Associate Technical Product Specialist

Description

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Deputy Manager of Product Management, this entry-level position is an individual contributor with primary responsibility for managing the product life cycle and 4P execution for assigned product group(s)

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Core duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Product Responsibility

1. Responsible for assigned product groups, their product life cycle management, and helping grow product revenue through indirect and direct means, which includes customer visits to help with product positioning and gain Voice-of-Customer (VOC) feedback
2. Provide an annual and five-year revenue outlook for assigned product groups
3. Responsible for achieving annual Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets
4. Accelerate New Product Introduction (NPI) design-in through initiatives, programs, and/or visiting target customers with a      salesperson
5. Learn to develop product strategy through market analysis, competitive analysis, and customer insight
6. Create and deliver customized product presentations both internally and externally that highlight Hirose’s competitive advantage, value proposition(s), and why we win summaries
7. Collaborate with adjacent Hirose Americas teams (Segment, Marketing, Sales, Distribution, Engineering), Japan (Product Marketing, Sales Promotion, Segment), and on occasion with global teams if needed (e.g. Hirose Europe)
8. Comply with established Hirose policies, pricing guidelines and best practices

Product Development

1. Obtain Voice-of-Customer (VOC) feedback from target customers on existing products and new product ideas. Travel to customer sites is required in most cases
2. Collaborate with Hirose Americas Sales team, Segment team, and Hirose Japan teams to help qualify both Americas and global-derived new product ideas
3. Learn and utilize the stage-gate process to qualify new ideas based on their product definition and revenue potential. Must possess the analytical ability to form product definitions based on customer feedback.

Teamwork

1. Learn and apply Hirose’s philosophy of “connecting wisdom” and “always taking the lead, pursuing the cutting edge, achieving differentiation, and being the first to obtain consumer’s approval”
2. Build close relationships with Hirose Americas personnel and Hirose Japan personnel 
3. Create a collaborative team environment within the HRS support groups

Administration

1. Complete tasks per ISO9001-2008 requirements, when applicable
2. Learn then execute to product management activity reports such as product definitions, competitive analysis, competitive cross references, monthly product focus training, and product positioning pages
3. Complete all required reports, presentations in a timely fashion

SUPERVISION

None.

Requirements

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or Electrical Engineering preferred. Other engineering disciplines may be considered as well
2. 0-1 years total in a technical role including engineering, outside sales, product marketing, or product management experience 
3. Must possess technical knowledge or aptitude to be able to comprehend the customer’s connector and connector solution requirements
4. Must report into the Hirose Americas headquarters office in Downers Grove, IL per latest Hirose Americas work from office/home policy
5. Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
6. Excellent project management skills
7. Organizational skills must be above average. Ability to manage multiple assignments while meeting deadlines and quality standards
8. Possess good communication skills (oral and written) to work with both external and internal customers. Able to clearly and concisely communicate across different cultures
9. Good presentation skills including creating PowerPoint presentations
10. Computer literate and proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
11. Self-motivated & positive attitude with great energy
12. Must be able and willing to travel up to 33% of the time (most likely will be 10-25%). Travel includes the territory of Hirose Americas (sometimes to Hirose Japan HQ’s once per year)
13. Must be authorized to work for the US without visa sponsorship now or in the future

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS
Must be able to negotiate the territory assigned either by driving or using available transportation on an on-going basis, which may require long distance travel.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee will also need to travel to customer sites, tradeshows, and company events. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

When not conducting business outside the office, the employee is expected to adhere to normal business hours at report of duty at the HRSUSA assigned office. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Hirose Electric USA, Inc. may need to revise or change the essential and supplemental responsibilities of the position as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.