General Manager

General Manager - Hardware Product Management

Wärtsilä Energy Storage & Optimization (ES&O) is the leading global energy storage optimizer. Our mission is to deliver integrated energy solutions that build a resilient, intelligent, and flexible energy infrastructure - unlocking the way to an optimized renewable future. By integrating renewables, energy management technology, and storage with traditional energy resources, we reinvent clean energy production from the largest and most complex grids to the most remote and essential microgrids. We play a key role in Wärtsilä’s vision towards a 100% renewable energy future through flexibility, reliability, and integration and a more sustainable world for us all.

We are looking for a General Manager to lead our Hardware Product Management team to help guide the commercialization and product development direction of our award-winning Quantum platform. This position will be reporting to the Director Product Management and Hardware Engineering, Energy Storage and Optimization. Preferred location(s) for this position is the Herndon, VA area. You could also work hybrid within the Herndon, VA area. 

Activities
The individual in this position will play a key role leading the Product Management team in defining the product requirements, investigate regional market requirements, and collaborate with business development and sales on defining go to market strategies. The individual in this position will have responsibility for defining the product requirements roadmap by collaborating with the sales organizations, software and hardware business development managers, and working with marketing in support of meeting our commercial goals and objectives. Attending and presenting at tradeshows and regularly meeting with prospects to determine future product requirement needs. 

The ideal candidate has ten years of Product Management experience five of which are in a leadership role. Direct industry experience in the renewable and/or front of the meter energy storage industries is desired. The candidate should have strong hardware product management knowledge along with excellent communication skills. Comprehensive knowledge of the Energy and Power markets in one or more of the following markets: United States, Australia, UK, Europe, or Chile. Utility-scale renewable experience including energy storage, global experience a strong plus. Strong process management skills with experience managing a team of product managers.

The Hardware Product Management team is responsible for creating the product requirements and establishing the development priorities based on business requirements, industry reports, customer interviews, and competitive analysis.

General Manager, Hardware Product Management, requirements:

• The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of buyers for energy storage and renewable energy solutions, their challenges, needs and how our products can support their operations.
• 10 or more years of product management experience in a product development organization and 5 or more years of people management experience in hardware product management.
• Manage a team of product managers who support cross-functional teams such as Sales, Operations, Customer Support, Lifecycle, and Marketing in the implementation of the BESS strategy.
• Hire, train and support Product Managers responsible for full product life cycle of BESS products for assigned products, markets, and strategic projects.
• Have deep knowledge of how the buyers use battery energy storage systems (BESS) to manage energy storage and renewable energy solutions.
• The successful candidate will understand the competitive landscape for BESS; and be an expert the competitive landscape including understanding the unique selling proposition and cost/value of the major players in the front of the meter stationary storage industry.
• Work with Business Development and Sales to procure market research as required, as well as conduct voice of the customer interviews to inform the business strategy and product direction.
• Build product requirement documents based on the business/marketing plans for new products and features.
• Oversee and contribute content to the creation of the customer facing documentation and marketing support material. Coordinate with regional Business Development Manager to plan and execute the launch of new product and feature releases.
• Continuously update technical documentation database and external presentations in partnership with Program Manager, Product Marketing and Sales Teams worldwide.
• Owns 'Voice of Customer' product requirements and communication strategy with industry influencers and media. 
• Maintain a library of competitive information and adjust product strategy to suit changing requirements.
• Possess strong communication skills and financial acumen to aid in the definition and creation of high-impact marketing and sales materials.
• Develop deep knowledge of product strengths and weakness and provide key perspectives on decisions with the executive team.
• Become a trusted partner of other internal teams, including Engineering, Finance, Manufacturing, Life Cycle and Supply Chain to ensure organizational product alignment and cross-company communications.
• Collaborate with key 3rd party partnerships to ensure customers receive an integrated, tuned solution that meets their needs.
• Understand and support the sales team and channel partners. Train sales on the solution’s value proposition, develop internal tools, and teach them how and when to use each.
• Monitors regulatory and market rule changes that could affect battery energy storage revenues or customer need or interest in energy storage projects and develops strategies to find opportunities from these changes or to mitigate impacts from undesirable changes.
• In collaboration with Business Development mentor and support the sales teams and individuals with customer presentations, proposal development, RFP responses.
• Oversee the analytical evaluation of the total cost as seen by our customer. Evaluate trade-offs that minimizes the total cost across product aquation, delivery, commissioning, and operation.

To be successful in this role, we expect you to have:
• Five (5) plus years leading a product management team, prior work with BESS or renewable offerings in the energy sector is a strong plus.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Energy and Power markets is a must along with utility-scale renewable experience including energy storage. Global knowledge of the Energy and Power markets is a strong plus.
• Independent, self-starter with validated ability to succeed in uncertain environments and with constantly changing technology and market requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership and collaboration skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering required; MBA is a strong plus.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results in a matrix environment without direct managerial control.
• Experience coordinating activities and identifying priorities for the development team.
• Excellent verbal and written English skills a must, Mandarin highly desirable.
• Expected travel around 50% depending on location.

Last application date: 12/07/2024 

Why you and us:
You will be a part of a global organization with local presence and work in an exciting and dynamic working environment with highly motivated and skilled co-workers. We offer interesting and challenging work tasks, as well as personal and professional development in a great team. If you feel excited by being a part of this working environment and think your personal skills and qualities match the job requirements, we look forward to receiving your job application. At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities. 

We are not accepting unsolicited submissions from 3rd party recruitment agencies.
Successful applicant must be authorized to work in the USA without sponsorship. We look forward to hearing from you. Qualified candidates must apply online: careers

Individuals hired for positions that require on-site customer interactions and/or in-person travel may be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or other country-specific vaccinations, unless otherwise prohibited by law. Wärtsilä North America values our employees. We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. Wärtsilä North America is an EOE/AA employer. 

#esocareers
#wärtsiläenergy