Sr Product Operations Manager (Compact Utility Tractor)

For Earth For Life

Overview

This strategic role focuses on optimizing and scaling the product lifecycle for compact and utility tractors and their associated implements. The manager will ensure that product development, from hardware to digital features, aligns with business objectives and addresses the specific needs of small-acreage farmers, landscapers, and property owners. This position is the central hub for driving efficiency across product, engineering, and commercial teams in the competitive <70 HP equipment market.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic operational planning: Lead Team of Product Managers to define and implement scalable processes for the entire CUT product lifecycle, marketing, from R&D and manufacturing to dealer delivery and field support.
• Cross-Functional communication: Manage internal communication, acting as the intermediary between frontline dealer support and engineering teams to address product launches, product issues and improve customer satisfaction.
• Dealer network collaboration: Act as a point of contact for the dealer network, ensuring seamless communication and coordination with product, engineering, sales, and service teams to improve the customer and dealer experience.
• Performance analysis and Voice of the Customer (VoC): Use data from field performance, dealer feedback, and customer satisfaction to identify issues and drive resolutions. Serve as the VoC, communicating insights from the field to engineering teams to guide product improvements.
• New product launch readiness: Oversee the management of new product launches for compact and utility tractors. This includes ensuring all teams, like Engineering, IT, and Marketing Departments are aligned and ready to launch with the new product. This includes managing Coordinate with the 3 rd party and attachments team to ensure product alignment.
• Market and competitive analysis: Monitor the competitive landscape and market trends to ensure the CUT product line remains aligned with customer needs.
• Training and enablement: Assist with developing and delivering product training to dealer sales specialists and field marketers, ensuring they have the knowledge and tools to effectively sell and support the product line.
• Trade Shows: Participate in national trade shows to promote assigned products and enhance brand awareness
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Marketing or related field.
  8 years of experience in product operations or product management, preferably within the heavy equipment or agricultural machinery industry.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Domain knowledge: A strong understanding of the compact and utility tractor market, including customer applications and competitive product offerings.
• Dealer relations: Demonstrated experience building and maintaining strong relationships with internal teams and external dealer networks.
• Proven track record of team leadership, including mentorship, performance management, and fostering a collaborative culture
• Data analysis: A data-driven mindset with experience using performance data to track product quality and measure operational effectiveness.
• Technical understanding: Familiarity with the engineering, manufacturing, and servicing of mechanical products, specifically within the agricultural or construction sectors.
• Customer-centricity: A passion for understanding customer needs and pain points to inform product decisions.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Requires sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, to permit the employee to function in a general office environment and accomplish tasks and duties as outlined above.

 Kubota is an equal opportunity at will employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, religion, color, disability, sex, sexual orientation or national origin.