Director, Product Management

About Us:

We are committed to finding smart solutions that enable an intelligent and seamless world. Our success as a world-class leader in technology has evolved from humble beginnings. In 1896, the enterprising father and son team of A.J. and George A. Briggs partnered with S.A. Buffington, a Chicago lawyer, to establish Chicago Telephone Supply Company (later to become CTS).

Today, CTS is a leading designer and manufacturer of sensors, actuators, and electronic components for suppliers and original equipment manufacturers. We have over 20 locations in 12 countries and more than 3,500 employees. Our innovative sensing, connectivity, and motion solutions offer a diverse range of products across diversified end markets including transportation, medical, aerospace and defense, and industrial. We are at the forefront of supporting innovating life-changing technology, focusing on quality to keep people safe, healthy, and happy. 

 

 

Position Summary

The Director, Product Management – Advanced Materials and Solutions (“AMS”) is a senior business leadership role responsible for defining and driving the end‑to‑end product and portfolio strategy for AMS’s global Piezo, Sensors, Switches & Controls, and Passives product lines. This role is accountable for translating AMS strategy into clear market choices, product roadmaps, and commercial actions that deliver profitable growth, improved margin performance, and sustained competitive advantage.

As a member of the AMS Leadership Team and a direct report to the AMS business leader, this role serves as the voice of the market and the customer, ensuring product decisions are grounded in application insight, competitive intelligence, and portfolio economics. The Director is expected to operate with a general management mindset—balancing strategy, execution, customer engagement, pricing, and financial performance—while building stronger product management capability across AMS.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

Portfolio & Product Strategy

• Define and lead the global product portfolio strategy across Piezo, Sensors, Systems & Controls, and Passives in alignment with AMS strategic and financial objectives.
• Establish clear where‑to‑play and how‑to‑win choices by segment, application, region, and customer.
• Recommend portfolio actions including investment, acceleration, localization, rationalization, partnerships, acquisitions, or exits based on market attractiveness, competitive position, and return on investment.

 

Market & Competitive Leadership

• Build deep understanding of end markets, customer applications, buying criteria, technology trends, and competitor strategies.
• Lead disciplines such as voice of customer, market segmentation, win/loss analysis, and competitive intelligence to shape portfolio and roadmap priorities.
• Ensure AMS products deliver differentiated customer value and clear competitive advantage.

 

Product Lifecycle & Innovation

• Own end‑to‑end product lifecycle management from concept through launch, scale, refresh, and retirement.
• Prioritize development resources toward the highest‑value opportunities and ensure disciplined business case justification for new product initiatives.
• Drive faster time‑to‑market and increased focus through portfolio simplification and roadmap prioritization.

 

Commercial Execution & Pricing

• Partner with Sales and Marketing to define value propositions, positioning, pricing strategies, and go‑to‑market plans.
• Enable sales teams with product training, application messaging, and commercial tools that improve pipeline quality and win rates.
• Engage directly with key customers and strategic accounts as a senior product authority.

 

Financial Performance & Planning

• Own portfolio‑level performance including revenue growth, margin expansion, product mix, and pricing effectiveness.
• Lead annual and long‑range portfolio planning in partnership with Finance and Operations.
• Identify and execute opportunities for margin improvement, complexity reduction, and cost‑productivity.

 

Cross‑Functional Leadership & Governance

• Serve as the integrator across Engineering, Operations, Sales, Finance, and Marketing to ensure al