and empowering communication and analytical skills required.
• Strong business planning and organization skills
• Must work effectively with others (team-player), capable to align different stakeholders and teams and to drive projects.
• Ability to interact with many different functional areas and different levels within and outside of the organization on a professional base. Ability to define/carry out priorities and execute plans (get things done)
• Travel up to 30%
• General Food Industries or Food Safety knowledge (use of equipment; pipetting; personal safety; general lab practices)Technical knowledge of diagnostic methods, devices, and reagents
• Ability to clearly communicate technical information with customers, distributors and co­ workers.
• Technical understanding of technologies such as PCR, ELISA, Lateral Flow devices, etc.
• Basic knowledge and understanding of microbiology and allergens
• Ability to learn new & existing methods, instruments, and software.
• Language skills: English, additional
• Read, analyse, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Write reports, and business correspondence.