Product Manager-Filters

Job Description

Product Manager – Filters\n

Heavy-Duty Truck & Off-Highway Markets

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We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Product Manager – Filters to lead the development, expansion, and technical support of our filtration product portfolio serving the heavy-duty truck and off-highway equipment markets .

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This is a hands-on product management position for someone who understands filtration, equipment applications, OEM-to-aftermarket cross-referencing, customer needs, and new-product development.

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The Product Manager will serve as our filtration subject-matter expert and Expert Service Advisor , working directly with customers, sales representatives, suppliers, and internal teams to identify new opportunities, solve application challenges, improve product coverage, and drive profitable growth.

Key Responsibilities\n

Filtration Expert & Service Advisor

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• Serve as the company's primary filtration product and application expert.
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• Provide technical and application support to customers, Territory Managers, customer service teams, distributors, and other internal departments.
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• Assist with filter identification, application questions, troubleshooting, product selection, and fleet filter conversions.
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• Provide expertise across oil, fuel, air, hydraulic, transmission, coolant, cabin air, crankcase ventilation, and other filtration products .
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• Support customer meetings, fleet surveys, sales presentations, and major account conversions.
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• Provide product and application training to sales teams, customers, and distributors.
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OEM-to-Aftermarket Cross-Referencing

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• Research and manually cross OEM filter part numbers to aftermarket filter replacements .
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• Develop and maintain accurate OEM-to-aftermarket cross-reference information.
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• Validate crosses using dimensions, thread specifications, gasket dimensions, micron ratings, efficiency, media, bypass settings, flow requirements, capacity, and other technical specifications.
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• Research OEM supersessions and obsolete/replacement part numbers.
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• Review customer filter lists and develop complete OEM/competitive-to-company filter conversion lists .
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• Identify applications where an acceptable aftermarket cross does not currently exist.
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Customer & Market Insights

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• Maintain regular direct contact with fleet managers, maintenance managers, mechanics, technicians, purchasing managers, distributors, and other filter users .
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• Visit customer maintenance facilities, shops, and equipment yards to understand real-world filtration requirements.
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• Understand what customers currently purchase, which brands they use, and why.
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• Determine what is required to convert customers from OEM and competitive filter brands.
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• Identify customer pain points involving application coverage, availability, pricing, quality, packaging, and technical support.
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• Turn customer feedback into actionable product and market opportunities.
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Heavy-Duty & Off-Highway Market Development

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• Identify new filtration opportunities within the Class 6–8 truck and off-highway equipment markets .
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• Research opportunities within construction, agriculture, landscaping, mining, forestry, municipalities, utilities, equipment rental, material handling, waste, industrial, and other equipment-intensive markets.
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• Analyze equipment populations and high-volume applications to identify opportunities for new filter SKUs.
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• Identify high-volume OEM filter numbers not currently covered by our product line.
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• Monitor new engines, trucks, equipment platforms, and filtration technologies for future aftermarket opportunities.
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• Benchmark product coverage against major aftermarket competitors.
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• Identify opportunities for preventive-maintenance filter kits and fleet-specific filtration programs.
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New Product & Product-Line Development

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• Identify product-line gaps and prioritize new filter opportunities based on customer demand, equipment population, unit potential, revenue, margin, and strategic importance .
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• Maintain a prioritized pipeline of new-product opportunities.
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• Develop business cases for potential new filter introductions.
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• Work with suppliers and internal teams to source and evaluate new products.
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• Support new products from initial opportunity through validation, launch, and ongoing sales.
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• Monitor new-product performance and customer acceptance after launch.
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Incoming Product Quality & Vendor Inspection

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• Inspect new filter samples, first production runs, and vendor-supplied products for potential quality issues.
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• Compare incoming filters against approved specifications, OEM requirements, drawings, and benchmark samples.
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• Inspect dimensions, threads, gaskets, media, pleat construction, seals, components, workmanship, labels, packaging, and part-number accuracy.
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• Identify and document defects or product nonconformances.
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• Work with vendors and internal quality, sourcing, purchasing, and operations teams to resolve quality issues.
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• Assist with determining whether products should be accepted, rejected, returned, reworked, or subjected to additional testing.
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• Help maintain product quality standards and approved benchmark or “golden” samples .
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What We're Looking For\n

The ideal candidate is a hands-on product manager with strong mechanical aptitude and filtration knowledge who enjoys researching applications, working directly with products, talking with customers, and identifying opportunities to grow the business.

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You should be comfortable moving between technical and commercial responsibilities—from researching an OEM filter number and physically inspecting a supplier sample to visiting a fleet customer and presenting a new-product opportunity to management.

Required Qualifications\n

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• Bachelor's degree (4-year degree) required in Business Management, Marketing, Engineering, Product Management, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
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• 5+ years of relevant experience preferred in filtration, heavy-duty aftermarket parts, diesel engines, commercial vehicles, construction equipment, agricultural equipment, off-highway equipment, or a related industry.
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• Strong knowledge of filtration products and applications.
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• Experience researching and cross-referencing OEM and aftermarket filter part numbers.
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• Strong mechanical and technical aptitude.
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• Ability to interpret product specifications, technical information, drawings, and application data.
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• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
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• Excellent customer communication skills.
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• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
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• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and related business software.
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• Ability and willingness to travel to customers, vendors, trade shows, and industry events as required.
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Preferred Experience\n

Experience with a filter manufacturer, heavy-duty aftermarket supplier, OEM, parts distributor, equipment manufacturer, or large fleet operation is strongly preferred.

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Experience with filter catalogs, cross-reference databases, product-line development, fleet maintenance operations, supplier evaluation, and field sales support is highly desirable.

How Success Will Be Measured\n

Success in this role will include:

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• Increased heavy-duty and off-highway filter application coverage
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• New OEM-to-aftermarket crosses developed and validated
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• Cross-reference accuracy and response time
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• New filter SKUs successfully launched
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• Revenue and gross margin generated from new products
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• Reduction in no-cross and lost-sale opportunities
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• OEM and competitive filter conversions
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• Customer and fleet engagement
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• Product quality and supplier performance
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• Reduced product defects, returns, and warranty issues
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The Mission\n

The Product Manager – Filters will help determine not only which filters we sell today, but which filters we should be selling tomorrow .

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The mission of this position is to combine technical filtration expertise, customer insight, OEM-to-aftermarket cross-referencing, market research, product development, supplier collaboration, and quality control to expand our filtration offering and drive profitable growth in the heavy-duty truck and off-highway markets.

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We are looking for someone who will continually ask:

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What filters are our customers buying today?

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What are they buying from our competitors that we don't currently offer?

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What OEM applications are we missing?

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Can we develop an accurate aftermarket replacement?

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Does the product meet our quality standards?

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How large is the opportunity?

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How do we turn that opportunity into profitable sales growth?