Washing Machine Category Manager

Role and Core Responsibilities

1. Market & Consumer Insight

• Conduct indepth market research, studying customer needs, pain points, usage behavior, and buying trends.
• Analyze competitors (features, pricing, performance, innovation cycles) to identify gaps and opportunities.

2. Product Strategy & Roadmap

• Define a clear product vision, positioning, and longterm strategy for the washing machine lineup.
• Build and update the product roadmap based on market trends, sales input, and competitive evolution.

3. Product Definition & Requirements

• Translate market insights into Product Requirement Documents (PRDs) with detailed feature definitions, performance expectations, and user experience targets.
• Determine product specifications such as capacity, efficiency class, motor type, wash programs, connected features, energy requirements, and regulatory compliance.

4. CrossFunctional Leadership

• Work closely with R&D to guide product development from concept, prototype testing, and validation to certification.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, supply chain, and quality teams to ensure cost optimization, stable production, and product reliability.
• Partner with marketing and sales for gotomarket planning, messaging, and launch readiness.

5. Product Development & Innovation

• Lead the end-to-end development process, ensuring timely delivery, cost targets, and product performance KPIs.
• Promote innovation in functional areas such as washing performance, smart connectivity, energy efficiency, water usage, noise reduction, and user interface design.
• Evaluate new technologies (motors, materials, sensors, algorithms, AIdriven cycles).

6. Launch Management

• Develop and execute product launch plans, coordinating marketing assets, training materials, retail strategies, and pricing.
• Align with channel partners and sales teams for launch volume, forecasts, and promotional activities.
  
  

7. Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

• Monitor the performance of each model: sellout, margin, consumer reviews, failure rates, and return reasons.
• Adjust strategy based on performance (phasein/phaseout, midcycle feature upgrades, cost engineering).
  
  

8. AfterSales Feedback Loop

• Collaborate with aftersales and service teams to understand top failure modes, spare parts issues, and user complaints.
• Use data to drive product improvements and reduce warranty cost.

9. Pricing & Business Management

• Own the products financial performance: cost targets, margin analysis, pricing strategy, and profitability optimization.
• Conduct feasibility studies and manage business cases for new models.

10. Stakeholder Communication

• Regularly update management and crossfunctional teams with reports, analysis, dashboards, and risk assessments.
• Ensure alignment on strategies, timelines, and decisions.

Technical and Functional Skills

• Strong understanding of washing machine technologies (motors, detergent systems, wash algorithms, safety, regulations).
• Experience in R&D coordination, testing, and quality validation.
• Knowledge of energy efficiency standards and compliance requirements.
• Business & Analytical Skills: Market research and competitive analysis, financial modeling and pricing, Road mapping & strategic planning.
• Soft Skills: Leadership and crossfunctional influence, clear communication and technical storytelling, problemsolving, negotiation, and prioritization.

Preferred Skills

• MS Office Suite experience a plus
• Power BI
• Supply Chain Management
• International Business

Additional Notes

• Work shift Monday to Friday Business hours
• Location Costa del Este, Panam
• Available for traveling across the region