New Product Research & Development Lead - Trailers

Job Description

We are seeking an individual with a keen interest in trailers and the transportation industry to lead our New Product Research & Development efforts. Brandt designs and manufactures a wide range of trailer products, from our Work Ready utility trailers designed for commercial contractors and every-day use, to multi-axle heavy haul trailers used by industry professionals serving the construction, forestry, oil & gas, and agricultural industries. In this role, your goal is to build the knowledge required to be the subject matter expert on our product lines and the markets in which our customers operate. You will work with a dedicated engineering team to define the business case as new product opportunities are identified including competitive analysis, product design specifications, market forecasting, and customer segmentation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Competitive and Industry Analysis

• Identify the market leaders with the ability to provide insights on product specifications & options.
• Understanding of our competitors' value propositions & performance attributes that contributes to their market share.

Customer Engagement

• Work directly with targeted customers in one-to-one or group discussions to gain expert insights to understand their current issues and pain points with existing products.
• Develop a clear understanding of the commercial aspects of the product that can be used in the business case, including when customers buy, what product value drives their purchasing decision, etc.
• Understand customer business practices and priorities across multiple production systems to validate product-market fit.

Define Product Opportunity

• Ensure products are innovative, competitively priced, appropriately featured, and align with the overall strategy of the organization.
• Collaborate with a cross functional teams to execute Brandt's Product Development Process, ensuring that customer value targets and functional requirements are being met.
• Report to Internal Stakeholders on progress of product development throughout the duration of the project.

Product Onboarding

• Transfer product and market knowledge to Sales and Marketing teams to inform on who our customer is and how our product will allow customers to be more productive, efficient & profitable.
• Inform on the unique value proposition and showcase the benefits that our product has over the competitive alternatives.
• Highlight features that are valuable to the customer for success.

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Required Skills

• Strong organizational and communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Ability to collaborate across all levels and departments within the organization.
• Understanding of business and product financial metrics.

Required Experience

We seek an individual passionate about understanding how well-designed and manufactured trailers can enhance customer productivity, ease of use, and return on investment. Success in this role requires curiosity, market understanding, and the ability to analyze customer trailer usage. This opportunity allows you to shape Brandt's product vision for years to come.

• Relevant experience in product use, sales, design, customer support, or manufacturing is an asset.