Product Segment Manager

The Product Manager contributes to NEEA’s strategic goal of filling the energy efficiency “pipeline” by identifying and validating new energy efficient products, practices, and services in collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders. This position requires effective planning for the evolution of products through the full lifecycle stages of identification, assessment, confirmation and product readiness for deployment in a full-scale market transformation effort. Working across a wide range of products that use electric power and/or natural gas requires Product Managers to contract with testing labs, industry experts, engineering firms, and other market partners to support the full range of analysis and testing of products.   

NEEA’s Product Managers serve as product experts on assigned energy efficient product lines, as well as conduct research on emerging technologies that could bring energy savings for Northwest consumers.  Product Managers partner closely with NEEA’s Market Transformation Managers and Program Managers and work largely in cross-functional teams as a key contributor to new and existing Market Transformation Initiatives.   

This position is based in the Portland, OR metro area, with a hybrid work location. We are looking for candidates who can meet the requirement of working at least 2 days per week onsite at NEEA’s office location.  Finalists must have eligibility to work in the US as NEEA is not able to provide VISA sponsorship or have remote work outside of the US. 

Salary range: $99,000 - $120,000 exempt 

Salary is based on the applicants Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 

The Typical Day May Include… 

• Scanning: Scan the market for new innovative energy efficiency products, practices or services and screen those opportunities for inclusion and prioritization within NEEA’s portfolio of emerging technologies.  Routinely scan industry publications 
• Track industry and technology trends 
• Share industry and technology data with team 
• Product Definition and Management: Define the product plan for each assigned product/service/practice - evolving and maintaining this plan throughout the product lifecycle. Understand the needs of, and become an advocate for the end users, the supply chain, and utility partners. Evolve the product strategy to adapt to market conditions over the life of the interventions and continue to follow/monitor the product after NEEA’s direct intervention ends. Provide ongoing product guidance and support to Market Transformation Managers, Program Managers, external contractors and other involved parties to ensure consistency in definition and implementation of market transformation objectives. 
• Product Testing: Develop appropriate measurement and verification approaches that demonstrate products’ energy performance and fitness for use.  Support Codes and Standards Engineers in recommending test method changes for state and federal standards development.  Identify product performance and attributes that impact market transformation goals.   
• Voluntary Product Standards: Coordinate with state, national and international organizations involved in voluntary standards to update test methods and performance specifications to promote products with greater efficiency and fitness for use. 
• Market Transformation Strategy and Design: Assist in developing market strategies and the design of full-scale market transformation efforts in collaboration with regional stakeholders under management by the Market Transformation Manager and Program Manager.  Includes supporting development of product group strategy, theory of market transformation, logic model, market test plan, and other plans as needed.  
• Market Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with manufacturers and other market actors, in coordination with cross-functional teams, to ensure that product development efforts are connected to appropriate market channels to deliver the technologies to the market. 
• Utility Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with utilities - especially staff involved in emerging technologies to ensure that product development and market transformation efforts are complimentary, coordinated, and understood and valued by our utility partners. Additionally, identify, establish and manage interaction with appropriate regional collaborative working groups and processes to support specific development activities and engage regional stakeholders. 
• Internal Relationships and Teamwork: Build and maintain positive and productive relationships within NEEA and in particular with the program teams. Create a shared sense of purpose; involve the team to ensure buy-in for future execution. Support the success of the team(s). Assist the Program Manager in establishing appropriate processes, budgets, schedules, contracts, work plans, and risk management processes. Ensure timely escalation of issues to the Market Transformation Manager and Program Manager and beyond as appropriate. 
• Operate as an effective team player: Think and act as a team member; collaborate and constructively contribute to team settings. Leverage the functional excellence, strengths and capabilities of teammates (i.e. rely on your Market Research and Evaluation Lead for market research expertise.) 
• Contracting and Planning: Manage contracts and contractor work for testing, pilots and in-field product demonstrations, including creating RFPs, managing contractors, and handling crises that may arise as a result of new technology failures. 
• Performance: Regularly review product and program performance to NEEA’s value delivery goals. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities over NEEA staff.  This position may be responsible for supervising and managing contractors. The incumbent provides leadership, direction and guidance to his or her teams and contractors and provides assistance to management in achieving work group success. 

What Are You Good At? 

