Global Product Director, Injection Molding

Be yourself at Protolabs Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification.  We are an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a diverse team that feels they are valued in the workplace.  So do you feel you do not meet every single requirement but still intrigued? We encourage you to still apply!  You can help make our company even better.  We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, mental or physical ability, or any way you represent yourself.  We strongly believe diversity makes for more successful teams.  Why Protolabs? We are the leaders in digital manufacturing.  We hire doers, makers, and creative thinkers who tackle our roles with an entrepreneurial spirit.  Our culture is centered around meaningful work that brings new and innovative products to market at unprecedented speeds.  We are a diverse team that comes from all walks of life and take pride in our team who is smart, genuine, humble, and passionate about what we do.  It’s our people who fuel our creativity and make our culture feel like home. 
Join our team as a Global Product Director!   This is a hybrid role, with on‑site days in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We are currently accepting applications from candidates based in Minnesota (MN).   The Global Product Director is the senior business and strategy owner for the Protolabs product lines of Injection Molding, accountable for revenue growth, customer acquisition and retention, margin performance, and long-term competitiveness. This role coordinates the end-to-end delivery of product line financial objectives while defining and executing the multi-year product line strategy, grounded in customer value, market intelligence, and operational feasibility.   The Global Product Director leads the translation of market opportunity into clear product roadmaps, investment priorities, and go-to-market execution, working in tight partnership with Operations, Global Technology Services (GTS), Sales, Marketing, Finance, and the Manufacturing Partner Network. This role is jointly accountable with Sales and Operations for product line profitability and is the single point of accountability for product strategy and performance.   Why This Role Matters at Protolabs?   This role is central to scaling Protolabs’ digital manufacturing platform, ensuring that product strategy, operational execution, and commercial performance remain tightly aligned. The Global Product Director is a business owner, strategist, and integrator, responsible for turning market opportunity into profitable, differentiated growth.

You will

• Core Accountabilities
  Product Line Strategy & Business Ownership
• Own the rolling 3-year product line strategy and roadmap, aligned to Protolabs’ enterprise growth, margin, and customer experience objectives
• Define product positioning (speed, cost, precision, flexibility) based on customer needs and competitive differentiation
• Translate strategy into annual operating plans, revenue targets, margin goals, and KPI commitments
• Serve as the executive “GM-like” owner of the product line business performance, in partnership with Sales, Marketing and Operations leadership
  Revenue, Customer Growth & Margin Delivery
• Coordinate cross-functional execution to deliver product line revenue growth, new customer acquisition, retention, and gross margin improvement
• Own and track key KPIs including revenue, margin, conversion rates, utilization, lead time, on time delivery, quality, and NPS
• Drive disciplined portfolio decisions, including capability expansion, rationalization, and partner utilization
• Partner with Finance and Operations on ROI modeling, capital allocation, and margin optimization decisions
  Market, Customer & Competitive Intelligence
• Own market intelligence and opportunity sizing (TAM/SAM, segment prioritization, customer needs)
• Maintain a deep understanding of competitor capabilities, pricing models, lead times, materials, and service differentiation
• Integrate macro trends (automation, AI-enabled manufacturing, sustainability, on-demand production) into product strategy
• In conjunction with Director of Market Research, represent the voice of the customer across Protolabs, incorporating insights into roadmaps and investment decisions
  Product Development & Capability Evolution
• Partner with GTS, Engineering, and Operations to evolve manufacturing capabilities, materials, tolerances, finishes, and processes
• Prioritize automatio