Product Manager

Job ID: 1635 Location: Boise, ID Type: Permanent Key Skills: Product Management, market analysis, Technical Midframe and Mid-tier experience.

Description:
SUMMARY
The Product Manager is a key member of the strategic business unit (SBU) team. The SBU consists of management, sales, engineering, product support, and support personnel for both management and the team. The Product Manager is responsible for the first 21 activities outlined and defined by the Pragmatic Marketing framework for the development and management of product plans for existing and new products. To perform at the levels required by the job, the product manager must have both the technical and business acumen that is needed to interface with the different types of individuals (detailed technicians, technical management, and business management). These contacts will be within the strategic business unit, the customer base, partners, and the market place. The product manager partners with the product technical lead for the SBU to form a solid team that becomes the combined product champions. Performs market and quantitative analysis as well as product strategy and planning. This job is a customer facing position.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Product Management
- Manages all phases of product strategy including identification of market analysis, quantitative analysis, product strategy, product plan research, financial modeling of possible solutions, and presentation of the recommendations.
- Implements and manages customer and industry licensing and pricing programs for the SBU, analyzes market share and creates plans to increase the SBU's market share, and conducts sales forecasting.
- Interfaces with Product Marketing Management to assure both parties have what they need to perform their program strategy, sales readiness, and channel support effectively.

Customer Facing
- Learns how current products are being used.
- Identifies valuable product extensions, uncovers areas where new solutions can help solve problems in our areas of specialization, and service opportunities.
- Identifies missing and needed key capabilities and develops partnerships with key customers to help plan new product releases.
- Identifies technology trends within the customer base and identifies new business opportunities with both new and established customers.

Personal Characteristics
- Strategic thinker with strong technical background in both mainframe and distributed technologies.
- Mentally stimulated at blending technology with business strategy to enhance existing and develop new compelling product plans and to communicate them clearly with conviction.
- Highly motivated and independent contributor with strong desire to expand the company's business opportunity and grow revenue in the line of business.
- Desire and ability to build and maintain strong technical relationships with engineering team.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills - including team leadership, negotiating and influencing skills.
- Ability to establish goals, align resources and translate needs into action.
- Strong knowledge of product development processes, preferably for a technology-based product or service.
- Financially motivated.
- Enjoys travel.
- Implements and manages customer and industry licensing and pricing programs for the SBU, analyzes market share and creates plans to increase the SBU's market share, and conducts sales forecasting.
- Interfaces with Product Marketing Management to assure both parties have what they need to perform their program strategy, sales readiness, and channel support effectively.

Requirement:
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Experience
- Minimum of 10 years' experience performing similar essential duties and responsibilities in companies with less than $50 million in annual revenue. Verifiable exemplary results will be required. Candidates educated in and had success implementing the Pragmatic Marketing Framework preferred.

Technical Experience
- Mainframe - Fluent with mainframe technologies including architecture (SYSPLEX), concepts, operating systems (z/VSE and z/OS), applications (CICS, SOA, WebSphere,) and networks.
- Mid-tier: Fluent with mid-tier technology including Microsoft operating systems, Unix, solutions, J2EE, .Net, E-Business, WebSphere, and WebLogic.
- Office processes and procedures: Expert in using Microsoft Office products and CRM systems.
Experienced with project management methodologies and tools.

Education
- Bachelors' degree in technology and/or business-related field from an accredited university, with MBA preferred.
- Current product management education.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Reports directly to the Vice President/General Manager of Enterprise Management Division.