Job Purpose

Own and continuously improve the end-to-end Product Management operating model and core processes (e.g., portfolio planning, product lifecycle governance, VOC/market insights, business case development, stage-gate governance, roadmap management, pricing inputs, launch readiness, and post-launch performance management). This role sets standards, defines controls and decision rights, partners with cross-functional leaders to implement changes, and ensures consistent adoption through documentation, training, metrics, and governance.

Education / Training
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• MBA or Master's degree preferred; Lean/Six Sigma (Green Belt+) or equivalent continuous improvement training strongly preferred.

Key Job Elements
• Serve as the process owner for the Product Management operating model, including defined decision rights, governance cadence, inputs/outputs, and handoffs across Sales, Engineering, Finance, Operations, and Aftermarket.
• Define and maintain standard work for core Product Management processes (portfolio planning, lifecycle reviews, stage-gate governance, roadmap management, launch readiness, and post-launch reviews), ensuring clarity of roles (RACI), artifacts, and approval paths.
• Lead cross-functional workshops to identify pain points, risks, and bottlenecks; perform root-cause analysis; and prioritize improvements based on business impact, customer value, and feasibility.
• Establish and run Product Management process governance (intake, prioritization, roadmap for improvements, stakeholder alignment, and change control), including executive-ready reporting and decisions.
• Define process KPIs and health measures (e.g., cycle time to approve business cases, on-time stage-gate deliverables, roadmap stability, launch readiness, VOC coverage, portfolio value realization) and drive actions when performance is off-track.
• Partner with IT and analytics teams to translate process needs into system requirements (PLM/ERP/CRM), streamline data flows, and improve transparency through dashboards and standardized artifacts.
• Own the process documentation repository, including document control, versioning, approvals, and auditability; ensure teams are working to the current standard.
• Ensure controls and compliance needs are embedded in Product Management processes (governance checkpoints, required artifacts, and traceability), and support internal/external audits as applicable.
• Develop and deliver change management and enablement (communications, training, job aids, coaching) to drive adoption across product managers and partner functions; measure adoption and sustainment.
• Perform all responsibilities in accordance with applicable policies and code of conduct.

Qualifications and Experience

Qualifications, Experience:
• 10-12+ years of experience in product management, portfolio/program management, business operations, process ownership, and/or continuous improvement, with demonstrated end-to-end accountability for complex cross-functional processes.
• Proven ability to design and run governance mechanisms (cadences, decision forums, stage-gate/approval workflows) and drive alignment at manager, director, and executive levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; able to define measures, interpret trends, and translate insights into decisions and sustained process improvements.
• Demonstrated change leadership: building stakeholder coalitions, influencing without authority, and driving adoption across diverse teams and geographies.
• Experience with process mapping and documentation tools (e.g., Visio or similar) and strong proficiency with Excel/PowerPoint for executive storytelling and KPI reporting.
• Excellent communication skills-able to write clear standards and facilitate workshops; comfortable presenting recommendations, trade-offs, and decisions to senior leadership.
• Strong project/program management capabilities (planning, dependencies, risks/issues, stakeholder management) with a track record of delivering outcomes across multiple workstreams.
Preferred Skills and Experience
• Experience defining product portfolio and roadmap governance, including stage-gate or similar lifecycle management frameworks.
• Experience partnering with Finance on business cases, portfolio value tracking, and investment decision support.
• Familiarity with PLM, ERP, and/or CRM systems and how they support product data, lifecycle decisions, and commercialization readiness.
• Experience developing role-based training and onboarding for product managers, including playbooks, templates, and coaching.
• Strong facilitation skills for executive forums (portfolio reviews, lifecycle councils, launch readiness reviews) and ability to drive decisions and follow-through.

Travel: up to 30%-40% as needed to support stakeholder workshops, site visits, and process rollouts.

Benefits

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance, and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Progress Rail.**

• Competitive Salary
• 401(k) plan with up to 6% company match (no waiting period with immediate vesting)
• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life/Disability Insurance
• Supplemental Accident, Critical Care, and Hospital Insurance available along with an HDHP and HSA with seed money
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Education Assistance Program
• Employee Recognition Programs
• Site specific Production and Incentive Plans
• Site specific Step and Skill Level Wage Adjustment Plans
• Site Specific Relocation and Sign-on Bonus Programs

*Benefits eligibility varies by job position, full-time/part-time and regular/temporary status. The provisions of the plan documents control such benefits.

**Subject to position, eligibility, and plan guidelines.