Product Concept Manager

FN America, LLC is a U.S. subsidiary of FN Herstal, S.A., a global leader in the development and manufacturing of high-quality, reliable firearms for military, law enforcement and commercial customers worldwide. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia with manufacturing operations in Columbia, South Carolina, FN America is passionately committed to providing its customers with a portfolio of FN-branded products, training and support services that enhance user performance and safeguard their lives. For more information, visit us at or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Position Summary

The Product Concept Manager leads the pre-activation phase for new product development projects. This role identifies new product opportunities that are strategically aligned with the company's business goals, ensuring they address market needs while supporting long-term growth. The Product Concept Manager oversees roadmaps, writes product requirements, develops business proposals, and brings them forward for project activation.

Job Duties

New Product Opportunities

• Identify new product opportunities using insights from research, market data, trends analysis, and key customers.
• Outline go to market strategy and total solution execution.
• Prioritize and recommend future products & innovations, aligned with company strategy and capabilities for feasibility analysis and project activation.
• Develop opportunities into actionable business development proposals with cross-functional collaboration for review and approval by management.
• Create and manage five-year product roadmaps for current and future portfolios of products.

Product Requirements

• Develop informed, actionable, and winning product requirements based on research and insights.
• Monitor category trends, user behaviors, and competitive actions to inform product strategy, roadmaps, and requirements.
• Analyze pricing, technology, and features of key competitors to derive cost, price, and margin targets for new product opportunities.
• Scope, commission, and field market research studies. Call upon key accounts and partners to gain insights. Inform future product strategy through learnings.
• Conduct or commission product benchmarking studies to determine technical and performance requirements for entry.

Project Approval and Activation

• Lead the pre-activation effort for new product development projects through collaboration with sales, project management, finance, engineering, and operations.
• Combine project proposal investment strategies, market entry requirements, and volume commitments for preliminary business cases.
• Consolidate diverse insights and data points to write clear and concise cases recommending actions for the business.
• Create product concepts explaining the market and segment, size of opportunity, and the vision for a winning product.
• Other duties as assigned by management*

Educational Requirements

Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, engineering, or related field is required. MBA is preferred.

Experience Requirements

At least five years of experience in marketing, business development, product management, or product development is required. Previous experience in commissioning and fielding market research studies and conducting detailed pricing analysis using pricing methodologies is required. Previous experience in a manufacturer of consumer goods environment, such as sporting goods, defense, firearms, or related is preferred.

Skills and Competencies

All FN America employees are expected to demonstrate accountability, collaboration, communication, customer focus, and innovation. Additional requirements of this position include:

• Ability to create product roadmaps, product concept decks, and briefings.
• Demonstrates a collaborative approach and actively engages with other areas of the business to achieve shared success.
• Considers opposing viewpoints and is open to new ideas and ways of looking at problems.
• Ability to operate with ambiguity and making decisions without direction.
• Ability to influence others without authority through behaviors and attitudes
• Possess a strong business acumen, entrepreneurial attitude, and mindset.
• Concise, professional, and polished, written communication and excellent presentation skills.
• Ability to create complex presentations by independently creating deliverables and content necessary in PowerPoint to address business needs.
• Understand, interpret, or explain the legal, regulatory, and market trends impacting firearms and ammunition is preferred.

Tools

Proficient in Microsoft Office applications including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and Outlook. ERP software (SAP)

Working Conditions

Typical office environment with up to 30% travel to customer locations, tradeshows, meetings, or events.

May also be exposed to a typical manufacturing environment with some travel between buildings and to other locations. May be exposed to loud noises, toxic chemicals, and dangerous machinery and firearms when on the plant floor or on the range.

All FN America employees have a responsibility to participate in the development of a safe and healthy workplace and to comply with instructions given for their own safety and health and that of others.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veteran/Disability

FN America, LLC is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please email HR@FNAmerica.com or call: 803-736-0522. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.