Product Manager

Leatherhead, Surrey

Competitive salary, Company Car, Hybrid working (3 days office/2 days working from home), flexitime, Private Medical Insurance, Lunch Allowance, great flexible benefits and access to exciting Hyundai Sponsored Events!

We are now recruiting for a highly motivated and forward thinking Product Manager to join our growing Product Management department in what is an extremely exciting time for Hyundai Motor UK, having seen a complete renewal of the entire product portfolio resulting in Hyundai being in the enviable position of having the youngest average fleet age in the industry, with more exciting products imminent!

The successful candidate will have experience managing successful portfolios of products and have an innate commercial and project mind-set focusing on all aspects of bringing new products to market. In addition, the ability to manage in cycle actions and constantly review and refine strategies to ensure market competitiveness is achieved for Hyundai Motor’s UK Product Portfolio and ultimately supporting the company’s fiscal and numerical targets of volume, profitability and market share.

Job Purpose:

• To manage the vehicle product planning and development activities within your portfolio of Hyundai Motor (UK) Ltd products in order to support the brand achievement of the Long Range Plan objectives.
• To plan each product in terms of price, specification and volume by trim, engine, option and channel mix over the product lifecycle in order to optimise net contribution margin.
• To deliver the volume and net contribution margin targets of each model within the portfolio as defined in the annual business plan.
• To lead the new product launch activity for models within the portfolio, ensuring all project milestones are established and all cross departmental work packages are achieved. The implementation of new vehicle launch activity requires regular project updates with the executive team.
• To ensure effective stock management by steering production order requests by model volume, trim and engine at the monthly production order meetings.
• To ensure optimal run out of existing models and run in of new models, in the portfolio this requires all new model launch proposals to evaluate sell out incentives required for run out stock.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as champion for all products in portfolio, leading internal and dealer awareness, optimising sales positioning, seeking out opportunities for improved volume and profit and integrating Company-wide activities
• Specification and pricing decisions, volume and mix forecasting
• Maximise profitability and volume of product portfolio and identify key business opportunities for growth through product actions
• Support internal partners in maintaining the strongest possible positioning for products in portfolio, including Sales Operations, Finance, Communications, PR, Events, Training and Aftersales
• Provide specification and pricing decisions for factory order in line with introduction of new models, ensuring all UK enhancements conform to the above
• Communication of all product information to internal parties and dealer network
• Participation in the forecasting team to analyse and recommend sales forecasts to support HMUK business plan
• Contribute to the development of quarterly sales and marketing campaigns
• Lead the planning of tactical product activities (e.g. special edition models) and drive each through to successful launch
• Liaise with HMC and HME over product development, pricing and specification to ensure that HMUK maximises market and profit opportunities
• Develop and communicate product positioning for each product in portfolio
• Develop project plans for all new product launches within portfolio including  strategic planning (lifecycle management) of products within portfolio
• Build extensive knowledge of existing and future environmental and legislative requirements which directly impact on products in  portfolio
• Manage the HMUK vehicle launch process for all new models in portfolio, including special editions
• Maintain a basic understanding of the proposition that each product represents
• Lead pre-sales activities with customers and develop and deliver detailed product presentations
• Populate, maintain and develop the product database

Person Specification:

• An experience Automotive professional with product management or Sales & Marketing experience including time at a Product Manager level or another Commercial role
• Strong project management skills
• Commercial mind-set and ability to truly act as a Product Portfolio Owner
• Ability to manage and interpret detailed financial, technical and specification data
• Strong customer service orientation
• Numerate with good PC skills
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Understanding of automotive software packages
• Confident manner
• Good presentation skills
• Good telephone manner
• Self-motivated / positive attitude
• Team player