Product Strategy Specialist - Americas (Thermal Products)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Strategy Specialist - Americas (Thermal Products) Company: Vertiv Location: Westerville, Ohio, United States Job Type: Full-time Category: Product Strategy & Operations Date Posted: July 31, 2025 Experience Level: 2-5 Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role functions at the intersection of product management, sales operations, and financial analysis, focusing on the Americas region for Thermal Management products.
• It requires a strategic mindset to align sales, operations, and business unit objectives, ensuring financial health and market competitiveness for thermal product lines.
• The specialist will act as a central point for market intelligence, customer feedback, and business case development, directly influencing new product introductions and existing product optimization.
• Key responsibilities include driving margin improvement initiatives, supporting pricing strategies, and ensuring effective sales enablement for thermal products within the Americas market.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title suggests a focus on "Product Strategy," the detailed responsibilities and required skills clearly indicate a strong need for operational execution, financial acumen, and cross-functional coordination typical of a Sales Operations or Business Operations role within a product-focused organization. The emphasis on pipeline, orders, sales, margins, pricing initiatives, and VAVE strongly aligns with Revenue Operations or Sales Operations functions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Act as a critical liaison for the Americas Region, actively participating in Pipeline, Orders, Sales, and Demand Planning meetings for Thermal Management products.
• Analyze and support initiatives aimed at enhancing the profit margins and overall profitability of the Thermal Management Business Unit and its associated product lines.
• Collaborate closely with the Thermal Management Business Unit, Americas Finance, Sales, and Sales Operations teams to support and execute pricing initiatives.
• Serve as a key point of contact for the Americas Thermal Management Technical Sales/Application Engineering Teams to ensure alignment and knowledge transfer.
• Conduct comprehensive research on market trends, demand drivers, customer needs, and the competitive landscape to inform product strategy and business cases.
• Partner with the Thermal Management Business Unit, Sales, and Sales Ops to establish and maintain robust Sales Enablement processes and best practices for new and evolving thermal products.
• Gather and synthesize Voice of Customer (VoC) feedback and develop compelling product business cases for presentation to global product teams.
• Develop and meticulously track key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the post-launch sales performance of new thermal offerings, including pipeline conversion and quotation activity.
• Support strategic planning efforts for the Thermal Management portfolio within the Americas Region, fostering collaboration with the IT Systems Business Unit, Americas Strategy Team, Americas Finance Team, and Americas Sales Teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of analytical, strategic, and collaborative tasks. The emphasis on "driving visibility and monitoring of regional Thermal Management product margins, including pricing initiatives, VAVE, cost-out programs" signifies a deep dive into financial operations and revenue optimization, common in advanced Sales Operations or Revenue Operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Finance, or a closely related field. An equivalent combination of education and directly relevant professional experience will also be considered.

Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years of progressive experience in a technical, product service, strategic planning, sales, marketing, or a directly related operational role.
• Demonstrated experience in analyzing financial metrics, including product margins, cost-outs, and pricing strategies, is highly valued.
• Proven ability to support strategic planning processes and contribute to business case development for new product initiatives.

Required Skills:

• Product Strategy Development: Ability to contribute to long-term product roadmaps and market positioning for thermal products.
• Sales Operations Support: Experience in supporting sales forecasting, pipeline management, and demand planning processes.
• Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of financial metrics, margin analysis, profitability drivers, and pricing strategies.
• Market & Customer Analysis: Skills in conducting market research, competitive analysis, and gathering customer intelligence to identify opportunities and inform strategy.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with diverse teams, including Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Finance, and Operations.
• Technical Aptitude: Capacity to understand technical product details and translate complex stakeholder needs into actionable solutions.
• Prioritization & Goal Alignment: Skill in balancing short-term objectives with long-term strategic goals, effectively prioritizing tasks to achieve business outcomes.
• Communication Proficiency: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex information clearly and concisely to all organizational levels.
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency: Advanced skills in Excel for data analysis and financial modeling, PowerPoint for presentations, and Word for documentation.
• Smartsheet Proficiency: Experience utilizing Smartsheet for project management, workflow tracking, and collaborative data management.

Preferred Skills:

• Thermal Management/HVAC Product Knowledge: Prior experience or a strong understanding of thermal management systems, HVAC products, and related technologies.
• Data Center Industry Experience: Familiarity with the data center environment, its critical infrastructure requirements, and industry trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "strong business acumen and ability to act as a CEO for the products" requirement, coupled with the demand for financial analysis and pricing initiatives, suggests the ideal candidate will possess a strategic operational mindset. The proficiency in Smartsheet points to a need for robust project management and workflow automation capabilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a track record of supporting or driving product margin improvement initiatives, showcasing analytical methods used to identify cost-saving opportunities or revenue enhancement strategies.
• Provide examples of contributions to pricing strategy development or execution, highlighting the analytical process and impact on profitability.
• Showcase experience in developing or utilizing sales enablement materials, process documentation, or training programs for new product launches.
• Include evidence of market research or competitive analysis projects, detailing the methodology and how insights were translated into actionable recommendations.
• Present examples of collaborative projects involving cross-functional teams (Sales, Finance, Operations, Product Management) to achieve strategic business objectives.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of workflow design or optimization related to pipeline management, sales forecasting, or demand planning processes.
• Documentation illustrating how customer feedback or market intelligence was systematically collected, analyzed, and integrated into product strategy or business cases.
• Evidence of metrics development and tracking for product performance evaluation, demonstrating proficiency in KPI definition and reporting.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a formal "portfolio" might not be explicitly required for submission, candidates are expected to articulate their experience through concrete examples during interviews and potentially in case study formats. The focus will be on demonstrating a structured, data-driven approach to product strategy and operational execution.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• For a Product Strategy Specialist with 2-5 years of experience in Westerville, Ohio, the estimated annual salary range typically falls between $65,000 and $85,000. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in the region, considering the required skill set in product strategy, financial analysis, and sales operations support.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to support employee well-being.
• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) plan with company matching contributions to aid in long-term financial planning.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay to ensure work-life balance.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, certifications, and continuing education to enhance skills in product strategy and operations.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Resources and support for personal and professional challenges.
• Life and Disability Insurance: Coverage to provide financial security for employees and their families.

