Assistant Manager - Product Management

Job Description: Assistant Manager - Product Management

Department: Product Management
Reporting To: DGM - Product Management
Experience: Minimum 6 years
Product Categories: Plumbing
Qualification: MBA preferred; Engineering background preferred

Role Summary

Responsible for Product Management activities for the Projects Business , with focus on driving product specifications, consultant/customer approvals, project pipeline support, product solution development and new product opportunities.

The role will work closely with Projects Sales, Consultants, Architects, Developers, Contractors/EPCs and internal functions to ensure the right product solutions are specified and positioned across key projects. The incumbent will independently own assigned products/projects while assisting the DGM - Product Management in project portfolio strategy, NPD, business cases, pricing, competitor analysis and growth initiatives.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

1. Project Specification & Approval Management

- Work with Projects Sales to drive product specifications and approvals with consultants, architects, developers, contractors, EPCs and institutional customers.
- Understand project-specific technical, application and compliance requirements and recommend appropriate product solutions.
- Prepare and maintain technical specifications, submittals, compliance statements, comparison sheets, certificates and other approval documentation.
- Track the status of product specifications and approvals across identified key projects.
- Support technical presentations, product demonstrations and clarification meetings with project stakeholders.
- Monitor competitor specifications and recommend actions to improve product acceptance and specification success.

2. Project Pipeline & Opportunity Management

- Work closely with Projects Sales / Specification to review the project pipeline from identification/specification through approval, tendering and conversion.
- Track key projects, project stages, specified products, quantities, potential value, competitors and product-related actions.
- Identify product or specification gaps that could impact project conversion and coordinate timely resolution.
- Prioritise high-potential projects requiring Product Management intervention.
- Develop periodic dashboards on project pipeline, specifications, approvals, product opportunities and key actions.
- Analyse lost/deferred project opportunities from a product perspective and recommend corrective actions.

3. Product Solution & Project Requirement Management

- Evaluate product requirements emerging from key projects and determine fit with the existing product portfolio.
- Identify opportunities for product modification, customisation, alternate specifications or new product development.
- Coordinate technical feasibility with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement and Supply Chain.
- Provide technical-commercial product inputs for project-specific opportunities.
- Facilitate product samples, trials, mock-ups, testing and customer/consultant evaluations where required.
- Track project-specific product requirements through development, approval and commercial readiness.

4. New Product Development & Product Gaps

- Identify NPD opportunities based on project pipeline, consultant requirements, customer feedback, competitor offerings and emerging applications.
- Support development of product definition, technical requirements, market potential, target pricing, volumes and business cases.
- Coordinate cross-functionally to ensure NPD projects meet agreed technical, cost and timeline objectives.
- Support pilot projects/product trials and capture structured feedback.
- Monitor post-launch adoption in target projects and recommend necessary improvements.

5. Market, Application & Competitive Intelligence

- Conduct regular interactions with consultants, architects, developers, contractors, EPCs and Projects Sales teams to understand changing market and application requirements.
- Benchmark competitor products on specifications, features, certifications, pricing, approvals and project references.
- Track changes in specifications, construction practices, applications, standards and customer requirements.
- Identify emerging product/application opportunities and competitive threats.
- Maintain structured competitor and project-market intelligence for management reviews.

6. Technical-Commercial & Projects Sales Support

- Provide product-related technical and commercial support to Projects Sales for key opportunities.
- Develop product comparison sheets, value propositions, technical presentations and application-specific selling tools.
- Support project-specific pricing analysis through competitor benchmarking, product costing and value positioning.
- Coordinate timely resolution of product-related technical issues affecting project conversion.
- Support exhibitions, technical seminars, consultant meets and other project-business engagement programs.

Support to DGM - Product Management

Assist the DGM - Product Management in:

- Projects Business product and specification strategy
- Review of project pipeline and identification of high-potential product opportunities
- Consultant/specifier engagement strategy
- Product gap and competitive gap analysis
- NPD and innovation roadmap
- Project-specific customised product evaluations
- Market potential and business case development
- Pricing, costing and profitability analysis
- Identification of new applications and project segments
- Management reviews and strategic presentations
- Cross-functional strategic projects and key initiatives

Candidate Profile

Experience & Qualification

- Minimum 6 years of relevant experience in Product Management, Projects Business, Technical Marketing, Specifications, NPD or similar roles.
- Engineering qualification preferred; MBA/Postgraduate qualification will be an advantage.
- Experience in plumbing, sanitary, drainage, piping systems, building materials, construction products or other project-driven technical products preferred.

Key Competencies

- Understanding of project sales lifecycle and specification-based business
- Consultant/specifier and project stakeholder management
- Technical product and application understanding
- Project pipeline and opportunity analysis
- Product specification and technical documentation
- NPD/Stage-Gate process
- Technical-commercial and competitor analysis
- Strong Excel, PowerPoint and analytical capabilities
- Strong cross-functional coordination and project follow-up
- Good communication and presentation skills
- High ownership and execution orientation

Languages: Fluent in English and working proficiency, Hindi; regional language proficiency will be an advantage.