Associate Director - Collar Product Manager
Merck, Madison, WI, United States
About Technology Solutions
Our company's Animal Health Technology Solutions offers global animal identification and monitoring solutions for companion animals and livestock. These solutions enable pet owners to better manage the health and well‑being of their pets and enable livestock producers to improve well‑being and animal production. Technology Solutions include Core Technologies in Livestock Identification, Dairy, Beef and Swine monitoring, for which the product/market fit is established, as well as products in discovery.
Our Technology Solutions division is evolving. We are moving to a
Product Operating Model
– a new way of working that empowers product teams to take full ownership and accountability for delivering customer and business value in ways our customers love and that work for the business.
Our product teams are
cross‑functional and durable , bringing together all the skills required to deliver impactful outcomes. Each team includes a Product Manager, Technology Lead, Product Designer, Delivery Lead, engineers, and developers.
We believe in
customer centricity, ownership, and accountability . Solutions must be:
Valuable
– customers choose to buy or use them
Viable
– aligned with business constraints and goals
Usable
– intuitive and user‑friendly
Feasible
– achievable with our technical capabilities
Leadership of the team is shared between the Product Manager and the Technology Lead, ensuring balanced guidance that bridges product vision and technical execution.
Product Management Role As the Vence Collar Product Manager, you will be a
key driver of value and viability
within the product team. You will define product strategy, lead continuous customer discovery, partner with engineering and manufacturing through NPI stages, and coordinate go‑to‑market and post‑sales activities with commercial teams. This role requires technical fluency in hardware and connected‑device ecosystems, strong cross‑functional collaboration, and a focus on measurable customer and business outcomes.
You are expected to cultivate:
A solid understanding of business constraints (e.g., marketing, sales, customer success, finance, legal, privacy)
Deep knowledge of our users and customers, supported by data on how they engage with our products
Awareness of industry trends and the competitive landscape relevant to your product
Leadership is shared with the Collar Technology Lead, and you will both work with the Product Designer and engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. While each team member may be accountable for a specific risk area, you are expected to embrace collective accountability, ensuring the team delivers results in that matter.
Key Responsibilities Product Ownership & Strategy
Own and manage the Vence collar, together with collar Tech Lead, throughout its entire product lifecycle
Define the overall collar vision and strategy with a keen focus on value, business outcome, and user experience
Work with Vence Product Manager to create high‑level market valuations, compelling value propositions, and business cases for new product concepts and capabilities
Identify unmet customer needs and market opportunities to inform new product development
Customer & Market Insight
Lead customer discovery, problem definition, value hypothesis generation, and product experiments focused on market outcomes.
Work with the Collar Technology Lead to design and run technical prototypes and feasibility experiments that validate implementation approaches
Develop and execute customer insight strategies through e.g., surveys, farm visits, and customer advisory boards to capture feedback and validate direction
Build strong relationships with customers, field teams, and commercial stakeholders to capture real‑world use cases, pain points, and adoption barriers.
Translate customer needs into a prioritized backlog and outcomes based roadmap
Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies (including animal health monitoring), and the competitive landscape to inform strategy and continuous improvement
Collaboration & Cross‑Functional Leadership
Connect collar product team directly with customers to facilitate open communication and alignment
Work with commercial teams to ideate new solutions, validate value propositions, and ensure alignment with customer needs
Partner cross‑functionally with the product team (Tech Lead, marketing, sales, and customer success) to ensure end‑to‑end delivery and adoption
Collaborate closely with the Collar Technology Lead, Product Designer, and engineers to discover, validate, and deliver effective solutions
Lead adoption, retention and growth of the product by leveraging marketing, customer success, and market activation capabilities, while engaging commercial teams across regions and markets on the product value proposition
Act as the product advocate for external partners and customers during discovery, validation, and launch activities.
Go‑to‑Market & Commercialization
Drive release planning, manufacturing, go‑to‑market execution, and ongoing product support in partnership with cross‑functional teams
In partnership with the Collar Tech Lead, engage supply chain and manufacturing teams to decide the most appropriately efficient way to bring products to market
Engage commercial teams across regions and markets to drive understanding and adoption of the product’s value proposition
Establish customer success frameworks and support models to ensure optimal product adoption and satisfaction
Work with Marketing on go‑to‑market messaging, pricing inputs, sales enablement, launch readiness, and customer‑facing commitments. Coordinate with the Collar Technology Lead on technical onboarding materials and field escalation processes.
