Full Job Description
Product Manager III - Drinking Water
The Product Manager III for Drinking Water is responsible for leading the NPD, sustaining, and supply chain product roadmap and driving 80/20 strategies across the Drinking Water portfolio execution across assigned product categories. This role owns NPD product roadmaps, the sustaining project idea funnel, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and operational efficiency goals. The position also provides technical product training and customer support, partnering closely with engineering, operations, and commercial teams to improve product performance, simplify portfolios, and enhance customer experience.
Reports to: Sr. Director, Product Management
Key Focus Areas
• Own and evolve the multi‑year NPD roadmap for the Drinking Water portfolio, ensuring alignment with market trends, customer needs, and enterprise strategic priorities.
• Translate strategic objectives into clear, actionable NPD project pipelines with defined value propositions and business cases.
• Lead cross‑functional teams—including engineering, operations, procurement, finance, and commercial—in the execution of NPD programs from ideation through commercialization.
• Drive stage‑gate activities and ensure projects meet scope, schedule, cost, and quality deliverables.
• Lead the Sustaining & Supply Chain Roadmap: Develop and maintain the executive roadmap for sustaining and supply chain projects within the Drinking Water category, aligning business objectives and customer expectations.
• Own the Sustaining Project Funnel: Build and manage the sustaining project idea funnel, prioritizing initiatives that drive quality improvements, cost reductions, and supply continuity.
• Drive 80/20 Strategy Execution: Lead portfolio simplification and standardization efforts across the Drinking Water product line to improve profitability, operational efficiency, and customer focus.
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Partner with engineering, operations, supply chain, and sourcing teams to deliver sustaining initiatives on time and within budget.
• Replacement Parts: Own the strategy and execution of parts business to optimize product offering and maximize profit within the category.
• Product Lifecycle Ownership: Monitor and manage existing products throughout their lifecycle to ensure ongoing competitiveness, compliance, and manufacturability.
• Support Supply Chain Optimization: Identify and execute opportunities to mitigate risk, enhance material availability, and improve production flow through product changes or sourcing adjustments.
• Provide Technical Training: Develop and deliver training materials for internal stakeholders, sales representatives, and customers to strengthen technical product knowledge and confidence.
• Customer and Field Support: Serve as a technical point of contact for product-related inquiries, field applications, and issue resolution.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Use analytics to measure project performance, cost savings, and product health, providing insights that guide strategic priorities.
• Champion Continuous Improvement: Promote a culture of simplification, operational excellence, and data-based decision-making throughout the Drinking Water product organization.
Competencies
• Strategic and analytical thinking
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Customer and results orientation
• Technical and business acumen
• Strong communication
Qualifications / Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, or related field; MBA preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in Product Management, Engineering, or Operations, ideally within a manufacturing or industrial products environment.
• Proven experience leading sustaining initiatives or 80/20 portfolio simplification programs.
• Strong understanding of product lifecycle management, cost reduction, and value engineering principles.
• Excellent project management, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Technical aptitude with the ability to translate engineering concepts into customer value.
• Proficiency in data analysis and product performance reporting.
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.**