Product Marketing Manager

Job Details

Level

Experienced

Job Location

Franklin, TN - Franklin, TN

Remote Type

N/A

Position Type

Full Time

Education Level

4 Year Degree

Salary Range

Undisclosed

Travel Percentage

Undisclosed

Job Shift

Undisclosed

Job Category

Sales

Product Marketing Manager

Company Overview

With approximately $800 million in revenue, The Carlstar Group, LLC (“Carlstar” or the “Company”) is a leading producer of specialty tires, wheels, and assemblies for diverse end markets including: lawn & garden, construction, power sports (primarily all-terrain vehicle tires), trailers, and agriculture.

Carlstar (and its predecessor) have been in the engineered rubber products business for over 100 years and sells its products under many of the most recognized brand names in their respective market segments including Carlisle, ITP, and Cragar, among others. In addition, the Company has one of the broadest distribution channels and the largest installed bases within its served North American markets. The Company is a strategic supplier to leading OEMs such as John Deere, Polaris, Husqvarna, Stanley Black & Decker, and BRP, and is sole sourced on a number of their leading platforms. Approximately 59% of Carlstar’s revenue is derived from higher margin aftermarket sales, leveraging the Company’s large installed base of OEM products. Carlstar has approximately 3,400 employees and operates four manufacturing facilities in both North America and China and twelve distribution centers.

Carlstar is engaged in serving lower volume, higher mix business where the Company must economically manage thousands of SKUs with low individual order quantities through a complex distribution network in a marketplace that highly values timely and accurate order fulfillment.

Through the implementation of efficient operational (enhanced SIOP, lean manufacturing, inventory planning, optimization of the distribution network, redesign and value engineering of compounds and products, improved process control, activity based costing, etc.) and intelligent commercial (dynamic pricing and material margin management, new product development, refined channel management, new account conquests, etc.) strategies, the company is targeting improving performance to over 12% EBITDA margins on substantially higher revenue over time. The company is on a very strong performance trajectory today.

To learn more about The Carlstar Group, please visit the company’s web site: https://www.carlstargroup.com/.

Position Summary:

The Product Marketing Manager for High Speed Trailer and Automotive Wheels is responsible for the development and execution of the product line vision, strategy, and product roadmap working under the direction of the Senior Director of Marketing. This is accomplished through the management of the entire product lifecycle from market/customer needs assessment, competitive analysis, new product launch, and product rationalization.

The Product Marketing Manager for High Speed Trailer and Automotive Wheels will be responsible in the development and management of the external market message and brand positioning as well as the internal margin maintenance/improvement and product quality. By providing market data, industry analysis and voice of the customer data, the product manager will enable the company to make the most informed decisions as they relate to introducing new products or expanding new channels to the customer.

The Product Marketing Manager reports to the Senior Director of Marketing.

Pivotal Experience and Expertise:

Carlstar seeks an action-oriented, self-driven, proven marketing leader, who has demonstrated the intellectual horsepower, energy and wherewithal to lead and transform a growing, dynamic business.

• The successful candidate will be responsible in using market-based data, customer and competitive intelligence to segment markets to develop a portfolio vision and product strategy for new products.
• Manage the marketing tools to support selling activities in the (Product Segment) group, in both the OEM and Aftermarket channels of distribution
• Identify product features that deliver superior customer value, technological advantage or performance differentiation
• Experience in a dynamic, fast-moving and complex businesses is strongly preferred. S/he must be accustomed to operating in a flat organization where there is limited bureaucracy.
• An undergraduate degree, preferably in marketing or a technical field. An MBA would be considered a plus.
• 5 years of marketing experience in consumer and/or retail marketing is required.
• 5 years of experience in the custom wheel aftermarket, preferred.

Leadership Capabilities & Culture Fit:

• Unquestionable integrity, ethics and judgment. The courage and ability to take a strong position when required for the good of the Company.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills. The ability to be collaborative and drive progress and the ability to translate complex business and operational issues in terms readily understandable to a broad audience.
• Highly intelligent and analytical, possessing the intellectual curiosity to probe and understand how the dimensions within their area of responsibility work and influence the broader business.
• Demonstrated business orientation. This individual must have commercial instincts and financial acumen and will be able to connect operational decisions to the broader business and investment thesis.
• Self-awareness and the natural ability to build trust and confidence, especially with functional/P&L leaders, his or her peer group, and the executive leadership team.
• Strong interpersonal skills. An ability to positively engage with people at all levels of the organization.
• Developing the acumen to zoom into the weaker points of situations through pointed questions and critical thinking, without seeking to embarrass or impress others, but to strengthen execution capabilities.
• He or she will embrace a philosophy of transparency, healthy debate and accountability.