Product Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Position Overview

The Product Manager is responsible for driving the success of a key product category within Wanzl North America’s portfolio of retail solutions. This role oversees product category performance, shapes product strategy, and manages the full product lifecycle—from concept and development through launch and ongoing optimization.

The PM will collaborate across departments to ensure products meet evolving market needs and deliver strong business results. Additionally, you will champion internal strategy execution, helping the organization build the necessary expertise, processes, and infrastructure to scale and successfully grow the Segment that is the heart of Wanzl’s brand and legacy.

This position involves close partnership with Global Product Centers and operations teams in Europe to transfer knowledge and accelerate growth in the North American market.

This is an in-office position and will be located at Wanzl’s main factory location in Newton, NC.

Company and Opportunity Overview

WNA’s vision is to be a leading entrepreneurial player in terms of market share, agility, and game-changing solutions. WNA is a solution provider, creating value along the supply chain of our customers, from online purchase to their customers.

WNA is headquartered in the Charlotte Metro Area, North Carolina. With around 500 employees and ~$200M of sales, WNA focuses on the retail and distribution market segments with marquee customers such as Walmart, Amazon, and the majority of large grocers and retailers.

In addition to being the largest manufacturer of shopping carts in North America, WNA has three additional main product segments as well as a Service business, providing turnkey solutions for customer guidance (Access Systems), Shelving & Fixtures, and Material Handling products.

Access Solutions provides sophisticated customer guidance and loss prevention systems for major retailers. With German-engineered products and a strong installed base, this segment focuses on protecting existing market share while expanding into adjacent opportunities in smart retail, autonomous store technology, and digital integration.

Additionally, WNA offers a range of digital solutions integrated into our products, including advanced shopping cart containment systems, smart exit gate technology, and innovations for autonomous and semi-autonomous retail stores. We are continuously expanding and enhancing our digital offerings to meet evolving customer needs and drive industry advancement.

WNA is part of the Wanzl Group, headquartered in Germany, and has 12 plants in 8 countries, providing comprehensive, solutions-driven service and expert knowledge of local markets for customers across the globe through their 360&degree; service.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Product Strategy and Vision :
   • Define and communicate a compelling product vision and strategy aligned with company objectives.
   • Conduct thorough market research and competitive analysis to identify opportunities and risks.
   • Drive internal alignment to develop the knowledge, business processes, and organizational structure needed to sustain and grow the Carts segment.
   • Train and support internal teams in product knowledge and best practices.

1. Product Lifecycle Management:

• Oversee the entire product life cycle, from ideation and development to launch and post-launch activities.
• Gather and prioritize product and customer requirements.
• Develop and maintain a product roadmap that balances short-term needs with long-term strategic goals.
• Communicate the roadmap to stakeholders and ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Manage portfolio depth and breadth – identify opportunities for product line expansion while rationalizing underperforming or strategically misaligned products.

1. Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with R&D to guide product development and ensure technical feasibility.
• Collaborate with sales, marketing, and support teams to align product strategy with business goals.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination with European product management and operations teams to leverage expertise and accelerate market success in North America.

1. Customer and Market Focus:

• Engage with customers and stakeholders to gather feedback and insights.
• Ensure the product meets customer needs and enhances customer satisfaction.
• Identify and act on opportunities to improve the product based on customer feedback and market trends.
• Act as the voice of the customer within the company.

1. Revenue and Business Goals:

• Set and achieve revenue and margin lifecycle targets for the product category.
• Monitor product performance against business goals and make data-driven decisions to optimize results.
• Track product performance using key metrics and analytics.

1. Market Analysis:

• Conduct detailed market research to understand customer needs, market trends, and competitive landscape.
• Use data to make informed decisions about product direction and priorities.

1. Go-to-Market Strategy:

• Develop and execute go-to-market plans for product launches.
• Coordinate with marketing to create promotional materials, sales training, and customer communications.
• Own pricing strategy and policy, including discount structures for Sales, optimizing for product feature-based value realization and the price/volume dynamic to maximize segment share, revenue and margin

Required Skills and Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience as a Product Manager or similar role
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in retail or companies supplying the retail market – preferably as it relates to supply of CAPEX products
• Experience in Sales and/or Finance preferred
• Bachelor’s degree, MBA strongly desired
• Strong leadership and excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications
• Demonstrated success defining and launching products
• Excellent teamwork skills
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without formal authority
• Must be able to travel up to 10% including international