Job Description

PRODUCT MANAGER

Product Managers are business owners of their assigned product categories. They are accountable for portfolio health, profitability, and market competitiveness, owning the full product lifecycle from selection through end-of-life. Product Managers balance data-driven insights with customer needs, applying an 80/20 focus to prioritize high-impact products and initiatives that drive growth and margin performance.
Working in close alignment with the Segment Director, Product Managers execute category growth plans within the segment strategy, develop business cases for new product opportunities, and partner with NPD teams to bring WPS-owned brand innovations to market. They collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Purchasing to deploy Go-To-Market strategies, optimize inventory, and strengthen vendor partnerships — ensuring their categories contribute meaningfully to overall segment and company goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Portfolio & Category Strategy
• Executes category growth plans in alignment with the segment roadmap and strategic priorities set by the Segment Director.
• Using market knowledge to initiate and suggest new products that fit in the product strategy.
• Uses portfolio analysis to identify category-level opportunities, rationalize underperforming SKUs, and recommend actions.
• Focuses resources on the 20% of products that deliver 80% of growth and profitability.
• Deploys Go-To-Market strategies in collaboration with the Segment Director, Sales, and Marketing.
• Monitors performance (sales, margin, GMROI, inventory health) and takes corrective action to meet AOP targets.
WPS-Owned Brand Development & NPD Collaboration
• Builds business cases for new products aligned with the segment’s strategic roadmap.
• Partners with NPD teams throughout the Stage-Gate process to ensure timely development and launch readiness.
• Executes commercialization and Go-To-Market plans for owned-brand products in alignment with Segment Director direction.
• Provides post-launch feedback and analysis to NPD and Segment Directors for continuous improvement.

Inventory & Lifecycle Management
• Partners with SIOPS, Purchasing to balance availability, ROI, and margin contribution.
• Defines end-of-life strategies in coordination with the Segment Director and Inventory team, ensuring efficient disposition.
• Acts on excess/dead inventory analysis with vendors and Sales to recover value or rotate stock in-network.
• Ensures proactive lifecycle management from product introduction through discontinuation.
P&L Responsibility & Accountability
• Owns category-level P&L performance, including gross margin, GMROI, and inventory health.
• Provides insights and recommendations to Segment Director to ensure alignment with segment-level financial targets.
• Applies 80/20 discipline to prioritize category initiatives that deliver the greatest financial impact.
Vendor & Partner Collaboration
• Manages category-level vendor relationships to support execution of segment strategy.
• Negotiates terms and programs within the vendor strategy framework set by the Segment Director.
• Partners with vendors and purchasing on special buys, seasonal opportunities, and cost savings that improve category performance.
Data, Merchandising & Content
• Owns category product content across all channels, ensuring accuracy in catalog, online, and PIM systems.
• Ensures fitment and application data is accurate, current, and aligned with dealer/customer needs.
• Partners with Catalog and Marketing teams to deliver accurate, compelling product merchandising and messaging.
• Continuously improves product presentation across platforms to maximize dealer and customer engagement.

SUCCESS PROFILE
• Thinks like a business owner — accountable for category-level growth, profitability, and inventory efficiency.
• Operates with 80/20 focus, directing energy to the initiatives that deliver the highest return.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with ability to turn insights into execution.
• Collaborative, cross-functional operator who ensures alignment across Sales, Marketing, Operations, NPD, and Supply Chain.
• Customer- and market-focused, ensuring categories are competitive, relevant, and profitable.
• Executes segment strategy while championing WPS-owned brand development in partnership with NPD.