Reporting to the Head of Product Line Management, defines and implements the commercial, marketing, and industrial strategy for their product range, with the objective of driving revenue growth, market expansion, and profitability. Leads and coordinates a team of Product Managers and/or Product Marketing Managers to support sales execution and business performance.
This Product Line Manager role requires a senior, highly technical leader with a strong automotive background. The position is solution-oriented and engineering-driven, focused on developing and managing complex, customer-specific product solutions rather than standard catalog or off-the-shelf offerings.
The ideal candidate will bring deep automotive industry experience, preferably supported by an engineering background (mechanical or electrical). While an engineering degree is strongly preferred, hands-on automotive product experience is the primary requirement.
Core Responsibility Split
Responsibilities are expected to be balanced approximately as follows:
* Team & portfolio management (leading and developing a global product management organization).
* Customer-facing engagement (~20–30%), supporting key accounts, technical discussions, and strategic opportunities.
* Strategy, roadmap development, and internal coordination, including alignment with R&D, operations, and sales.
The role includes direct management of an international Product Management team, with team members located across multiple regions (e.g., France, Nantong, Kochi, and other global sites).
Customers & Market Positioning Focus
* Primary market focus on Tier 1 automotive suppliers
* Active or developing strategic relationships with major OEMs and automotive players.
* Strong growth ambitions across major European automotive customers, with an emphasis on expanding market share, strategic partnerships, and long-term platform wins
Significant Activities, Responsibilities, and Tasks
* Define and execute the product line strategy to maximize sales growth and margin performance.
* Develop, manage, and monitor the annual budget to ensure revenue, pricing, and profitability targets are achieved.
* Define and coordinate the industrialization of products to support cost competitiveness and customer demand.
* Analyze market, customer, and sales data to make fast, business-driven prioritization decisions.
* Drive innovation and product design initiatives aligned with market opportunities and sales needs.
* Maintain a strong partnership with Sales to promote products, support pipeline growth, and align priorities.
* Define and manage new product launch plans to ensure commercial readiness and sales adoption.
* Coordinate and support sales proposals to win new business and expand existing accounts.
* Monitor competitive activity and market positioning to protect and grow market share.
Knowledge & Skills Required for the Position
* Strong mastery of products, applications, and customer value propositions.
* Strong command of marketing and commercial tools (business plans, investment requests, pricing, value messaging).
* Solid understanding of financial drivers, including revenue, margins, and ROI.
* Experience managing and influencing international, cross-functional teams.
* Ability to produce clear, sales-oriented marketing documentation (product strategy, roadmap, budgets, presentations).
* Proficiency in English.
Skills and Experience Required
* Develop product strategies and budgets by evaluating existing business performance, identifying revenue-driving opportunities, and planning new product introductions.
* Coordinate product industrialization with factories to meet cost, margin, and customer delivery requirements.
* Analyze monthly business results (order intake, revenue, margins, pipeline) and implement corrective commercial actions as needed.
* Partner closely with product development teams to deliver products aligned with market demand and sales feedback.
* Work closely with Sales through regular interlock meetings to ensure alignment of priorities, targets, and customer needs.
* Lead new product launches, ensuring sales enablement, resource alignment, and execution discipline.
* Ensure timely and effective support to Sales by prioritizing requests and coordinating internal resources.
* Ensure Product Managers actively conduct competitive intelligence, monitor customer applications, and track market trends to identify new revenue opportunities.
Soft Skills, Professional and Behavioral Aptitudes
* Strong people management and leadership skills
* Analytical and synthesis capabilities
* Strong entrepreneurial and results-driven mindset
* Influential leadership
* Excellent communication and negotiation skills
* Collaborative, cross-functional approach
* Strong prioritization skills in a fast-paced sales environment
* High level of autonomy and accountability