Product Design Manager - OEM Sourcing
Product Development ManagerThe Company Lepley Recruiting Services is representing a growing, multi-branch distributor specializing in flooring products, installation materials, and related building solutions. They support both residential and commercial projects through a combination of strong manufacturer partnerships, local market expertise, and scalable operations. Their focus on service, inventory availability, and technical support allows them to deliver consistent value to customers across multiple regions. Position Overview Own the end-to-end success of assigned OEM product lines, and their related non-OEM counterparts - from competitive research and design requirements to sourcing, pricing, merchandising, and lifecycle management. The PDM ensures our portfolio is technically differentiated, cost-effective, and commercially competitive.Essential FunctionsProduct Strategy & Competitive AnalysisDefine target customer, use cases, and competitive benchmarks.Identify differentiation (features, quality, cost, compliance, sustainability).Product Lifecycle ManagementDrive end-to-end lifecycle strategy by defining and executing growth plans across introduction, maturation, and optimization phases, ensuring the product consistently meets customer needs and market opportunities.Analyze product performance and user feedback to identify lifecycle improvement opportunities, prioritize enhancements, and guide cross-functional teams in delivering updates that increase adoption, retention, and long-term value.Design Ownership & RequirementsAuthor PRDs/specs; manage design tradeoffs and prototype validation.Collaborate with QA to hit performance and certification standards.Sourcing & CostingPartner with Sourcing on supplier selection, RFQs, and cost negotiations.Set target cost/margin envelopes; track PPV and landed cost drivers.Merchandising & PricingOwn pricing architecture and value ladders across channels/segments.Steer packaging, presentation, and assortment strategy with Marketing.Lifecycle & Portfolio ManagementManage roadmaps, EOL, and refresh cycles; lead change orders with Commercialization.Monitor performance (GM%, turn, returns, warranty), and optimize or sunset SKUs.KPIs & OKRsProfitability: Gross margin % vs. target, cost-to-target achievement, PPV.Competitiveness: Win rate in target segments; price index vs. key competitors.Quality & Reliability: Defect/return rate, warranty incidence, compliance pass rate.Timeliness: On-time gate approvals; on-time/within-budget launches.Lifecycle Health: SKU productivity, portfolio GMROI, successful EOL transitions.Work Experience610+ years in product management/design for OEM products or hardware. (Wood Flooring preferred)Experience with compliance/quality testing and lifecycle processes (ECR/ECO).Analytical acumen; proficient in PLM/ERP, roadmap tools, and Excel/BI.CAD familiarity and DFx principles; international supplier management experience.Exposure to sustainability and regulatory frameworks in your category.Physical Demands and Work EnvironmentTravel may be required as needed to support business operations.Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time.EducationRequired Education Level: High SchoolBachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or related field; or a combination of training and formal work experience in lieu of education degree.Job Skills Strong competency in spec writing, cost modeling, and supplier collaboration, Excellent cross-functional leadership; able to make tradeoffs with data