Associate Category Manager, Fender Electric Guitars and Basses

Company: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
Location: Los Angeles
Posted on: January 27, 2023

Job Description:

The Associate Category Manager, Fender Electric Guitars and Basses, plays acriticalrole in the success of Fender's product development and delivery to market. This role will work with the Electrics Product Development Team to thoughtfully structure and manage integrated, multi-track initiatives towards meeting objectives and key milestones, delivering value to both internal and external Customers. The Associate Category Manager is responsible for connecting the dots between what all cross-functional teams are working on, highlighting and managing dependencies and risks, while collaborating with and driving all parties to tenaciously remove systemic impediments in support of consistent and on time delivery.
Key Responsibilities

• 
  
• Assist SVP with management of 7 distinct product categories in collaboration with the Product Management, Operations and Finance teams
  
• Validate brand, product and pricing strategies through competitive analysis and market research
  
• Assist Product Management team in creation of key Product Strategy & Development deliverables
  
• Guide internal partners and stakeholders through the product development processes
  
• Work with leaders in Product Development, R&D, NPI, Sales, Marketing and Operations to manage integrated, multi-track initiatives towards meeting company objectives, from Concept to Launch
  
• Partner closely with Product Managers, Engineering/Design Leads, NPI and Project Managers to inspire and motivate the Delivery Teams, keeping the context, objectives and success metrics clear for them and fostering collaboration, continuous learning and a "can do it" spirit
  
• Drive identification and removal of systemic impediments for our Delivery Teams, working across all levels of the organization in pursue of timely and effective solutions
  
• Connect the dots between what all Delivery Teams are working on, timely identifying, socializing and managing dependencies
  
• Create transparency at all levels of the Organization on milestone accountability, delivery status and associated risks by creating, updating and socializing cross-functional reporting tools (Workfront)
  
• Embrace continuous improvement in all things, especially in processes and communication
  
  Qualifications:
  
  • 
    
  • BA/BS degree or equivalent practical experience.
    
  • 5+ years proven project and/or program management experience.
    
  • A track record of on-time project delivery for large, cross-functional, projects.
    
  • Guitar Knowledge or Music Industry Knowledge is preferred
    
  • Experience managing, engaging, and motivating multiple stakeholders at all levels of a matrixed organization while maintaining an understanding of the bigger picture and how departments are connected.
    
  • Executive communication skills; reporting succinct updates and key points.
    
  • Ability to communicate to the masses; knows what, when, and how to share company-wide for a broad audience.
    
  • Expert level skillset in Microsoft Office, specifically in Powerpoint and Excel
    

Keywords: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, Los Angeles , Associate Category Manager, Fender Electric Guitars and Basses, Executive , Los Angeles, California