Summary
About this role
Job Description:
Summary
Vulcan, recognized by chefs and operators around the world as the best-in-class supplier for premier, energy-efficient foodservice equipment, is seeking an organized and energetic Product Manager to join our growing team. Vulcan is a division of Illinois Tool Works (ITW), a Fortune 200 global multi-industrial manufacturing leader with revenues totaling $15.9 Billion in 2024.
Reporting to the Senior Director of Sales, the Product Manager is responsible for the strategic and tactical management of assigned product categories to drive profitable growth, customer-back innovation, and commercial excellence. This in-office role will bridge marketing, engineering, and sales, ensuring Vulcan’s product portfolio delivers differentiated, customer-validated solutions that align with our long-term business strategy.
The Product Manager will collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Supply Chain, Marketing, and the Business Development (BDM) team to define market requirements, lead customer-back innovation projects, and own the go-to-market readiness of new and existing products.
Strategic and Innovation Responsibilities
- Follow and execute ITW Enterprise Strategy, ITW Toolkit, Core Values, and Code of Conduct as a leader of the business
- Identify and quantify customer pain points and follow established frameworks for Customer-Back Innovation (CBI) projects.
- Lead cross-functional meetings with Engineering to align project priorities, timelines, and development progress.
- Translate VOC (Voice of Customer) insights into actionable product requirements and business cases.
- Execute on regular field visits in key customer market segments, capture insights to return to the business. Product Manager monthly (VOC) field visits as experts in the Market.
- Define product roadmaps aligned to strategic growth priorities and lifecycle management objectives.
- Partner with Engineering and Strategic Sourcing to ensure manufacturability, cost targets, and serviceability are considered early in development.
- Serve as category expert, monitoring trends, competitive activity, and emerging technologies.
- Lead and deliver on product line simplification (PLS) projects within each product category.
Commercial and Marketing Enablement
- Own product content in collaboration with Marketing: spec sheets, brochures, POS materials, digital assets, and launch collateral.
- Drive internal and external product training for BDMs, Sales organization, reps, and channel partners.
- Lead launch readiness activities, ensuring the field has the tools, pricing, and support needed for success.
- Support customer presentations to include Vulcan Experience, tradeshows, and key end-user engagements.
- Partner with Sales Operations on pricing strategy, cost optimization, and margin management.
- Collaborate with the Marketing team to create and maintain marketing plans, and sales tools including brochures, product descriptions, technical data sheets, web content.
Operational Responsibilities
- Collaborate with Strategic sourcing and Operations on inventory planning, product transitions, and forecasting accuracy.
- Support product line performance analysis to identify improvement opportunities.
- Use market and internal data to inform product discontinuation, replacement, or line extensions.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or Engineering
- 5+ years of product management or related commercial/technical experience in foodservice or capital equipment industries.
- Demonstrated success in product launches, innovation projects, and cross-functional leadership.
- Proven analytical ability to turn data into actionable insights.
- Skilled collaborator with strong communication and influencing skills.
- Familiarity with manufacturing operations, supply chain processes, and go-to-market execution.
Additional information
- Up to 30% travel required
- In office position, manufacturing environment
- Location to work: Troy, OH-in office
- Must be able to lift 15 pounds at a time
Compensation Information:
$83,250-$135,000
ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.
As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Other facts
About Illinois Tool Works
What you'll do
- The Product Manager is responsible for the strategic and tactical management of assigned product categories to drive profitable growth and customer-back innovation. This role involves collaboration with various teams to define market requirements and ensure successful product launches.
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