Product Category Director - Separation

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions

$120K — $150K *
Erie, PA 16509In-Person
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Engineering, Business or related discipline
  • 10+ years of sales and/or product management experience
  • Experience with water management and plumbing products
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Proven ability to build strong customer relationships
  • High energy and enthusiasm for tackling challenges
  • Accountability for meeting commitments
  • Track record of achieving results
  • Ability to persuade and gain commitment from others

Responsibilities

  • Own Annual Improvement Plans, translating revenue targets into tactical workstreams
  • Develop dual-pronged go-to-market strategies for Specification and Stocking Motion
  • Establish reporting cadences to maintain execution momentum
  • Manage category P&L and monitor regional profitability
  • Lead business development efforts and forecast sales accurately
  • Drive pricing strategies to balance competitiveness and profitability
  • Oversee New Product Introduction and cross-functional execution
  • Align Separation specifications with strategic industry partners
  • Develop customer-facing digital tools for enhanced user experience
  • Recruit and manage a high-performing commercial team

Benefits

  • Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
  • Matching 401(k) Contribution
  • Health Savings Account
  • Up to 3 weeks starting vacation with potential increases
  • 12 paid holidays
  • Annual bonus eligibility
  • Educational reimbursement
  • Matching gift program
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan available at a discount
Full Job Description
Product Category Director - Separation

The Director of Separation is a leadership position responsible for the development and implementation of Separation product growth strategies in conjunction with the Flow Systems business unit leadership and product management teams. This strategic leader is responsible for indirectly driving sales growth through partnership and alignment with our commercial leaders and bringing forth market share gain opportunities with new and existing customers.

Reports to: General Manager, Flow Systems

Key Focus Areas

Strategy Deployment

  • Act as the primary owner for Annual Improvement Plans (AIP), leveraging X-Matrix, and the Zurn Business System (ZBS) to translate revenue targets into tactical, field-level workstreams.

  • Formulate and deploy dual-pronged GTM strategies, balancing the long-cycle Specification Motion (driving Basis of Design with engineering firms) with the high-velocity Stocking Motion (targeting MRO service contractors).

  • Establish and lead weekly, and monthly reporting cadences and visual management to maintain execution momentum and provide high-level updates to executive leadership.

Financial and Portfolio Management

  • Manage category P&L and portfolio performance, utilize financial modeling and data visualization tools to monitor regional profitability and drive resource allocation.

  • Lead the separation business development, partnering with the commercial team to forecast accurately and deliver on sales expectations.

  • Design and execute pricing strategies, balancing competitive net-pricing and promotional incentives with margin mitigation to drive profitable growth

Product Lifecycle Management

  • Lead the end-to-end New Product Introduction process, managing the lifecycle from initial business case and concept through full commercial launch.

  • Direct cross functional execution across engineering, operations, marketing, and sales to ensure new product rollouts hit launch milestones and target margins.

  • Lead product innovation strategy in conjunction with Flow Systems product management and engineering departments, identifying product gaps and new opportunities within the separation business.

Sales Enablement & Business Development

  • Drive Separation specifications through tactical alignment with the specification team on targets and priorities, alongside strategic alignment with industry partners.

  • Direct the municipal strategy to secure Approved Product List (APL) status and mass approvals across complex code jurisdictions, utilizing regulatory compliance as a competitive advantage.

  • Partner with product marketing teams to develop the required collateral and positioning of products within the sales channels.

  • Drive the continuous development and enhancement of customer-facing digital tools, including next-generation sizing tools, TCO/ROI calculators, and legacy crossover guides.

Cross-Functional Team & Field Leadership

  • Recruit, develop, and manage a high-performing commercial team consisting of National Sales Managers, Product Managers, and specialized Municipal Business Development Managers (BDMs).

  • Direct Regional Sales Managers (RSMs) and independent rep agencies, arming the field with distilled competitive intelligence, localized training programs, and optimized quota structures.

  • Present launch status and strategic plans directly to the executive leadership team.

Qualifications / Requirements & Capabilities

  • Bachelor's degree with a focus on Marketing, Engineering, Business, or related discipline required.

  • 10+ years of related sales and/or product management experience in the field.

  • Experience with water management and plumbing products.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

  • Customer Focus – Ability to build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions.

  • Action Oriented – Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.

  • Ensures Accountability – Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments.

  • Drives Results – Consistently achieves results.

  • Persuades – Uses compelling arguments to gain the support and commitment of others.


Total Rewards and Benefits
  • Competitive Salary
  • Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
  • Matching 401(k) Contribution
  • Health Savings Account
  • Up to 3 weeks starting Vacation (may increase with tenure)
  • 12 Paid Holidays
  • Annual Bonus Eligibility
  • Educational Reimbursement
  • Matching Gift Program
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan – purchase company stock at a discount!

**THIRD PARTY AGENCY: Any unsolicited submissions received from recruitment agencies will be considered property of Zurn Elkay, and we will not be liable for any fees or obligations related to those submissions.**

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