AFL Global

Product Line Manager

AFL Global • $110K — $130K *
Duncan, SC 29334In-Person
Telecommunications & Hardware
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, marketing, business, or a related field.
  • 8+ years of experience in product management or related roles.
  • Strong project management skills.
  • Expertise in market trends, NPI processes, and product lifecycle management.
  • Experience in a matrix environment.

Responsibilities

  • Establish long-term vision and product strategy for fiber optic substations.
  • Champion product-line vision and strategy among stakeholders.
  • Conduct market research to identify trends and opportunities.
  • Manage product ranges through full lifecycle for profitability.
  • Evaluate product performance and competitive positioning.
  • Determine product pricing based on market and cost analysis.
  • Define positioning and sales enablement tools for successful launches.

Benefits

  • Hybrid/office working environment.
  • Opportunity for travel up to 25-30%.
  • Flexible working hours to accommodate global operations.
Full Job Description
Job Summary

The Senior Product Line Manager (PLM) - Substation is a seasoned, strategic leader responsible for delivering product and market intelligence and leading AFL's fiber optic substation product portfolio to increase market share, driving innovation, aligning offerings with customer and Energy-market needs, and maximizing profitability. The Senior PLM defines product, pricing, promotion, positioning, and lifecycle strategies; leads cross-functional commercialization efforts; and may manage other PLMs or Associate PLMs.

Key Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Innovation
  • Establish the long-term vision and execute the product strategy for assigned fiber optic substation product ranges.
  • Serve as the champion for communicating product-line vision and strategy to relevant participants and stakeholders.
  • Conduct market research and customer analysis to identify trends, opportunities, target segments, and product enhancements.
  • Develop product roadmaps aligned with AFL strategic goals and customer priorities, including key targets such as front of the meter (FTM), behind the meter (BTM), and 765kV builds.

Portfolio & Lifecycle Management
  • Manage designated product ranges across the full lifecycle - from detailed planning and concept through commercialization and retirement - to maximize overall return and profitability.
  • Evaluate product performance, market potential, competitive positioning, and investment priorities.
  • Lead commercial input to product development, including market requirements, target customers, product models, structures, offerings, and new product introduction (NPI) processes.
  • Ensure compliance with quality systems, regulatory requirements, and commercial change processes.

Pricing & Profitability
  • Determine product pricing using market research, production and sales costs, anticipated volume, and special or customized order requirements.
  • Manage list pricing and customer/project-level discounting to balance growth, capacity utilization, competitiveness, margin, and product-line profitability.
  • Monitor cost structures and pricing trends to drive profitability and cost optimization.
  • Own performance of new product introductions, including accountability for post-launch project financial performance.

Customer, Market & Competitive Intelligence
  • Partner with Sales and Marketing to gather customer feedback and translate insights into actionable product requirements.
  • Conduct segmentation analysis to refine product positioning and go-to-market strategies.
  • Monitor competitor offerings and market dynamics to identify threats and opportunities and recommend product differentiation strategies.

Go-to-Market & Sales Enablement
  • Define product positioning, pricing models, sales tools, training, content, processes, and practices needed to support sales throughout the buyer's journey.
  • Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, partners, and other key stakeholders to support successful launches, increase adoption, revenue growth, sales results, and productivity.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership
  • Work closely with Engineering, Sales, Customer Success, Operations, Marketing, Customer Support, and sister business units to ensure seamless product development, delivery, and support.
  • Foster alignment across departments and within a matrixed/global environment to achieve shared business objectives.
  • When assigned, lead a team and be responsible for goals, performance evaluation, development, and personnel decisions.

Quality
  • Establish a commitment to quality and communicate the importance of meeting statutory, regulatory, and customer requirements.
  • Ensure the quality policy is understood, implemented, and maintained at all applicable levels of the organization.
  • Establish and communicate measurable quality objectives consistent with the quality policy.


Personal Qualities

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Strong analytical, strategic-thinking, and process skills.
  • Ability to work effectively in teams and build collaborative relationships.
  • Results-driven mindset with the ability to thrive in a matrixed and global environment.


Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, Marketing, Business, Science, Business Administration, or a related field.
  • 8+ years of experience in product management, product marketing, product development, applications engineering, or a related field.
  • Strong project management skills.
  • Product management/marketing expertise, including market trends and analysis, NPI processes, product roadmap development, and product lifecycle management.
  • Experience working effectively within a matrix environment.

Preferred Qualifications
  • MBA preferred.
  • Experience in the electric utility, substation, transmission and distribution (T&D), or power infrastructure sectors.
  • Optical networking or telecommunications product/industry/technical acumen.
  • Proven success managing product roadmaps, NPI processes, and lifecycle strategies.
  • Experience working in a global environment.


Working Conditions

  • Hybrid/office environment.
  • Willingness to travel up to 25-30%.
  • Ability to work extended hours as needed to accommodate global operations.

About AFL Global

AFL Global is a leading provider of integrated solutions in the fiber optics industry. The company offers a wide range of products and services, including fiber optic cable, connectivity, and accessories, as well as engineering, installation, and maintenance services. AFL Global serves a variety of industries, including telecommunications, broadband, electric utility, and enterprise.
Learn more about AFL Global
Size
5,000 employees
Industry
Business Services
Founded
1984
* Ladders Estimates

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