Product Manager

This is Where Tradition Becomes Legend

Ritchie Engineering Co., Inc. is a family-owned company that has been innovating HVAC & Refrigeration tools and test equipment for more than 75 years. From idea conception through development, production, and shipment; every team member plays a crucial role ensuring the quality, reliability, and efficiency of these American-made products.

What We Offer

Join our team and enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your loved ones:

Benefits

401(k) Retirement Plan: 100% company match with no vesting schedule on up to 4% of your contributions

Health Insurance: Two Medical Plans, Dental, Vision and Flexible Spending Account options to suit your needs

Company Paid Insurance: Short-term disability, long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment, and life insurance at no additional cost

Paid Time Off(PTO): We value work life balance and offer a generous PTO plan for exempt employees. You will start with 52 hours during the first 6 months, with the accrual increasing to 160 hours annually after 6 months. The accrual rate will continue to increase with tenure up to 202 hours annually after 20 years of service.

Holiday Pay: In addition to PTO, all employees receive up to 80 hours of paid holidays annually

Telemedicine: 24/7 access to healthcare professionals for you and your family

Referral program: Earn rewards for helping the team grow

Compensation

As you evaluate your career options, we recognize that salary is a key consideration. For this role, the pay range is $90,000-144,000, with individual compensation determined by your unique skills, experience level, and other relevant factors

Schedule

• Enjoy a 4-day work week, 10-hours a day (Monday–Thursday Between 6:00am and 6:00pm).
• During travel and trade show weeks schedule may be modified to accommodate Friday or weekend demands
• Additional hours may be required during busier times

What You Will be Doing

Identifies and analyzes opportunities for new products or changes to existing products based on market needs, competition, and product performance. Prioritizes these opportunities and creates product design specifications for engineering projects. Helps train both internal and external stakeholders on products

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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Research to identify market opportunities for new products

Lead user focus groups and collect user feedback on new and existing products

Acts as the point person for receiving new product ideas from employees, end users, sales, and outside inventors

Work with potential new vendors who have new product offerings

Establish target specifications for new products

Create and manage Business Cases for new products

Collaborate with leadership to develop and maintain product roadmap

Evaluate competitive product offering and identify where we fall short or prevail and advise where we should go

Be aware of market/ industry innovations, new refrigerants, changes to regulation, etc.

Manage product life cycles; evaluate existing products for profitability, market share, and trends

For new products, evaluate whether to organically develop or utilize other options (purchase from another manufacturer)

Help with new product roll-out, including training of salespeople and customer service

Support company social media programs and content creation

Develop product training for on-site training and video production

Execute on-site training where applicable

Collaborate internally to write new product manuals to help customers understand proper equipment operation

Work with marketing to provide features & benefits and other marketing materials

Assist Technical Support Representatives on field customer product complaints

Attend sales meetings to discuss trends and market change

Attend trade shows where applicable

Work with stage gating team throughout approval process

Propose quarterly business travel agendas, confirm monthly travel plans the month prior, and follow Travel and Expense policy on trips including booking flights two weeks prior to trip

Other duties as assigned including training others on known processes

What You Will Bring

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, or equivalent field experience
• 3+ years of demonstrated success in fast-paced product management or product marketing role for HVAC based products
• Proven ability to successfully collaborate with internal stakeholders from various levels and areas of the organization and drive successful outcomes cross-functionally
• Proven record of accomplishment of launching successful new products/services and enhancing and scaling them through product releases
• Translate market research data, customer feedback, and technology trends into product requirements
• Knowledge and experience with Refrigeration and A/C systems and their functions
• Experience with early-stage products and new product development from ideation specification through market launch and revenue generation.
• Experience working closely with an engineering organization to define applications and manage them through the entire product lifecycle
• Willingness to travel 35% - 50%
• Proficiency in reading and writing in English
• Highly organized, self-motivated and can work independently
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills as well as excellent communication skills (both written and oral) with ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Where and How You Will Work

Engagement and Collaboration

This role is open to both Minnesota and non-Minnesotan residents. For non-local residents the travel demands include up to 50% travel, including one week per month on-site in Bloomington, MN, which will allow you to collaborate closely with others, build meaningful relationships, and play a key role in our company success. Those that live in the area will be expected to work in office primarily, with approximately 25-30% travel.

Physical Requirements

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.

Required to sit, stand, walk, handle or feel objects, tools and controls

Vision required to inspect products and documents in detail

Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, and to stoop, kneel, or crouch

Must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds; some workstations require lifting and/or moving up to 60 pounds

Work Environment

The performance of this position may occasionally require exposure to the manufacturing areas where certain areas require the use of personal protective equipment, may work near moving equipment, and exposed to dust, odors, oil, fumes, and noise.