Strategic Ability: Experienced in using independent information resources and extracting product and market trends and strategies to leverage these trends.   

Technology Assessment Skills: Understands and familiar with new technology assessment; comfortable with acquiring appropriate understanding of complex technical products without becoming subject matter expert; experience in identifying independent information resources and extracting overall view of new technology by analyzing data from diverse sources.    

Market Acumen: Knowledgeable about business models, drivers, and trends. Exhibits natural and intuitive user empathy for how products will deliver value. Able to identify research needs to answer questions about the market. 

Product Development and Commercialization: Understands how products are developed and brought to market. 

Market Transformation: Knowledgeable about and skilled with market transformation best practices in support of energy efficiency. 

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Understands how to identify and resolve complex problems, including skillful gathering, synthesis and analysis of complex or diverse information. Works well in group problem solving situations. Recognizes cost, schedule and quality issues and can plan and implement actions to resolve them. Is comfortable and helps others deal with ambiguity; brings clarity. 

Business Acumen: Solid understanding of business processes in a matrixed organization. Understands energy, utility and energy efficiency industries and the implications of decisions and messaging. Demonstrates both business and market planning in alignment with strategic goals. High degree of adaptability and flexibility with regard to position scope and definition in order to meet desired outcomes. Highly proficient in Microsoft Office applications (including Outlook) and project management application(s). 

Planning/Organizing Skills: Understands how to prioritize and plan work activities while remaining flexible and enthusiastic about supporting the team. Conducts oneself as a well-organized self-starter with the ability to multi-task and be proactive in a complex environment. Demonstrates a “can do” attitude. 

Team Building/Political Navigation Skills: Team player able to build consensus and energize diverse groups and interests to reach common objectives and commitments to goals. Strong interpersonal and judgment skills required to influence internal and external teams to implement plans and meet deadlines. Demonstrated ability successfully working in a large cross-functional/matrix team environment. Ability to recognize politically charged issues and effectively problem solve with other team members to negotiate solutions. 

Crisis Management Skills: Must be able to effectively and efficiently deal with crisis created through failures in field implementation efforts. Must be able to develop appropriate mitigation and response plans including communications to affected stakeholders including local utilities, building owners and/or occupants, and secure necessary resources to implement remediation if needed. 

Communication Skills: Possesses exceptional communication skills with the ability to speak and write clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations. Listens and gets clarification and responds well to questions. Presents information and data effectively and demonstrates superb group presentation skills. Ability to vary communication style to meet needs.   

Collaboration and Team Building: At various times, leading, facilitating, and supporting team activities to achieve business goals. Demonstrates leadership in active participation in cross-functional teams to achieve program goals.  

Risk Assessment and Management: Able to assess risk and present a balanced view of how program and corporate goals may be impacted by product risks. Proactively identifies, mitigates, and manages risk. 

Your Experience, Education, and Skills: 

• BA or BS degree in Engineering, Marketing, Business or related field required.  
• 5-10 years of experience with increasing responsibility, preferably in new product development/introduction, and/or strategic product market management required. 
• Prefer experience in product strategy development, including an understanding of market assessment, short and long-range forecasting, risk-assessment and management strategy 
• Demonstrated complex project management experience required. 
• Demonstrated experience with team leadership and facilitation preferred. 
• Knowledge of energy efficiency, electric utility business and operations, and/or Northwest energy markets preferred. 
• An equivalent combination of education, experience and training that would provide the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the successful performance of the essential job duties will also be considered. 

Highlights of NEEA’s Benefits: 

• 90% of medical/dental premiums paid by NEEA, including for dependents 
• Employer funded Health Savings Account 
• 136 hours of PTO/year 
• Automatic 6% retirement contribution with an additional 2% matching 
• Flexible work environment, including hybrid work location and 9/80 schedule options 
• Professional development opportunities 

About NEEA  

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is an alliance of more than 140 electric and natural gas utilities and energy efficiency organizations working on behalf of Northwest energy consumers to increase the adoption of energy-efficient products services and practices. Since 1997, the region has achieved more than 959 average megawatts (aMW) of Co-Created electric energy savings – the equivalent of enough energy to power more than 700,000 Northwest homes each year.     

NEEA welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and fields of expertise, with or without previous experience in the energy industry.  

Follow this link to our website and learn more about the organization. 

NEEA is an Equal Opportunity Employer