Description :
Job Title: Product Manager
Job Category: Marketing
Product: (Not Product Specific)
Date Posted: 07/08/2008
Job Code: 235966
Location: WA - Redmond
Travel Required:
Provide marketing, promotion and business analytics expertise in order to drive increased market share and platform revenues of Zune hardware. Be prepared to develop, implement and measure retailer specific promotions and marketing plans. You will succeed by being the corporate expert on the consumer, competition, business drivers, partners, and trends for respective products in the portable music device category. Create best of breed programs and promotions that maximize retailer and Microsoft benefit.
Roles/Responsibilities:
Understand consumer and marketplace dynamics impacting the portable music device category.
Drive agreement on key channel objectives for respective products/category with account teams and accounts.
Develop close working relationships with the account managers, product managers, 3rd party developers and all partner retailers.
Be the corporate expert for respective products in the channel and evangelize key takeaways with the product groups, account managers and externally with accounts.
Communicate key issues and opportunities to product groups to influence pricing, packaging and product decisions in the category.
Develop marketing plans for respective products based on collaboration with product marketing and account teams. Plans will encompass the products' lifecycle (from launch to phase-out), be differentiated by account and ensure Microsoft competes effectively in the channel and category. Key components include category assortment, promotions, merchandising, sales contests etc.
Understand levers for driving share and revenue in the category (e.g. on price, shelf presence, display, feature, promotions, convenience etc), consumer purchase habits by account and product. Drive plan efficiency by demonstrating a working knowledge of forecasting, inventory and conflict resolution management.
Qualifications Recommended:
A BA or equivalent 4-year degree, MBA a plus.
Five years of relevant experience in the portable music device business (e.g. category management) or retail channel product marketing experience within Microsoft.
Proven analytical experience with sales, trend analysis, plan-o-gram, forecasting market and market share and assortment development, etc. to drive accurate demand forecasts and sell-through results.
Successful experience at developing efficient work plans for complex projects involving many groups; effectively implement and coordinate these plans. Ability to communicate effectively and concisely - both orally and in written form.
Strong attention to detail, excellent organization and ability to effectively manage multiple projects required. Ability to effectively influence others in multiple groups and collaborate to achieve specific objectives.
