Title:  Junior Product Line Manager - Resistors

ROLE DESCRIPTION:

The Junior Product Line Manager (Jr. PLM) – Resistors supports the Product Line Manager in driving the strategic and operational success of Bourns’ global resistor portfolio. This role contributes to revenue growth, market share expansion, and profitability by supporting new product definition, pricing strategy, market research, and competitive analysis.

The Jr. PLM plays a key role in the early stages of the product lifecycle, with a strong emphasis on planning and executing new product introductions (NPIs), capturing voice of the customer (VOC), and supporting design-in activities. The role collaborates cross-functionally with Engineering, Sales, Marketing, Operations, distribution partners, and end customers to ensure new products are successfully defined, launched, and aligned with market needs.

The ideal candidate is analytical, detail-oriented, and proactive, with a strong interest in product strategy and market dynamics. The Jr. PLM also supports the global Sales organization by identifying growth opportunities, enabling design-in success, and helping position Bourns as a preferred supplier in strategic applications and target segments.

II.         DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES (End Results Expected):

1. Product Definition: Identify technical and performance gaps across the resistor portfolio and define detailed specifications to meet evolving demands in high-growth markets such as transportation, energy storage systems, industrial automation, and renewable energy.
2. Voice of Customer (VOC): Prepare and lead structured VOC initiatives to capture application-specific needs from OEMs, Tier 1s, and channel partners; translate insights into actionable NPI requirements.
3. House of Quality (HoQ): Develop and maintain House of Quality matrices to align customer expectations with engineering capabilities, ensuring NPIs are both differentiated and manufacturable.
4. Market Investigation: Conduct market sizing, segmentation, and opportunity analysis for targeted NPIs—quantifying demand volumes, competitive ASP benchmarks, and potential revenue contributions.
5. Competitive Analysis: Continuously monitor competitor roadmaps, datasheets, and pricing trends; leverage distributor and channel feedback to identify threats and opportunities.
6. Portfolio Quality Improvements: Support cross-functional reviews of field quality data and customer feedback to identify opportunities for product enhancements, process improvements, or strategic NPIs.
7. Design-In Support: Assist in customer design-in activities by communicating NPI value propositions, enabling technical evaluations, and supporting Sales with early-stage adoption tools and training.
8. Digital Design Enablement: Identify and support the development of intuitive, user-friendly digital tools—such as calculators, simulators, and selector guides—to streamline the design-in process and position Bourns as the preferred resistor partner for engineers.
9. Product Lifecycle Management: Support product lifecycle planning with a strong emphasis on new product introduction; provide input on product transitions or phase-outs to maintain portfolio competitiveness.
10. New Product Development Process: Contribute to formal gate reviews and related activities as defined in the new product development (NPD) process, ensuring product proposals are backed by market data and aligned with strategic priorities.

III.        INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

• Demonstrates independence, resourcefulness and ability to self-motivate.
• Demonstrates strong results oriented management skills, assumes leadership and delegates effectively.
• Exhibits accountability and asserts accountability on others.
• Exhibits ability to organize, prioritize and trade off.
• Employs thoughtfulness with strong empathetic sensitivity
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with customers and internal departments.
• Possesses strong work ethics and cultural sensitivity.
• Is flexible and able to work in a fast paced environment with frequent travel.

 IV.       COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

ORAL:              Excellent communication skills to present information to all levels of employees and customers.  Ability to articulate value propositions and cutting-edge technologies with clarity and conviction.

WRITTEN:        Excellent written skills to issue instructions, present ideas, concepts, and solutions to all levels of personnel via letters, memos, presentations, graphs, charts, documents, etc.

  V.       SCHEDULING AND PLANNING:

Must be able to schedule and organize time efficiently to complete tasks and manage projects to successful and timely conclusion. 

 VI.       ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET:   N/A

            (Including Payroll Cost)

VII.       BASIC JOB REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION:          Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with an Engineering Degree (Mechanical or Electrical Engineering preferred), or equivalent education, training or experience. Advanced degree in marketing or business administration is desirable.

EXPERIENCE:        3 to 5 years of experience in the electronic components industry. A background in passive components is preferred; experience in semiconductors is also valuable. A diversified background across engineering, marketing, and product management is highly desirable.

OTHER SKILLS:     Must have good time management skills, be able to continually evaluate priorities and make appropriate adjustments.  Must possess potential to grow into future roles with increasing responsibilities.