Associate Product Manager – Lift Systems and Controls

Company Overview

Springs Window Fashions has been part of the window treatments industry since 1939. Headquartered in Middleton WI, we have over 8,000 associates and 18 locations worldwide.  Our custom window treatments are available in nearly every major retailer, in thousands of designer showrooms and showcased in large commercial buildings. Our company is privately owned with products marketed across a broad portfolio of brands including Bali, Graber, SunSetter and Mecho.  Our tagline is “the Best Experience Company.” And it’s more than just a set of words—it represents the essence of who we are. As North America’s premier window covering company, we’re committed to creating the Best Experience for our associates and team members, our consumers and end users, and our channel and business partners. We are bringing new innovations to the market and have a lot to offer consumers who want to improve their home décor. 

Our Department

It’s difficult to think of any department that is more in the heart of an organization than Product Management, and SWF is no exception.  Product management at SWF is a growing, dynamic, and fast-paced department providing a vital bridge between the innovators and the marketplace.   The role of product management spans many activities from strategic to tactical and those in the department regularly interact with nearly every other functional area within the organization.  Seventeen product lines and growing ensures plenty of opportunity for cross-training and growth within the department.

Mission

As part of the Product Management team, contribute to the development and execution of strategy to position multiple product lines to lead the market, driving profitable growth and share gain in all channels.

Job Overview

Product & Portfolio Management at SWF is a growing, dynamic, and fast-paced department providing a vital bridge between the innovators and the marketplace. The role spans many activities from strategic to tactical and those in the department regularly interact with nearly every other functional area within the organization – the hub of the company.  Seventeen product lines and growing ensures plenty of opportunity for cross-training and growth within the department. The Associate Product Manager – Lift Systems and Controls role will work cross functionally across nearly all of SWF’s product lines and brands.  The role’s primary objective(s) is to support profitable growth within the category by:

• Supporting the deployment of consumer-centric and innovative motorized, and non-motorized, window covering solutions.
• Assisting in the management of the existing Lift Systems and Controls portfolio of products.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead or assist teams in driving product line KPI’s including revenue, profitability, service, quality, and inventory metrics.
• Collect and interpret product analytics data and market research to help improve and iterate on product features.
• Successfully manage projects spanning across multiple cross functional teams, facilities, and product lines. 
• Support the development of the global product strategy and execution of new product launches.
• Provide technical support (be the product line expert) for the assigned product line, sometimes including sales training.
• Conduct thorough competitor analysis to inform pricing strategies and market positioning across all go to market channels.
• Assist in sales and operations planning, including pricing, forecast and inventory management.
• Support profitable growth within the P&L of the assigned product line(s).
• Readily address customer and operational issues (service, quality, inventory, etc.).
• Proactively identify sales and margin improvement through analysis of pricing and cost trends. 
• Understand and follow business processes with a focus on continuous improvement.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree with emphasis in Marketing, Business Administration or similar required.
• Two or more years marketing or sales experience with a consumer products company is preferred.
• Experience working with customized products is a plus.
• Experience working with products with a motorized component is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Looking for problem solvers, efficiency advocates and leaders not afraid to roll up their sleeves. This person must have keen analytical and communication skills as well as a passion for continuous learning.

• Direct and effective communication style, both written and verbal.
• Financial savvy and experience with data analytics.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to lead without authority.
• MS Office: PowerPoint, Excel, MS Project or Smartsheet, Visio skills.

Behavioral Competencies

• Ensures Accountability – Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Drive Engagement – Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.
• Instill Trust – Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Drive Results – Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances
• Consumer/Customer Focus – Building strong customer relationships and delivering on customer-centric solutions.
• Critical Thinking – Making Sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Being Resilient – Rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.
• Optimize Work Processes – Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.