Performance & Accountability
Own unit economics and cost targets for the collar, tracking performance against agreed financial and product metrics.
Create, maintain, and continuously prioritize the product backlog to maximize value delivery and long‑term sustainability
Define and regularly calibrate product metrics to track success and progress against objectives
Conduct business reviews and monitor industry trends and competitive dynamics to inform product strategy
Champion a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement within the product team
Required
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related area of study.
10 years overall relevant work experience, with at least 5 years experience in product management of hardware or IoT products, with enough technical grounding to engage credibly with engineering teams and make informed trade‑off decisions on reliability, cost, and performance.
Demonstrated experience working in a product operating model — comfortable with continuous discovery, outcome‑based planning, and working in empowered cross‑functional teams accountable for customer and business outcomes.
Ability to learn and work across multiple functional areas (e.g., engineering, design, finance, sales, or marketing).
Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems with many constraints, using sound judgement to assess risks and building well‑structured, data‑informed narratives.
Proven ability to engage with engineers, designers, stakeholders, and senior leaders in a constructive and collaborative way.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a track record of leading through influence rather than authority.
A mindset of
ownership, accountability, and customer focus ; comfortable signing up for results and driving outcomes through others when needed.
Passion for fostering team innovation and leveraging the collective ideas and expertise of cross‑functional colleagues.
Comfortable operating in a hardware development environment — familiar with concepts such as NPI, DVT/PVT, manufacturing ramp‑up, and field validation, even if not owning them technically.
Willingness to travel to customers
Required Skills
Business Reviews
Client‑Centric
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Customer Insights
Customer Success
Design
Emerging Technologies
End to End Management
Market Valuations
Operating Models
Product Lifecycle
Product Management
Product Strategies
Preferred Skills
Financial Management
Management System Development
Problem Management
Requirements Management
Solution Architecture
Stakeholder Relationship Management
Strategic Planning
System Designs
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process: https://survey.sogosurvey.com/r/aCdfqL.
U.S. Hybrid Work Model Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office‑based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on‑site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote‑working day, unless business critical tasks require an on‑site presence. This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in‑person attendance is required for, field‑based positions; facility‑based, manufacturing‑based, or research‑based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective‑bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.
Travel Requirements 50%
Salary Range $142,400.00 - $224,100.00
Benefits We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.
Legal Information As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights_10_20.pdf. EEOC GINA Supplement. We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts: https://www.msdprivacy.com/us/en/CCPA-notice/.
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Our Technology Solutions division is evolving. We are moving to a
Product Operating Model
– a new way of working that empowers product teams to take full ownership and accountability for delivering customer and business value in ways our customers love and that work for the business.
Our product teams are
cross‑functional and durable , bringing together all the skills required to deliver impactful outcomes. Each team includes a Product Manager, Technology Lead, Product Designer, Delivery Lead, engineers, and developers.
We believe in
customer centricity, ownership, and accountability . Solutions must be:
Valuable
– customers choose to buy or use them
Viable
– aligned with business constraints and goals
Usable
– intuitive and user‑friendly
Feasible
– achievable with our technical capabilities
Leadership of the team is shared between the Product Manager and the Technology Lead, ensuring balanced guidance that bridges product vision and technical execution.
Product Management Role As the Vence Collar Product Manager, you will be a
key driver of value and viability
within the product team. You will define product strategy, lead continuous customer discovery, partner with engineering and manufacturing through NPI stages, and coordinate go‑to‑market and post‑sales activities with commercial teams. This role requires technical fluency in hardware and connected‑device ecosystems, strong cross‑functional collaboration, and a focus on measurable customer and business outcomes.
You are expected to cultivate:
A solid understanding of business constraints (e.g., marketing, sales, customer success, finance, legal, privacy)
Deep knowledge of our users and customers, supported by data on how they engage with our products
Awareness of industry trends and the competitive landscape relevant to your product
Leadership is shared with the Collar Technology Lead, and you will both work with the Product Designer and engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. While each team member may be accountable for a specific risk area, you are expected to embrace collective accountability, ensuring the team delivers results in that matter.
Key Responsibilities Product Ownership & Strategy
Own and manage the Vence collar, together with collar Tech Lead, throughout its entire product lifecycle
Define the overall collar vision and strategy with a keen focus on value, business outcome, and user experience
Work with Vence Product Manager to create high‑level market valuations, compelling value propositions, and business cases for new product concepts and capabilities
Identify unmet customer needs and market opportunities to inform new product development
Customer & Market Insight
Lead customer discovery, problem definition, value hypothesis generation, and product experiments focused on market outcomes.
