Sr Manager, Product Planning

About Midea America:

Midea America Corp., is one of the world’s largest home appliance brands, offering the most comprehensive selection of products in the world to fully serve the needs of day-to-day living at home, at work, or anywhere else you go. In North America we strive to aim high, put the customer first, transform and innovate the marketplace, utilizing our commitment, dedication, inclusion, and partnership with our teams. Midea America is a subsidiary of the Midea Group, a global company with over 150,000 employees and operations in more than 195 countries. As a publicly listed company, we are ranked #245 as a Fortune Global 500 company and offer one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry.

Job Summary:

The Sr Manager, Product Planning leads product planning for Midea America across Major Appliances, Home Comfort, Floor Care, and Small Appliances. This position owns the category-level product roadmaps that deliver the innovation and new products the business needs to grow, and leads Midea America’s new product introduction (NPI) process from concept to launch. The role is a key point of contact for both local and Midea Group headquarters R&D teams.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None. Leads and aligns cross-functional Product Marketing, Sales, and R&D teams on product planning and NPI work without direct reporting authority.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Product Roadmaps: Develop and maintain a rolling product roadmap of at least three years for every product category, identifying hero launches by year and by category, and aligned to Midea America’s business growth goals.
• Market and Opportunity Analysis: Assess market trends, the competitive landscape, and customer and channel needs to identify growth opportunities and inform roadmap priorities.
• NPI Process Leadership: Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of Midea America’s NPI process, and oversee all new product introductions in coordination with the Product Marketing teams for each category.
• NPPM Process: Lead Midea America’s participation in the Midea Internal NPPM process.
• R&D Partnership: Serve as the primary product planning contact for local and Midea Group headquarters R&D teams, translating market and customer requirements into product development priorities.
• Trade Show Product Strategy: Set product strategy for the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and other trade shows, selecting products to feature and display and coordinating across all product categories.
• Executive Reporting: Present roadmaps, launch plans, and NPI status to senior leadership, flagging risks and recommending trade-offs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Strong understanding of the home appliances market, including trends, customer preferences, channels, and the competitive landscape
• Proven ability to build multi-year product roadmaps and manage a stage-gate or comparable NPI process
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to influence, align, and motivate product, sales, and R&D teams without direct authority
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to turn market data into clear product decisions
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills, including with senior leaders and global teams across time zones
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities across several product categories
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, especially PowerPoint and Excel

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, Industrial Design, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in the home appliances industry, including at least 3 years in product planning or product management
• Experience working with global or overseas R&D and manufacturing teams (preferred)
• MBA or relevant advanced degree (preferred)

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Extended periods of standing and walking at trade shows and events.
• Occasionally lift up to 15 pounds.
• Travel up to 20% (domestic and international)

Midea offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage with multiple plan options; a 401(k) plan; basic life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; short-term and long-term disability insurance; health savings and flexible spending accounts; an Employee Assistance Program; paid time off and paid holidays; and paid parental leave.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.