Current Available Positions
The Product Manager will play a critical role on our technical assistance and application experts management team. They will develop an in-depth knowledge of our customer’s and Kelley Supply Inc’s products, as well as a clear understanding of KSI’s guidance on vendor quality and food safety initiatives. With that base of knowledge, the Product Manager will leverage objective tools to assess and prioritize customer opportunities then align the KSI leadership team in order to assign resources against the best opportunities in the pipeline. In addition, tactically, this role will help create sales materials, ensure consistency in preparation and directly support certain Key Account presentations. The Product Manager will also own the Innovation Pipeline and be the leader for decisions around SKU optimization, product hierarchies and naming conventions associated with data stewardship.
Duties and Responsibilities:- Product Portfolio Management (aka Product Knowledge)
- Solid understanding of existing product portfolio and product functionalities
- Research and analyze relevant performance and trend data; translate market driven needs to guide business decisions for technology aided product enhancements
- Optimize portfolio: lead efforts to develop and launch new offerings by working closely with the management team, create exit strategies for unsuccessful products
- Collaborate within organization to determine competitive pricing and selling strategies
- Lead new application development projects in various food systems including but not limited to dairy, beverages, baking, confectionary, and sauces, to support the sales of existing ingredient products
- Participate in the development of both product and application IP and regulatory strategies to optimize revenue
- Understanding of customers products and how to apply Kelley technology
- Support company operations, targets and focus through leadership and implementation of key projects
- Lead projects through life cycle, including requirements analysis, market sizing, design, implementation, and deployment
- Develop and lead cross-functional project teams through project inception and execution
- Assist in preparing capital budget plan and expense management plan
- Provide clear direction on product/process development requirements to meet expectations of external customers and business stakeholders
- Communicate actively with functional management and cross-functional team members to promote support of projects, facilitate key interdependencies, and keep all stakeholders informed on project details
- Measure and report Project Management and Key Performance Initiatives to senior management
- Meet financial objectives by forecasting requirements; preparing an annual budget; scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions
- Customer Insights & Sales Support (aka Sales management)
- Work alongside sales teams to enhance customer relationships and translate customer insights into actionable strategies
- Interpret results of customer segmentation tool and collaborate with Sales / Optimization team to prioritize leads and prepare to engage customers
- Serve as lead resource for product expertise, working directly with customers, sales and support team
- Understand customer needs, evaluate market penetration and analyze competitors
- Lead analysis of competitor strategies, tactics, and product performance
- Lead customer segmentation to drive planning, prioritization, and demand creation
- Develop and manage customer communications including market updates, social media, and notifications
- Create customer insights to enhance relationships and service via VOC research and market intelligence
- Track and analyze industry trends, food trends, and competitive activity
- Serve as lead resource for product expertise, industry trends and competition
- Provides support for customer meetings and presentations
- Manage margin within product portfolio
- Manage and develop working relationship with vendors
- Identify new vendors
- General understanding of food manufacturing
- 5 years of relevant work experience
- Bachelor's degree Food Science / Biology, Chemistry or other science
- Food industry experience
The Automation Project Manager is responsible for automation projects (from concept to project close) supporting the automation product line in maintaining existing customers, providing customer support, leading project-related communication and taking full project management ownership. Primary objectives are to manage project scope and scope changes, document the entire project and related changes, manage and report performance to schedule and budget, to satisfy the customer with the performance of the equipment and services provided and to deliver business financial results that meet or exceed Kelley Supply's expectation for the automation projects. Interacting with purchasing and vendors for pricing, scheduling projects and inventory controls.
Role Qualifications:- Ability to proactively manage automation projects by actively listening, probing and identifying concerns or problem area and utilizing strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills to resolve them.
- Must address customer and vendor issues to ensure effective and long-term problem resolution.
Role Qualifications:
- Develop a complete understanding of the product lines and equipment offerings available through Kelley Supply and how they complement the automation project.
- Service existing customers by maintaining and expanding sales within those customers.
- Develop programmed system of communication with existing accounts, vendors, management and sales personnel.
- Coordinate, communicate and schedule arrival, installation and service of parts, modules and equipment.
- Manage timelines of various projects simultaneously.
- Perform onsite inspections of customer site preparation for the projects.
- Provide and follow-up on a timely basis with quotes to new and existing accounts.
- Work with credit, customer service and purchasing to ensure smooth and timely handling of customer activities.
- Responsible for sourcing and suggesting options to customers and the automation team.
- Work with purchasing department for pricing, minimum order quantities; lead times, substitutes of items, price changes and inventory control.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Currently, we do not have any other positions available at this time. However, if you are interested in a career with Kelley, such as Purchasing, Warehouse, Drivers, Cleaning/Janitorial, Customer Service, Receptionist, or otherwise, please fill out an application. Return the application with the positon you're interested in, your current resume and cover letter, and we will see where you can help us out.
Pre-employment ApplicationAutomation Project ManagerBenefits
