Senior Product Manager

Ocean Optics has an opening for an experienced Senior Product Manager to chart the future of our optical sensing product lines.  This person will help understand our current position in the competitive landscape and help profitably grow our company by focusing and driving product innovation and ensuring the successful launch of new products.  The Product Manager will also propose and recommend new “blue ocean” business opportunities. This position reports directly to the Chief Technology Officer.   

Job responsibilities

The Product Manager will play a pivotal role at Ocean Optics, leading and directing product marketing and development activities using the “voice of the customer”.  This person will serve as a critical link between the sales team and the R&D and Engineering teams. 

Specific responsibilities and duties include:

• Understanding the optical sensing marketplace and specifically the optical spectroscopy submarket and how Ocean Optics products are competitively positioned in that market. 
• Understanding the fundamental market drivers that differentiate Ocean Optics products.
• Forecasting future product sales based on historical data and overall market conditions.
• Reviewing new market and product opportunities and compiling associated product requirements and technology roadmaps.
• Updating existing product data sheets, reviewing competitor’s performance and pricing and proposing improvements.  
• Developing and refining detailed product roadmaps, target markets and applications.
• Driving the marketing direction in our phase gated product life cycle process (PLC) for all new product development programs;  ensuring market requirements documents are generated and maintained and that the end product is what is needed by the market. 
• Working with R&D, Engineering and Manufacturing departments to review current and future product specification and ensure these meet market objectives.
• Leading selective new products developments, from concept to commercialization.
• Coordination with the marketing communications and brand team on product collateral, product placements and positioning.

The position requires a strong background in all aspects of product management preferably gained in mid to large sized high technology companies and ideally in the industrial and/or scientific instrumentation industry.

Specific requirements include the following:

• Self-starter with leadership skills
• Ability to take and provide direction and learn new technologies and products quickly
• Customer-focused or sales experience with excellent communication and analytical skills
• At least ten (10) years of full time product management with the proven ability to integrate product requirements across different departments, from Sales and Marketing to R&D, Engineering and Manufacturing, resulting in successful product launches and profits
• Technical background in optics and photonics, spectroscopy, or hardware and software development in industrial & scientific instrumentation
• Hands-on technical roles in the definition of market and product requirements and knowledge of phase gated PLC processes
• BS in Optics, Physics, Chemistry, Electrical, Mechanical or Systems Engineering.  An MBA or other advance technical degree is preferred.
• Extensive network of contacts, networks, and colleagues in the photonics industry desired
• Frequent Travel may be required to attend industry conferences, trade shows and customer visits