SmartTurn Product Manager
SmartTurn Product Managers take on a leadership role as both the product champion as well as the driving force for SmartTurn's innovative approach to creating products. Software-as-a-service not only benefits customers with easy onboarding, lower TCO, and advanced capabilities that can be configured for their unique needs, but it also affords product teams with flexibility and dynamic opportunities to rapidly improve the product in a much shorter product life-cycle. This means that great ideas become great features, in a meaningful time-frame for our customers.
SmartTurn is looking for sharp and driven product managers who are willing to listen out for the needs of the customer, but not afraid to propose a market-changing approach to solving problems. Product Innovations are not always handed to you by a customer, especially if they are not familiar with what technology can do. For example, most warehouse management systems (WMS) allow users to set a picking policy (LIFO, FIFO, etc.). Working together with customers, engineering, sales, professional services, marketing, documentation, SmartTurn's product teams were able to break the mold and create an "adaptive picking policy" module that leap-frogs existing solutions, making the product useful to the more dynamic warehouse or 3PL.
If you have real world experience in transportation, 3PL, warehousing, manufacturing, and are not afraid to step into a warehouse or drive a fork-lift, and, you have taken the time to earn a bachelor's degree or MBA and you want to make a difference in the way the world manages its inventory, we want to talk to you. You should also be prepared to work in an exciting, dynamic start-up environment, providing leadership and facilitation for teams that come from different disciplines. SaaS breaks the mold in the software business, and SmartTurn customers change their industries with real-time, accurate inventory visibility and warehouse management. If your work feels like a pigeon hole, it's time to step up and help create a tipping point in the supply chain software market.
Product Manager Requirements:
- Write requirements gathered from the user community and internal stakeholders
- Collaborate with Product Management Director on designing solutions that incorporate industry best practices for internet application design, usability
- Serve as an advocate for business and functional requirements to developers and QA personnel
- Define specifications, and provide support through launch of new product functionality
- Posses a high level understanding of the company's applications and how changes will impact the UI, database and reporting
- Be an expert on the supply chain/logistics market
- Coordinate scheduling and meeting communications, resourcing, document processes and project reporting
- Identify and facilitate customer focus groups to better understand our customer needs and changing market trends
- Provide input on customer needs, product design, enhancement, research, analysis, reporting and performance management
- Understand the customer business processes and requirements and assist with CEM team product/solution
- Work with clients and internal departments, and bring their problems and potential solutions to the product management team
- Perform other related duties and projects as assigned
Product Marketing Requirements:
- Assist in product positioning and messaging guidance with marketing teams
- Continuously track competitor's products and systems and maintain knowledge of the "competitive landscape"
- Analyze technology tools and trends to keep solutions ahead of competitors
- Continuously analyze industry trends in supply chain, logistics, warehousing, distribution and manufacturing
- Prepare and compile surveys from customers, prospects and analysts for purposes of formulating product direction, feature needs and technical performance requirements
Sales Requirements:
- Help develop and conduct training sessions for sales staff
- Develop sales tools to support and drive Marketing and Sales
- Assist sales in business development and presentation to customers
Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree required
- 2-3 years experience in industry as either a consultant, business process expert or product program manager in manufacturing, logistics or supply chain.
- 1-2 years experience in product management in SCM or WMS enterprise application software Product Life Cycle Management experience (SaaS software life-cycle a help, Enterprise software a minimum)
- Previously employed by or interface with SAP, Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, JDA Software, Manhattan, Red Prairie, Yantra, Accenture a plus
- Strong technical background (enterprise software) with analytical skills
- Subject matter expert for supply chain/logistics/warehousing/distribution desired
- Experience with mobile products is a plus
- Excellent verbal, written, presentation and customer facing skill set
- Positive attitude, team player, and strong work ethic, with an entrepreneurial spirit
- Ability to multi-task, manage multiple priorities simultaneously in fast-paced environments
- Able to deal with a steady stream of conflicting requests—being able to juggle multiple projects and pick the right one at the right time is a virtue
- Possesses sense of urgency and high energy level which allows them to react to situations quickly and decisively
Compensation:
SmartTurn offers a competitive base salary, bonus plan and a comprehensive benefits package including stock options. SmartTurn is located in Oakland, CA, with very convenient access to the 12th Street Oakland City Center station. The company is pleased announce it will be moving its headquarters to San Francisco in December 2008 with access to BART, CalTrain and Blue & Gold Ferry lines.
Relocation is not offered for this position.
SmartTurn is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Please apply to jobs@smartturn.com with the relevant job title in your subject line.
