Rajul Desai
Product Management
Somerville,NJ
Summary
Product Manager offering 20+ years of success in product roadmap development, market research and data analysis. Highly skilled in identifying opportunities to maximize revenue. Driven and strategic with proven history of superior market penetration and product launch.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Product Manager
Lapp Usa
Florham Park, NJ
03.2015 - Current
- Primary responsibility is to manage complete line of heavy-duty industrial connectors and continuous flexing SERVO/VFD cables for North America
- Focused on improving sales growth through NPD, market positioning, competitive pricing, and sales training
- Develop sales strategy within distinct business models that identify portfolio vision, product roadmap and vertical markets
- Responsible for yearly forecast of several product lines to establishing gross sales, margin, and inventory demand
- Launched successful line of VFD cables with over $1M in gross sales in first year
- Launched line of Pin and Sleeve cable connector assemblies with applications in data centers, food and beverage and material handling
- Influence key stake holders and lead cross function team in Stage-Gate process used for release of new products
- Collaborate with marketing department to develop digital marketing plan for new products including E-Shop, social media and through distribution channels
- Design and developed on-line selection tools with 3rd party software developer
- Developed product documentation to communicate upcoming features and products to internal teams.
- Liaised with clients to better understand business needs and current market landscape.
- Continuous monitoring of market trends
- Develop forecast to establish inventory levels
- Maintain system pricing based on costs and competitive pricing
- Negotiate and establish contract pricing for key accounts with sales team
- Life cycle management of products to maximize inventory investment, ensure catalog and web space focused on market relevant products, and effectively communicate obsolete products
- Participated in Global Product Council to ensure North America product needs were addressed in global roadmap
- Extensive travel in Canada, US and Mexico to support sales team and engage customers
- Portfolio management within SIOP process
- Established criteria for each milestone within product roadmap as means to measure developmental progress.
- Conceptualized and deployed enhanced product features and optimized implementation for use in marketing strategies.
- Assessed costs and estimated production capabilities to evaluate economic viability.
Product Manager
Kurt Versen
Westwood, NJ
10.2013 - 10.2014
- Primarily responsible for establishing product strategy and implementation of new products for strategic markets.
- Managed all new product development efforts from product concept to final release to market
- Prepared product briefs based on market research, competitive analysis, and voice of customer feedback
- Managed project timelines to ensure products were delivered on time, within budget, and according to deliverables
- Prepared weekly task list for engineering department based on Microsoft Project Gantt charts
- Worked closely with engineering to ensure tasks were being completed and designs met deliverables based on product brief
- Collaborated with Marketing to develop and implement product launch materials to sales channels
- Evaluate all current product variations and manage their release through sustaining engineering process
- Conduct sales training sessions on new products to sales group and maintain internal FAQ list
- Established SOP for New Product Development process which reduce project timelines by 50%
- Successfully introduced complete product portfolio of high lumen/high efficacy LED downlights
- Successfully introduced family of remodeler LED downlights
- Specified and ensured fixture compatibility with multiple controls, driver, and LED source combinations
- Successfully implemented Lutron control to RGB LED light engine that maintained color along black body curve.
Product Manager
Amerlux
Fairfield, NJ
09.2010 - 10.2013
- Responsible for developing company product strategy designed to meet company sales goals
- Research competitive products follow market trends and evaluate customer inquiries to prepare marketing briefs that define value proposition and product deliverables for new products
- Lead cross functional team to release new products by managing project schedules and budgets
- Report progress to CEO and senior management
- Prepare product training material to present to sales and customer service staff
- Collaborate with Marketing to create marketing campaigns
- Proposed and briefed new DMX controlled track lighting system
- Collaborated with engineering team to ensure proper functionality of Web base control system for outdoor lighting
- Implemented project teams consisting of cross functional personnel to develop new products
- Utilized MS Project Management tool ensure projects were on time, within budget and resources are properly utilized to meet product deliverables
- Developed Marketing Briefs for family of new LED luminaires to replace less energy efficient halogen and incandescent lamp sources in retail sector
- Increase company revenue by 10%
- Created team to evaluate all custom fixture requests under same methodology
- Resulting in more efficient use of engineering resources and increase profitability
- Filled in gaps in product family by analyzing competition and through direct communication with reps, distributors, lighting designers, and architects
- Developed international product offerings and catalog
- Revamped product showroom to better present new and existing products to potential customer
- Analyzed sales data to identify and obsolete end of life products
- Successfully executed Light Fair Trade shows and road shows.
Product Manager
A.L.P. Lighting
Pennsauken, NJ
05.2006 - 02.2010
- Conceptualized and deployed enhanced product features and optimized implementation for use in marketing strategies.
- Developed patented light fixture for highbay market for use in wet or damp locations.
- Successfully launched and marketed products to OEM within lighting industry.
- Liaised with clients to better understand business needs and current market landscape
- Coordinated design meetings and decisions with internal departments and teams
- Set goals and formalized policies to maximize team performance and keep project on-task
- Documented user stories, specifications and product features into detailed work order to communicate across teams and build mandatory requirements
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Project Management Certificate
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ 09.2004 - 05.2005
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ 09.1988 - 05.1993
Skills
TableauBI Analytics – SAP analysis for MS ExcelSAP CRMProficient with MS Excel
Search Engine Optimization
Business Development
Research and trend analysis
Product development
Brand building
Strategic planning
Budgeting
Project Management
Staff Management
Market Analysis
P&L Management
Timeline
Product Manager
Lapp Usa
03.2015 - Current
Product Manager
Kurt Versen
10.2013 - 10.2014
Product Manager
Amerlux
09.2010 - 10.2013
Product Manager
A.L.P. Lighting
05.2006 - 02.2010
Some College (No Degree) - Project Management Certificate
Stevens Institute of Technology
09.2004 - 05.2005
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
09.1988 - 05.1993