Product Manager - Commercial Tires

POSITION SUMMARY:   

The Product Manager – Commercial Tires is responsible for managing and optimizing the company’s commercial tire portfolio, including Truck & Bus Radial (TBR), Retread, Farm, OTR, and Industrial segments. This role is pivotal in ensuring that our stores have a complete, competitive, and profitable product lineup that meets the diverse needs of commercial fleets and end users.

Product Management collaborates cross-functionally with teams in Purchasing, Pricing, Inventory Planning, Stores Sales Support, Fleet Sales, Store Operations, and  Retread Production to develop and maintain a strategic product screen tailored to individual markets and customer segments. This includes evaluating market trends, sales data, vehicle applications, and customer needs to recommend the optimal brand, size, and product mix at the store level.

This role identifies market gaps and segment opportunities, collaborating with the Manager of Product Strategy to build business cases that drive growth in both product offerings and commercial fleet services. Product Screen management includes defining applications and value steps for each tire size, as well as overseeing product lifecycle planning, roadmap development, and transition strategies for all product lines.

The Product Manager will collaborate closely with the Pricing Team to monitor and maintain a competitive retail product landscape, ensuring alignment with the company’s strategic pricing direction. As part of the Purchasing Organization, the Product Manager will guide the Commercial Purchasing Manager by identifying segment needs and recommending the appropriate brands and products for each market opportunity.

Additionally, the Product Manager is responsible for the development and execution of New  Product Introduction Plans, ensuring successful rollouts through cross-functional coordination. This includes securing appropriate inventory levels with the Planning Team, support sell out of predecessor, and developing a robust Communication plan to Fleet Sales and Stores.

Product Performance Monitoring is a key task managing Commercial Tires. The Product Manager is responsible for product performance testing which encompasses the planning, evaluation, coordination, and monitoring of new and existing commercial product lines with both internal and external fleets.

Market and Sales Performance Monitoring. The Product Manager gathers market intelligence from various sources to support the decision making process. Sources include Trade Publications, Macro Economic Indicators, Commercial VIO, and USTMA data while tracking national legislative initiatives (infrastructure projects, etc) for our business.

This role is expected to be self-starting and self-serving for data analysis utilizing raw data from various Les Schwab systems to develop the market analysis and brand positions.

30% - Product Strategy & Lifecycle Management

• Own the end-to-end product lifecycle for TBR, Retread, OTR, Farm, and Industrial tires, including introductions, transitions, and phase outs
• Define the Product Screen by segment, ensuring optimal coverage by tier, brand, and application
• Develop product roadmaps aligned with market trends, customer needs, and fleet requirements

15% - Product Performance Monitoring & Testing

• Lead field evaluations, fleet testing, and mileage studies to validate product performance and suitability
• Collect and analyze performance data to drive continuous improvement and inform product decisions

15% - Market & Application Analysis

• Analyze market data, including VIO, Fleet Trends, NHTSA Data, and infrastructure/legislative impacts, to inform product strategy
• Identify segment growth opportunities and product gaps to support business cases for new product launches

10% - Price Positioning

• Partner with the Pricing team to ensure competitive positioning across all commercial tire segments
• Monitor industry trends, competitor actions, and market pricing to inform product and pricing strategies

10% - Product Introductions / Transitions

• Lead the planning and execution of new product introductions, ensuring alignment with stock availability, communication materials, sales store support, and Fleet Sales

10% - Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Purchasing to guide brand and product sourcing based on segment needs.
• Partner with Fleet Sales to understand customer requirements and application demands
• Support Retread Production with casing strategy and tread design alignment
• Collaborate with the Planning Team on product introductions / transitions

10% - Other Tasks

• As defined by different stakeholders

Educational/Experience Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, engineering or comparable experience preferred. 
• 3-7  years of progressively more responsibility in product management, branding, marketing intelligence preferred.
• Understanding of the TBR, Retread, OTR, Farm, and Industrial tire markets, customer needs, and fleet application preferred.
• Automotive and/or Tire industry experience preferred.

Required Technical Skills/Knowledge:   

• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills
• Intermediate working experience in Microsoft Power Point / Google Slides
• Working knowledge of productivity applications (Google G Suite, MS Office, etc.)
• Business Intelligence tool exposure and experience
• Working knowledge of product management applications
• Product marketing & purchasing experience in a retail tire environment

General Knowledge and Abilities:  

• Adaptability: Must possess the time management and organizational skills necessary to work quickly and effectively under pressure with the flexibility to perform in an ever-changing work environment, concentrating on several areas of work at one time.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and decision-making skills with proven ability to execute high complexity and diversity of work assignments.
• Communication: Ability to communicate technical and non-technical information clearly and professionally (both verbally and in writing) while ensuring that the quality and content of the message are relevant to the circumstances; the ability to draft, proofread, and send written communications effectively; the ability and willingness to carefully listen to others by asking appropriate questions, avoiding interruptions, and the leadership to collaborate internally, cross-functionally, and across management levels in formal and informal settings.
• Initiative: Ability to execute technical solutions without close supervision
• Organization/Project Management: Ability to organize, manage time effectively, including planning and facilitating team meetings and execute and lead teams using best practice Project Management methodologies. Possess the ability to gather, analyze, and interpret information and effectively resolve a range of complex challenges associated with strategic procurement.  
• Problem Solving: Demonstrates an understanding of the priorities, goals, and objectives of projects. 
• Teamwork: Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with business users and team members. Must work effectively independently, & as a member of a team.
• Leadership: Ability to make decisions independently, lead or participate in the group decision-making process. Demonstrates effective team leadership by fostering a work environment that embraces diversity, ensures cooperation, and promotes respect for all team members.

Physical Requirements: Sedentary position; frequently required to sit, occasionally required to stand, walk, stop, kneel, and bend.  The employee may occasionally lift tires. Requires the ability to communicate verbally and exchange information over the phone, by video, and in person.

Work Environment: 3 of 5 business workdays in office (required), 2 of 5 business days work from home (optional).  Occasional travel to suppliers.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions/primary responsibilities. This job description is not all inclusive and is subject to change. Additional duties and tasks may be assigned, as necessary. Employment remains “AT WILL” at all times.