Description

Company Summary

Managed as part the Riverbend Industries portfolio, Phoenix Manufacturing, Inc (“PMI”) designs, markets, sales, and manufactures various high-efficiency residential and industrial evaporative cooler systems under the Frigiking®, Aerocool®, and Ecokool® brands. For almost fifty years, PMI has been providing quality cooling solutions and exceptional customer service to customers across the western United States and beyond. 

Riverbend Industries Inc. (“RBI”) is a private family-owned portfolio holding company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The portfolio is primarily comprised of several small, independently operated, previously family-run businesses in the light manufacturing and distribution sectors. The portfolio is a long-term holder of its investments and plans to grow both organically and through acquisitions into the foreseeable future.

Position Summary

The Marketing Manager is a new role within the Engineering team and is charged with curating PMI’s evaporative cooler and broader product lines. The Marketing Manager will play a crucial role in driving the commercial success of PMI through thoughtful collaboration with the sales and marketing teams, our customers (both distributors and end users), and other outside partners to action new, innovation solutions. This role will be responsible for the entire product lifecycle from initial concept and development to launch, continuous improvement, and end-of-life management.

To be successful, the ideal Marketing Manager will leverage their expertise in investigating and understanding market trends, customer needs, and competitive landscapes to develop and refine our product offerings.

Requirements

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead by example with a Safety First mindset in every task

Product Strategy and Development

• Conduct market research and analysis to identify customer needs and industry trends in the HVAC and cooling market, specifically in the industrial sector. 
• Define the product vision and strategy in alignment with the company's overall objectives and the strategic plan. This work will culminate in a multi-year product roadmap.
• Provide the sales team with the necessary tools, resources, stories, and training to effectively communicate the value of our evaporative cooling and other products.
• Partner with the sales team to identify, establish, and maintain strategic partnerships with distributors and channel partners to expand the reach of our products in different markets.
• Develop, execute and maintain a brand standardization project to harmonize peripherals, packaging, and support material. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including R&D, Engineering, Sales, and Marketing to conceptualize, design, and develop innovative evaporative cooler products.
• In conjunction with Sales and Engineering, manage the new product development process, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to quality and customer standards.
• Work closely with the R&D team to translate customer feedback into product enhancements and improvements.
• Implement key performance indicators (KPIs) to track product line performance (sales, gross profit, inventory turns, etc.) and ensure alignment with business objectives.

Product Lifecycle Management

• Develop the organization’s ability and discipline to constantly monitor and assess the current product portfolio’s performance to determine gaps requiring new product offerings and to flag the low performers that must be obsoleted. Own the complete lifecycle of the products, monitor and assess the current product portfolio’s performance to determine gaps requiring new product offerings and to flag the low performers that must be obsoleted. Monitor product performance and gather feedback from customers and internal stakeholders to drive continuous improvement efforts.
• Collaborate with Sales and Marketing teams to develop effective product positioning, messaging, and go-to-market strategies.

Competitive Analysis

• Conduct regular competitive analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the market.
• Stay abreast of competitor products and industry developments to inform product roadmap decisions.
• Leverage insights to maintain our competitive advantage and differentiate our products in the market.

Product Launch and Training

• Plan and execute successful product launches in coordination with required functional teams (Sales, Production, Engineering, Finance) as well as Riverbend’s Marketing Leadership.
• Develop training materials and conduct training sessions for internal teams and customers on new product features, benefits, and applications.

Financial Management

• Collaborate with Finance and Sales teams to set value pricing strategies that align with product positioning and market dynamics.
• Monitor product profitability and make data-driven decisions to optimize product performance.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Measuring Performance

Success in this role will be evaluated through various performance measurements that assess the effectiveness of the contributions to the product strategy, development, and overall business objectives. The five key performance measurements for this position are:

• Product Launch Efficiency
• Profit and Revenue Growth
• Product Portfolio Performance
• Cross-Functional Collaboration

These performance measurements will help ensure that the Marketing Manager is contributing effectively to the growth and success of PMI’s evaporative cooler product line while aligning with the company's strategic plan and customer needs. Regular evaluation of these metrics will enable continuous improvement and better strategic decision-making.

Education, Experience & Qualifications

Minimum

• Bachelor of Arts/Science in a Business, Engineering, or a related field
• At least 8 years of experience as a Marketing Manager with a track record of product management and successfully launching and managing products throughout their lifecycle.

Preferred

• 5 years of experience in product management in the HVAC industry

Skills & Characteristics

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret market data and customer feedback to inform product decisions.
• Excellent project management and communication skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a dynamic and growing environment.
• Strong leadership qualities and the ability to influence and inspire teams.
• Advanced user in Microsoft Office applications to include Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams

Competency Statements

• Accountability & Dependability - Takes personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work and achieves results with little oversight.
• Adaptability & Flexibility - Adapts to changing business needs, conditions, and work responsibilities
• Customer Focus - Builds and maintains customer satisfaction with the products and services offered by the organization.
• Business Alignment - Aligns the direction, products, services, and performance of a business line with the rest of the organization.
• Communication - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word and written language. 
• Creative & Innovative Thinking - Develops fresh ideas that provide solutions to all types of workplace challenges.
• Listening - Understands and learns from what others say.
• Problem Solving - Resolves difficult or complicated challenges.
• Results Focus & Initiative - Focuses on results and desired outcomes and how best to achieve them. Gets the job done.
• Stress Tolerance - Maintains composure in highly stressful or adverse situations.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to remain seated for extended periods
• Ability to stand, walk, kneel, squat, climb, and navigate in closed manufacturing spaces on occasion
• Ability to safely lift and move objects up to twenty-five (25) lbs. over short distances