Project Manager

The IA Project / Offering Manager will lead the end-to-end localization strategy and execution for Industrial Automation products in India. This role is responsible for identifying market needs, building business cases, driving localization initiatives, coordinating cross-functional stakeholders, establishing local supply chains, ensuring product certification and compliance, driving market adoption, and managing the product lifecycle post-launch.

The successful candidate will act as the bridge between customers, engineering, manufacturing sites, sourcing teams, and commercial organizations to accelerate "Make in India" initiatives while driving profitable growth and cost competitiveness.

Market Insights & Voice of Customer

• Conduct Voice of Customer (VoC) engagements with potential and existing customers to understand market requirements, application needs, feature expectations, and localization opportunities for India and other targeted regional markets.
• Translate customer requirements into product specifications, localization requirements, and business opportunities.
• Assess market potential, competitive landscape, and growth opportunities for localized offerings.

Business Case Development

• Develop comprehensive business cases for localization initiatives, including market opportunity analysis, investment requirements, financial returns, risks, and strategic benefits.
• Present recommendations and investment proposals to senior leadership to secure approvals and funding.

Localization Program Management

• Lead end-to-end localization projects from concept through commercial production.
• Understand and align manufacturing requirements at respective parent ISC (Integrated Supply Chain) facilities.
• Coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and operations teams to ensure successful localization execution.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Sourcing, Supply Chain, ISC Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, and Quality teams.
• Coordinate with ISC leadership to secure manufacturing space, capital expenditures (CAPEX), tooling, facilities, and required resources.
• Ensure alignment across all stakeholders to achieve project milestones.

Supply Chain & Sourcing Management

• Partner with ISC Sourcing teams to identify, qualify, and onboard local suppliers for castings, machined parts, fabricated components, and other localized products.
• Support commercial negotiations and supplier agreement finalization.
• Drive supplier development and ensure reliable supply of localized components.

Product Validation & Certification

• Coordinate testing and validation activities for localized components and products at designated facilities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality, regulatory, industry, and customer requirements.
• Drive certifications required for products, manufacturing facilities, and vendor qualification programs.

Commercialization & Market Development

• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies for localized products.
• Drive customer awareness and adoption through roadshows, customer events, industry forums, and marketing campaigns.
• Collaborate with Business and Marketing teams to create product positioning, value propositions, sales collateral, and product marketing materials.
• Engage with consultants, EPCs, end users, and industry influencers to secure specification approvals and inclusion in project tenders with Make in India preference.

Product Lifecycle & Growth Management

• Monitor commercial production ramp-up and business performance after localization.
• Drive order intake and revenue growth for at least 12 months post-localization.
• Track KPIs including market penetration, profitability, localization levels, and customer adoption.
• Identify and execute incremental localization and cost-takeout initiatives to improve competitiveness and margins.

Key Deliverables

• Approved business cases and investment plans.
• Successful market launch of localization programs.
• Product certifications and regulatory approvals.
• Revenue growth and order intake targets post localization.
• Continuous cost-reduction and localization roadmap execution.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, Industrial, Automation or related discipline).
• MBA or Master's degree preferred.

Experience

• 15 years of experience in Sales, Product Management, Business Development, Offering Management, or related functions.
• Experience managing cross-functional product development or localization projects.
• Strong understanding of products, manufacturing processes, sourcing, supplier development, and industrial markets.
• Experience developing business cases and presenting to senior leadership.

Preferred Skills

• Go-to-Market Strategy and Product Marketing.
• Voice of Customer, Product Management and Offering Management.
• Business Case Development and Financial Analysis.
• Project Management and Stakeholder Management.
• Product Certification and Compliance.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.

Success Metrics

• Number and value of localization projects successfully launched.
• Revenue and order intake generated from localized offerings.
• Cost reduction and margin improvement delivered.
• Speed of commercialization and market adoption.
• Achievement of Make in India objectives and strategic business goals.