Job Summary:

The Product Marketing Manager (PMM) has the responsibility to launch, communicate, and drive all products and programs within their designated product category to the Residential Sales team as well as our customer base. They must drive our key retail products and marketed programs from inception through launch and into the marketplace and then analyze the performance through all retail distribution channels. This position will be critical in supporting and understanding residential soft surface products and plant capacities in an effort to maximize plant efficiencies, drive sales of existing product, get new product to market, develop and execute any promotional activity, maximize and manage SKU rationalization, and communicate and present marketing initiatives to the sales organization.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Research and Development: Must drive and execute our residential product launch and work as a team with product development to evaluate, develop and fill voids in the soft surface residential product line. Create and introduce new residential marketed programs to the market and identify capacity opportunities to promote and drive the business. Must also work with Product Development to create all product specification information by determining brand, sample quantity material requirements, and sample vehicle quantities. The PMM also must work with Sales when determining price, margin, forecast and potential sample loss. The PMM will also work with Product Development to monitor existing product and sku performance, rationalization and utilization, as well as evaluation of drops for ALL existing soft surface products.
• Sample Manufacturing: Work with Sample leadership and manufacturing to get new products and marketed programs to market in a timely fashion as well as manage existing sample inventory levels in order to maintain serviceable levels for the field through scheduling and sample reduction. This would include analysis to provide merchandising, packaging and shipping solutions to our existing sales organization and both internal and external customers.
• Promotional Activity & Forecasting: Must work with scheduling and manufacturing to line up capacity and service levels with existing residential product lines during promotional activity. In addition, responsible for forecasting new product introductions effectively.
• Sales, Samples, Customer Service and Financial Services: Must communicate regularly with Sales, Samples, Customer Service, and Financial Services to properly launch seasonal product introductions, promotions, marketed program promotions, brand rebates, roll rebates, terms promotions, sample rebates, and special invoicing requirements. This is an on-going process for new products and programs as well as running existing promotions within the product line.
• Marketing & Merchandising: The PMM must work and coordinate with the residential Marketing team to get all merchandising requirements for product and marketed programs to market. This would include graphics, displays, promotions, and enhancements to existing products and promotions. This also would include the development of the communication tools necessary to train, drive, and motivate the entire sales organization as well as communications directly with customers. This will require meeting regularly with the team, working closely with the Product Development team, and working with outside vendors to insure the success and execution of every program. The PMM must lead the process when driving execution while being extremely aware of all cost.
• Product Presentation and Positioning: The PMM will be required to present product and financial performance for new marketed programs and existing programs and competitive product to the Director of Product Marketing, Marketing, Sales, Product Development, members of the Executive Committee, divisional Vice-Presidents, field sales, buying groups, distributors and international customers.
• Planning & Accountability: The PMM will be accountable for product performance within their respective category. They will submit an annual go-to-market strategy and plan that describes in detail the implementation and rationalization of their respective budget. This plan will be submitted on an annual basis to review progress. This will include but is not limited to sample loss, travel and entertainment expenses.
• Product Research/Sales Meetings: The PMM will travel extensively to gather product feedback and competitive information from the sales organization and customers. The PMM will attend regional sales events to present, position and train both internal and external sales force on all new products and marketed programs. The position will also attend numerous meetings in the market place by helping Regional Managers facilitate meetings in order to continue the training and educating of our sales force on a regular basis. Successful and targeted communication through the sales channel is critical to this position. The PMM must also have key relationships in every market at the customer level in order to retrieve competitive information.
• Product Brands & Marketed Programs: The Residential PMM will be the voice to the field for the entire soft surface product line and brands. The position will require constant communication with the field through email, written marketing material and product grids. This person must respond quickly to all emails, texts, and direct phone calls from field sales, as well as customers with regard to soft surface marketed programs, products.
• Internal & External Communication: This position will also handle critical communication with Buying Group Managers and EFM/Dwellings Managers. They will work to coordinate product launches, sample inventory, label strategy, and promotional strategy on all new and existing products. All communication around cut order promotions, service promotions, and roll promotions must be communicated completely to drive the proper channel strategy in the marketplace. Must work closely with Digital Marketing Manager to drive all products and programs to our existing website and Sales communication platforms. Also must create the process for effective communication of pricing, specifications, sample packages, promotions, and business analysis through the development of performance and metric monitoring. Must have strong communications skills in front of a group and be able to host short videos on camera that will be distributed to the sales team.
• Product Pricing Communication: The PMM will provide competitive information related to the creation and establishment of pricing levels for all new product introductions to Sales and Marketing. The PMM will also monitor changes based on competitive situations in the market place and maintaining its consistency and integrity. When changes are made, the PMM must communicate the changes to the key internal areas of the company to make sure all channels are moving in the same direction. The PMM must create and manage all communication to the field sales organization as well. The creation and managing of pricing for existing products and new introductions also must drive units and sales revenue while growing the profitability of each product and programs.

Experience/Education Requirements:

• Proven written and verbal communication skills are required
• Proficient PC skills and experience including Microsoft Excel, Word and Power Point are required
• Field sales experience in residential flooring is required
• Ability and willingness to work collaboratively with others
• Must be comfortable presenting to large groups and speaking on camera
• Ability to coordinate work and activities between multiple groups and departments
• Proven organization, planning and time management skills
• Prior knowledge and experience of carpet manufacturing and flooring products preferred
• Prior experience with the CAMS order system strongly preferred
• Ability to work directly with external vendors and suppliers

Other Requirements:

• Work is performed in an office environment with regular travel in the sales field and time on the manufacturing floor.
• Lifting is required occasionally of weights up to 40 lbs.
• Standing, sitting, stooping, bending, reaching are required occasionally.
• Must be able to travel extensively.
• Computer keyboard entry and computer monitor viewing are required up to 8 hours a day.