Product Specialist (Level DOE)

Job Information

In the Product Specialist role, you will assist in all product development and marketing activities associated with the overall development and marketing of Bobcat's Class V Bit Truck Products. The product line-up currently consists of Internal Combustion Engine Forklifts. Future Product Line-Up will include Electronic Models as well.

Communicate information within Bobcat's sales/marketing, parts/service/warranty, engineering, and manufacturing departments to and from Bobcat dealers and customers regarding Bobcat's products and markets.

Role & Responsibility

Market & Competitor Analysis

• Capture and analyze market data (e.g. by industry, market, product, channel and/or region).
• Monitor, analyze and communicate competitor product intelligence (e.g. business strategy, new products, pricing data) to identify implications and differentiation opportunities for the Company's strategy and products.
• In conjunction with Marketing, initiate and/or participate in market and product research activities to understand customer and dealer needs (Survey, Customer Visits, Focus Groups, Dealer Visits).
• Analyze market and product research (e.g. Voice of Customer / Dealer, specs, features & benefits, operations strategy) to develop a long-range product strategy (customer and dealer experience targets) & to support product development activities.
• Review Engineering Change Notice's for field impact (price, performance, safety) and communicate findings to marketing communications and channel marketing managers.

Product Plan Development

• Understand operational issues & balance those aspects in the product planning process including quality, manufacturing complexity, and current process capability.
• Build business cases for product development, understanding customer needs, competitor's capabilities, and profit goals.

Product Management

• Provide Marketing Plan, product specifications and product features for completion of Business Plan and work effectively with cross-functional teams on new product development.
• In conjunction with the Program Management Office, support the product development process to ensure the product fulfills the market needs and achieves the project goals.
• Acting as Voice of Customer, provide product feedback to support product development.
• Act as liaison with the attachments team to ensure that all products work with approved attachments.
• Develop and maintain price and specification data sheets.
• Setup new product and option package configurations in production planning systems.
• In conjunction with Marketing, develop training materials for new product launches along with participating in market and product training events (e.g. press events, literature, web development, photo/video, etc.).
• Develop and conduct product training activities to support dealer Sales Specialists and Bobcat Field Marketers.
• Provide on-going product support to dealer Sales Specialists and Bobcat Field Marketers
• Support on-going efforts to improve dealer performance.
• Refine existing or develop new product management processes that govern product management activities and facilitate cross-regional, cross-functional collaboration.

Job Requirement

• Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Engineering
• Experience Required:  Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) experience. Class V Big Truck material handling experience.
• Travel Required: 10-24%
• Construction product (or related) development knowledge and operation experience
• Experience in conducting and compiling customer research
• Verbal and written communication skills and the willingness to speak in front of audiences ranging from 5-100 people
• Ability to handle objections from dealer staff, incorporating feedback where appropriate and providing supporting evidence to help change dealer mindset where appropriate
• International travel may occur