Product Manager - Automation & Control

Job Purpose

The primary purpose of the Product Manager – Automation & Control is to develop and execute the strategy for the assigned product area within Japan & Korea. Drive growth in Product Sales, Profit and Return on Stock, through expansion of the product range, enhanced supplier relationships and working with sales and marketing teams to increase Japan/Korea sales & customer counts. This position will report to the Head of Product & Supplier Management, Japan. The position will be responsible for developing the A&C product offer across numerous product areas including Factory Automation components, M2M Connectivity, Sensors and power Management.

Key Accountabilities

2.1 Provide insight to support our Regional Strategy

• Ensure the voice of the local customer is represented within the Automation & Control business strategy
• Drive engagement across Product & Supplier Management, Inventory Management, Pricing, Content, Sales, Marketing & Suppliers
• Provide customer, supplier & competitor insight to identify gaps in our offer and inform our pricing, content & stocking strategies
• Ensure the relevant local range complements the Global range – responsible for local New product Introductions
• Ensure product portfolios are aligned to our customer needs and strategy
• Ensure our pricing strategy enables RS to capture more business, maximise net profit and improve customers value perceptions
• Ensure our local & regional stocking strategy optimises next day availability and stock investment
• Ensure our Product Content enables our customers to easily find & buy the products they need
• Provide monthly business reporting on range and local business performance and transfer best practices regionally and globally

2.2 Local and Regional supplier engagement

• Manage local supplier contracts and commercial terms, when relevant, in line with the Global and Regional Category strategies
• Drive strategic supplier engagement within the aligned product category to give RS a competitive advantage in terms of range, availability, total cost, innovation, cash flow & support
• Facilitate the interaction between supplier and other RS functions when needed

2.3 Support sales, marketing & customers to drive strategy execution locally

• Gain support of regional & local cross functional teams to execute category plan and deliver our objectives, within the aligned technology category
• Input to and support Local Sales & Marketing programmes

• Support implementation of aligned pricing strategy execution enabling RS to win more business, maximise net profit and improve customers value perceptions

Scope of the Role

Accountable for

• Local insight and market intelligence
• Quality of local supplier relationships
• Local Commercial terms (e.g. product costs, payment terms & rebates)
• Execution of relevant Automation & Control product range strategy
• Delivery of relevant business performance measures

Support to fellow End to End (E2E) business members for:

• E2E Category strategy and plans
• Return on Investment
• Gross Margin
• Quality of inventory
• Content Quality
• Speed to Market
• Forecast Accuracy
• Productivity
• Digital marketing and product promotion

Key Relationships

• E2E Category team members across Product & Supplier Management Inventory Management, Pricing, Content, Sales & Marketing Globally, Regionally & Locally
• Key Suppliers, within category and local geography

Financial & Legal Responsibilities

• Relevant local Contribution in line with 1yr financial plan with stable gross margins

Environment

Hybrid office/home based with travel to suppliers, customers, trade shows and seminars.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Significant experience within Factory Automation, Industrial IoT (Industrial Internet of Things) and Maintenance sectors or equivalent – driving supplier engagement, product range and developing solutions for customers.
• Good analytical skills and a sound knowledge of Microsoft base software tools; web data analysis with Adobe Analytics wold be ideal but not essential
• Good presentation skills: Internal and to customers/suppliers
• Ability to take ownership and drive results at pace
• Degree level education or equivalent (preferably within relevant area)
• Broad knowledge of our external market place in the region (target customers, competitors & suppliers)
• Ability to think globally while supporting local needs of the organisation
• Strong interpersonal skills to drive alignment across matrix organisations Globally, Regionally & Locally
• Ability to use knowledge and experience of external best practice to drive improvement
• Ability to lead multiple projects in parallel
• Self-starter mind set and aggressiveness to accomplish targets
• Flexibility and adaptability to changes in market conditions
• Strong written and oral communication in Japanese and English