Product Line Manager Leader

AFL is a leading manufacturer of fiber optic cable and connectivity solutions, known for its commitment to employee development and industry growth. They are seeking a seasoned Product Line Manager Leader to enhance market share through strategic product management, pricing, and sales enablement. The role involves leading a team, managing product life cycles, and ensuring alignment with business objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Achieves long term market performance goals by establishing the long-term vision and strategy for assigned product ranges
• Acts as the champion and evangelist for communicating the product line vision and strategy to all relevant participants and stakeholders
• Successfully manages designated product range(s) over its life cycle in the broader product portfolio of the business area in a manner that maximizes the overall return/profit to the company, within the context of company, business area and marketing plans
• Ensures compliance with quality systems, regulatory requirements, and commercial change process
• Leads the commercial input to the product development process including the development of product market requirements and identification of target market segments and customers for new products
• Manages all aspects of the product (s) life cycle starting with the detailed planning phase (in development) until the product is terminated
• Defines Product Models and Structures
• Identify Offerings Items & Structures
• Identifies the requirements for coordinating the development and deployment of the training, content, processes, practices, and tools needed to support salespeople throughout the buyer's journey
• This includes working collaboratively with sales, marketing, partners and other key stakeholders to increase sales results and productivity
• Responsible for the performance of new product introductions including accountability for project pro-forma post launch financial performance
• Determines product pricing by utilizing market research data; reviewing production and sales costs; anticipating volume; costing special and customized orders
• Effectively manages price including list price and customer or project level discounting to balance growth, capacity utilization and product line profitability objectives
• Leads a team and is responsible for goals, performance evaluation, and personnel decisions
• Establishes a commitment to quality and communicate the importance of meeting statutory, regulatory and customer requirements
• Ensures quality policy is understood, implemented, and maintained at all levels of the organization
• Establishes and communicates quality objectives that are measurable and consistent with the quality policy
• Establishes and nurtures new business relationships, including cultivating partnerships with new companies, existing rack manufacturers, and emerging start-ups
• Leads with a decisive, high‑ownership management style, setting clear expectations and driving consistent execution across the team
• Builds and develops a high‑performing, results‑oriented team through ongoing coaching, feedback, and structured performance management
• Creates a culture of accountability and operational rigor, ensuring team members follow through and deliver on commitments
• Drives clarity and alignment by defining goals, processes, milestones, and metrics for both team members and product initiatives
• Acts as a change agent who challenges the status quo, introduces improved ways of working, and guides teams effectively through transformation
• Influences cross‑functional partners through strong communication and data‑driven decision‑making to ensure buy‑in to product and market strategies

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Engineering, Science, Business Administration, or related field
• 10+ years' experience in product marketing, product development, or related field
• Strong project management skills
• Product Management/Marketing expertise, including market trends/analysis, NPI process, product roadmap development, product life-cycle management
• Experience working effectively within a matrix environment
• Data Center Ecosystem Experience: knowledge of the overall environment and infrastructure within data centers, including the different components and how they interact (e.g., networking equipment, rack power distribution, and cooling)
• Proven track record of successfully establishing initial engagement with companies, driving productive collaborations and fostering successful partnerships
• Moderate travel is required
• Ability to work extended hours to accommodate global operations may be required
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing high‑performing teams, including setting clear goals, providing structured coaching, and driving accountability within a matrixed environment
• Proven ability to influence and lead cross‑functional stakeholders at multiple organizational levels, driving alignment, decision‑making, and execution in fast‑moving or evolving business conditions
• Data center infrastructure or telecommunications product/industry/technical acumen
• Experience working in a global environment