Posted on: 1/27/2010

Product Planning Manager (KCI)

SUMMARY:
Work as Sales Liaison and internal communication point for all groups and functional areas of Kyocera. Interaction daily with product planning team, project leads, engineering, marketing and software to ensure the sales initiatives set out by management are being driven properly through these groups. oversee product management support throughout the product development process. Takes a leadership role in driving forecasting, pricing and product positioning documents. Ensure KCI management is familiar with any changes that will directly effect current sales assumptions and articulates the reasons and effects of these changes. Coordinates and communications initiatives of all accounts both individually and together as a group. Ensures that these initiatives between accounts are not to diverse that would cause a significant spike in Engineering/planning resources. Drives market analysis and projections by region. Leads assessment and evaluation of market information and product roadmap. Provides all analysis for financial planing for value output in product portfolio planning. Recommends change to policies and establish procedures that affect immediate organization(s).

REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelors degree in Marketing or Management or equivalent expereince, Masters Business Administration degree preferred
5+ years of Sales or Strategic Planning experience
Experience in the wireless communications industry
Strong understanding and background in strategic product planning
Working knowledge of business fundamentals for manufactured products
Effective organizational, negotiation, verbal and written communication skills
Strong skills with Microsoft Office suite of products
Working knowledge of company functions, and marketing policies and procedures
Strong leadership skills
Working knowledge of wireless communications industry

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Specifically focused on Three-Year Handset Roadmap, current business cases, New Technology Roadmap, Customer Engineering Requirements and Forecasting. Work directly with Engineering, ID/Design teams, planning and product management at all levels of the organization.
Supports customer RFP's including roadmap information and content as well as market information and segmentation.
Create and manage the following forecasts for entire sales division: Annual Master Plan, 3 Year Strategic Planning Forecast and individual business case forecasts with each assigned product lead.
Manage Advanced Scoping Team for Kyocera Wireless. Team responsible for understanding the costs, timing and ROI on any changes to current roadmap decisions. Designed to allow us to make changes to a device post launch to increase sales at a carrier or add customer to business case.
Act as Sales Lead in the following inter-company meetings; Phase 0 Meetings, PAC Meetings, Advanced Scoping Meetings, Product Forecast Reviews. Act as liaison for communication with Design/ID, Planning and Engineering teams both in San Diego and Japan Headquarters.
Works to understand carrier requirements at high level and impact to business case and product portfolio. Communicate any changes to these requirements to Senior Management at KCI.
May supervise direct reports and establish individual performance goals and reviews performance Plans and grants salary increases as appropriate
Handles discipline and documentation steps in problem employee situations
Performs other duties as assigned

PROBLEM SOLVING:

Poor decisions or failure to achieve results will add to costs of programs and may impact the short-term and long term goals of the organization

SCOPE OR IMPACT: (financial or other quantitative measures):

Works on issues of diverse scope where analysis of situation or data requires evaluation of a variety of factors, including an understanding of current business trends
Follows processes and operational policies in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions
Acts as advisor to subordinate(s) to meet schedules and/or resolve technical problems
Develops and administers schedules, performance requirements; may have budget responsibilities

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS/SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: