Director of Product Marketing

Director, Product Marketing
LOCATION : Boston, MA
DEPARTMENT: Product Marketing
NEXT HIGHER MANAGER: VP, Product Development

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Color Kinetics Incorporated (NASDAQ: CLRK) transforms environments through new, dynamic uses of light. Its award-winning lighting systems and technologies apply the benefits of LEDs as a highly efficient, long lasting, environmentally friendly, and inherently digital source of illumination - reinventing light itself as a highly controllable medium. Color Kinetics also enables widespread adoption of LED lighting through OEM and licensing partnerships in diverse markets. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA with offices in the UK, China, and Japan. This position reports to VP Product Development and manages a team of product marketing managers.

Responsible for the development and implementation of the product marketing strategy for all lighting systems and OEM target markets; delivering products that reach stated strategic and financial requirements. Ensure the company is optimizing its opportunities through the delivery of powerful, differentiated, product packages or bundles of products and establishing a powerful path to market including channel development, sales management and promotions to meet identified market and customer needs/requirements.

Working directly with the other central business functions, this position is responsible for product planning, new product introductions, application identification, pricing strategies, sales tools/communications, feature/benefits analysis, and competitive positioning for Color Kinetics' entire product and component portfolio.

This position and the team he/she manages acts the strategic driver (with the concept team) of the company's product plans, positioning, and channel development. As such, the group is the central "glue" in the product and channel development process acting as the chief liaison with sales, marketing communications, product development, and the innovation team. This position is responsible for all outward facing elements of the product from the early concept stage to in-line management to perpetuity care to (potentially) "end of life".

PRINCIPLE ACTIVITIES / OBJECTIVES
Involved in delivering a market driven product offering Working in tandem with the Concept Team, support market research and analysis to determine optimal market strategy for product line. Leverage secondary resources to develop go to market strategies. Work with Concept Team to identify new product opportunities in company's target markets Facilitate input on product ideas/needs from influential, recognized industry leaders and end users providing the feedback loops and product definition for concepts to successfully transition into product development. Work with other teams or outside relationships to define market and customer requirements as needed. Communicating market or customer requests for unmet product needs back to Concept Team. Interface between Innovation Team and Product Development Shepard concept into product development by filling in necessary market gaps be it pricing, other comparisons (efficacy, performance, power management, etc.) Ensure idea generation syncs within context of existing product and PD plans Develop product marketing strategies and tactics that support corporate goals for profitability and market share Drive communications strategy and implementation (with Marketing Communications) for the product marketing tools in designated market(s) Coordinate product marketing programs Communicate and work with Marketing Communication and technical documentation to translate those goals into product, channel and industry communication strategies. Works directly with Marketing Communications on trade show planning, publicity opportunities if applicable, collateral development, and campaign management to ensure that our comprehensive and compelling product story is translated to our customer base in the strongest way possible. Recommend themes for promotions, collateral, trade shows Lifecycle Management Manage an 18 month R&D, product and marketing roadmapProvide support for the sales channel Primary sales interface on product. Responsibility for managing the sales team around the latest market/competitive trends, and pricing changes. Inform and train the sales force through various points of communications, tools, and guidance. Quarterly sales meeting management Sales training Messaging (from product team) to sales force (to be coordinated w/ VPs sales) Running regular salesforce correspondence including a weekly product call. Develop sales support tools including application guides, product overviews, sell sheets, general specifications, and installations guides. Establish relationships and credibility with key customers Work with sales VP (s) to manage outside design opportunities Manages all special project request forms and determines fit, suitability and pricing for custom projects Oversees competitive product analysis and product positioning in the marketplace. Perform regular competitive analysis on price, performance, services. Analyze in the context of how different products lines are sold (for instance, RGB is sold on "effects" and less on efficacy/the energy story in contrast to White) Update the sales force in real time on competitive developments and landscape and implement strategies and tactics that appropriately address challenges. Verify new product fit with existing product lines and corporate strategies. Establishment and implementation of product related policy: Standard pricing policies Lifetime info EOL Technology updates Advocating product needs for sales On-going management and communication of the product/market roadmap NATURE & SCOPE
This role works closely with internal and external sales staff, OEMs, channel partners, specifiers and end users, organizes and analyzes this feedback, and delivers product and market strategy recommendations based on the analysis.

KNOW HOW
The candidate must have practical experience in the strategic development, tactical management and obsolescence of diverse high technology product lines. Significant experience and knowledge in supporting market focused product offerings based on new technology architectures. Experience and/or insight into company target markets.

Must be strategic and possess the ability to communicate, negotiate and persuade at all management levels. Must be knowledgeable in "best in class" business practices in the area of product marketing and have demonstrated the ability to effectively adapt to changing industry trends and breakthroughs.

Minimum Requirements
BA/BS degree in engineering, business, marketing or related focus MBA preferred but not required 15+ years experience in technology or industrial products line management Solid management capacity and leadership style Strong analytical skills Excellent oral and written communication skills Experience in the lighting industry Proficient in use of major PC office applications Must be able to work in a fast moving, high-pressure environment. Desired requirements Experience managing teams in product marketing capacity. Experience at senior capacity in high technology industry product line marketing, particularly integrated hardware and software platforms, including product development and product communications Experience in fast paced project management of multiple products and product lines with aggressive time to market schedules PROBLEM SOLVING
Candidate must be comfortable in the leadership position in an environment of constant change deriving satisfaction from the challenge of integrating technology into commercially-viable, differentiated, customer-focused products. Candidate must develop efficient and effective timely solutions to diverse and complex business problems.