Material Specialist

NFI Parts™ is North America’s most comprehensive organization providing parts, technical publications, training, and support for buses and motor coaches. NFI Parts is the parts division of NFI Group, providing replacement parts for New Flyer® transit buses, MCI® motor coaches, ADL buses, ARBOC® vehicles, as well as the product lines for the acquired NABI and Orion parts businesses. Additionally, NFI Parts has extensive cross references for parts that are common with other bus, coach, and cutaway product lines and has a mature supply base and established relationships with over 1,000 suppliers. Further information is available at www.nfi.parts.com.

Requirements

POSITION SUMMARY

The Product Line Manager (PLM) is responsible for the strategic management and growth of assigned product categories, including private label brands and alternate parts portfolio. The PLM focus is on driving new product and program opportunities, conducting market analysis, developing go-to-market plans, supporting brand new business opportunities, and executing strategies defined by Business Development and/or the Company to increase market share and profitability. This is accomplished by leading cross functional project teams within the NFI organization.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

·         Develop and execute the product line strategy to deliver a parts portfolio to service NFI’s customer base and maximize profits, including new product opportunities, enhancements, data management, and phasing out end-of-life products.

·         Conduct market analysis to identify requirements for current & future programs, new business, and products supported by sales intelligence and other industry sources.

·         Prepare business case data for opportunities related to new programs or product offerings. Present recommendations for implementation to stakeholders.

·         Lead cross-functional project teams and processes related to sales growth & product management initiatives. 

·         Act as the subject matter expert to provide support for Marketing & Sales to deliver internal & external training, marketing collateral, launch materials, and other activities supporting a successful launch. 

·         Serve as the primary conduit between Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Procurement, Inventory Planning, Pricing, and Operations on new business opportunities.

·         Present project status & milestones to multi-functional leadership groups to gain approvals to proceed, prioritize, & implement.

·         Track and report product performance metrics, including sales, margin, & market share

·         Travel to attend trade shows, customer locations, and supplier sites as required to drive business growth.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL:

•         Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or equivalent experience which has provided both theoretical and practical knowledge of the field.

•         4+ years of product line management, new product development, or business development experience in transportation, automotive, truck, bus, or heavy-duty aftermarket parts or equipment.

•         Strong market research and analysis, business case development and data analysis skills.

•         Project Management experience, including managing cross-functional teams.

•         Experience understanding customer and industry trends, parts cross referencing, and strategic sourcing opportunities.

•         Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.

•         15% travel required for this role.