Work with the Collar Technology Lead to design and run technical prototypes and feasibility experiments that validate implementation approaches
Develop and execute customer insight strategies through e.g., surveys, farm visits, and customer advisory boards to capture feedback and validate direction
Build strong relationships with customers, field teams, and commercial stakeholders to capture real‑world use cases, pain points, and adoption barriers.
Translate customer needs into a prioritized backlog and outcomes based roadmap
Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies (including animal health monitoring), and the competitive landscape to inform strategy and continuous improvement
Collaboration & Cross‑Functional Leadership
Connect collar product team directly with customers to facilitate open communication and alignment
Work with commercial teams to ideate new solutions, validate value propositions, and ensure alignment with customer needs
Partner cross‑functionally with the product team (Tech Lead, marketing, sales, and customer success) to ensure end‑to‑end delivery and adoption
Collaborate closely with the Collar Technology Lead, Product Designer, and engineers to discover, validate, and deliver effective solutions
Lead adoption, retention and growth of the product by leveraging marketing, customer success, and market activation capabilities, while engaging commercial teams across regions and markets on the product value proposition
Act as the product advocate for external partners and customers during discovery, validation, and launch activities.
Go‑to‑Market & Commercialization
Drive release planning, manufacturing, go‑to‑market execution, and ongoing product support in partnership with cross‑functional teams
In partnership with the Collar Tech Lead, engage supply chain and manufacturing teams to decide the most appropriately efficient way to bring products to market
Engage commercial teams across regions and markets to drive understanding and adoption of the product’s value proposition
Establish customer success frameworks and support models to ensure optimal product adoption and satisfaction
Work with Marketing on go‑to‑market messaging, pricing inputs, sales enablement, launch readiness, and customer‑facing commitments. Coordinate with the Collar Technology Lead on technical onboarding materials and field escalation processes.
Performance & Accountability
Own unit economics and cost targets for the collar, tracking performance against agreed financial and product metrics.
Create, maintain, and continuously prioritize the product backlog to maximize value delivery and long‑term sustainability
Define and regularly calibrate product metrics to track success and progress against objectives
Conduct business reviews and monitor industry trends and competitive dynamics to inform product strategy
Champion a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement within the product team
Required
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related area of study.
10 years overall relevant work experience, with at least 5 years experience in product management of hardware or IoT products, with enough technical grounding to engage credibly with engineering teams and make informed trade‑off decisions on reliability, cost, and performance.
Demonstrated experience working in a product operating model — comfortable with continuous discovery, outcome‑based planning, and working in empowered cross‑functional teams accountable for customer and business outcomes.
Ability to learn and work across multiple functional areas (e.g., engineering, design, finance, sales, or marketing).
Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems with many constraints, using sound judgement to assess risks and building well‑structured, data‑informed narratives.
Proven ability to engage with engineers, designers, stakeholders, and senior leaders in a constructive and collaborative way.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a track record of leading through influence rather than authority.
A mindset of
ownership, accountability, and customer focus ; comfortable signing up for results and driving outcomes through others when needed.
Passion for fostering team innovation and leveraging the collective ideas and expertise of cross‑functional colleagues.
Comfortable operating in a hardware development environment — familiar with concepts such as NPI, DVT/PVT, manufacturing ramp‑up, and field validation, even if not owning them technically.
Willingness to travel to customers
Required Skills
Business Reviews
Client‑Centric
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Customer Insights
Customer Success
Design
Emerging Technologies
End to End Management
Market Valuations
Operating Models
Product Lifecycle
Product Management
Product Strategies
Preferred Skills
Financial Management
Management System Development
Problem Management
Requirements Management
Solution Architecture
Stakeholder Relationship Management
Strategic Planning
System Designs
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process: https://survey.sogosurvey.com/r/aCdfqL.
U.S. Hybrid Work Model Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office‑based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on‑site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote‑working day, unless business critical tasks require an on‑site presence. This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in‑person attendance is required for, field‑based positions; facility‑based, manufacturing‑based, or research‑based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective‑bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.
Travel Requirements 50%
Salary Range $142,400.00 - $224,100.00
Benefits We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.
Legal Information As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights_10_20.pdf. EEOC GINA Supplement. We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts: https://www.msdprivacy.com/us/en/CCPA-notice/.
#J-18808-Ljbffr