Director, Arrow and Lawrence Hardware

 

Director, Arrow and Lawrence Hardware

Preferred Location: Berlin or New Haven, CT
Reports to: President, Access and Egress Hardware

Position Overview

This is a unique leadership opportunity to take the reins of two historic and respected brands—Arrow (est. 1949) and Lawrence (est. 1876)—and shape their future within ASSA ABLOY. As Director of this business, you’ll drive the strategic evolution of these brands into a cohesive, high-performance channel strategy. This role is ideal for a hands-on, entrepreneurial leader with a sharp business acumen and a passion for turning complexity into opportunity.

You will lead product portfolio decisions, identify and fill gaps through development or sourcing, and champion new product launches. You will analyze, establish, and monitor market pricing to grow discretionary share within Contract Hardware and Wholesale.  Working in the gray space won’t slow you down—it’ll energize you. Your mission: transform legacy into leadership.

This position will report to the President of the Access and Egress Hardware group and will have several direct reports including Product Management, Project Management, Supply Chain, and the necessary engineering resources.

Key Responsibilities

1. Business & Portfolio Analysis

• Analyze market trends, customer behaviors, and competitive threats to uncover growth opportunities.
• Manage product pricing structures, lifecycle decisions, and SKU optimization.
• Lead future product planning based on data and customer insights.
• Collaborate with internal pricing and product teams to maximize market share and margin through strategic pricing.

2. Marketing & Branding

• Partner with Marketing Communications and Brand Management to create impactful technical marketing materials (catalogs, spec sheets, pricing guides, etc.).
• Support catalog branding and the visual identity of Arrow and Lawrence.
• Identify white space across channels and verticals, and develop go-to-market strategies to capture share.

3. Business Development

• Partner closely with the dedicated DSS team to implement and refine the go-to-market strategy.
• Engage directly with the sales team and customers to test, adjust, and validate strategic initiatives.
• Identify wholesale stocking opportunities and channel partnerships to expand market presence.
• Oversee development of a robust e-commerce/webshop platform as the primary ordering channel.

4. New Product Development (NPD)

• Lead fast-paced NPD and branding efforts for Arrow, Lawrence, and potentially other product lines—from concept to launch.
• Analyze product portfolios, industry trends, and customer needs to identify opportunities for innovation, enhancement, or rationalization.
• Guide product lifecycle management including VA/VE, outsourcing, pricing, and rationalization efforts.
• Drive the stage-gate process, manage development timelines, lead project meetings, and maintain gateway documentation.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive competitive intelligence database, including product specs, performance, and pricing.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Customer Service, and IT to execute plans quickly and effectively.
• Drive alignment across the business to ensure speed, quality, and market impact.

Required Qualifications (Successful candidate may not have all qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or Engineering.
• Solid understanding of the wholesale and contract hardware channels.
• Demonstrated ability to build and scale businesses with a growth mindset.
• Proven experience in product management, pricing strategy, and new product development.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; strong digital and PC skills.
• Self-directed leader with strong organizational and follow-up capabilities.