Working Hours:

• This is a full-time position, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week. While the role is primarily on-site, flexibility may be available for occasional remote work or adjusted schedules, subject to business needs and management approval.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is an estimate based on industry data for similar roles in Westerville, OH. The specific compensation will be determined by factors such as candidate experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Vertiv operates within the critical infrastructure and data center technology sector, providing essential hardware, software, and analytics solutions for vital applications. This industry demands high reliability, continuous innovation, and a deep understanding of evolving technological landscapes. Company Size: Vertiv is a large, global company with approximately 20,000 employees worldwide. This size offers opportunities for diverse career paths, access to extensive resources, and exposure to a broad range of international markets and operations. Founded: Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, USA, Vertiv was founded with a vision to ensure customers’ vital applications run continuously. Its history is rooted in providing critical infrastructure solutions, evolving to meet the demands of modern digital environments.

Team Structure:

• The Product Strategy Specialist will be part of a dedicated Product Strategy team, likely reporting to the Director, Americas Product Strategy - Thermal. This team collaborates closely with the Thermal Management Business Unit, Americas Sales, Sales Operations, and Finance departments.
• The reporting structure involves direct oversight from a Director-level leader, indicating a focus on strategic guidance and mentorship.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone of this role, requiring seamless interaction with technical sales, application engineers, global product teams, IT systems business unit, and regional strategy and finance teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The role emphasizes the use of data analysis to monitor product margins, evaluate sales performance, and inform strategic planning.
• Process Optimization: A key focus is on improving processes related to pipeline management, demand planning, pricing initiatives, and sales enablement for thermal products.
• Customer-Centric Approach: Gathering and integrating customer feedback (Voice of Customer) into business cases and product development is a fundamental aspect of the role's methodology.

Company Website: https://www.vertiv.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Vertiv's emphasis on "customer focus," "operational excellence," and "innovation" suggests a culture that values data-driven insights, continuous improvement, and proactive problem-solving, all critical for success in this operations-centric strategy role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a specialist or early-to-mid-career professional within the product strategy and operations domain. It requires a solid foundation in business analysis, financial principles, and market dynamics, with a clear path for growth into more senior strategy or operations management roles. Reporting Structure: The specialist reports to the Director, Americas Product Strategy - Thermal. This reporting line provides direct exposure to senior leadership within the product strategy function, offering mentorship and opportunities to influence high-level decision-making. Operations Impact: The role has a significant impact on the financial performance and market success of Vertiv's Thermal Management products in the Americas. By ensuring alignment across departments, optimizing margins, and supporting strategic planning, the specialist directly contributes to revenue growth and profitability.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Progression: Potential to advance into Senior Product Strategist, Product Manager, or Director-level roles within the Product Management or Operations functions, with increasing responsibility for product portfolios and market strategies.
• Skill Enhancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in financial analysis, market intelligence, data center technologies, and strategic planning through hands-on experience and company-sponsored learning programs.
• Leadership Development: Potential to lead cross-functional initiatives, manage specific product lines from a strategic operations perspective, and develop into a recognized expert in thermal product strategy within the Americas market.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a strong foundation for a career in product management, sales operations, or business strategy, particularly within the technology infrastructure sector. The direct reporting to a Director provides excellent visibility and mentorship for career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This position is based at Vertiv's campus in Westerville, OH, indicating a professional office environment designed for collaboration and focused work. Office Location(s): The primary work location is Westerville, Ohio. This location serves as a key hub for Vertiv's operations in the Americas. Workspace Context:

• The Westerville campus likely offers a modern, well-equipped workspace conducive to collaboration, with access to necessary technological tools and resources.
• Expect opportunities for regular interaction with colleagues from various departments, including Sales, Sales Operations, Finance, and Product Management, fostering a dynamic and interconnected work environment.
• The team structure and emphasis on cross-functional work suggest a collaborative atmosphere where knowledge sharing and joint problem-solving are encouraged.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time, generally around 40 hours per week, with an on-site presence required. While core business hours apply, Vertiv's culture may offer some flexibility in daily scheduling, depending on project demands and team needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Westerville, OH, emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration and direct engagement with key stakeholders within the organization.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications to assess qualifications against the job requirements. Candidates with strong experience in product strategy, financial analysis, and sales operations support will be prioritized.
• Hiring Manager Interview: This stage will focus on evaluating your business acumen, understanding of product strategy principles, and ability to collaborate cross-functionally. Expect questions about your experience with financial metrics, market analysis, and strategic planning.
• Cross-Functional/Team Interviews: You may meet with key stakeholders from Sales, Sales Operations, Finance, or the Business Unit to assess your ability to work effectively within a team and understand different departmental perspectives. Behavioral questions focusing on collaboration, problem-solving, and adaptability will be common.
• Case Study or Presentation (Potential): While not explicitly stated, some roles at this level may involve a case study or presentation exercise. This could involve analyzing a hypothetical product scenario, developing a strategic recommendation, or presenting a past project that demonstrates your skills in financial analysis, market research, or process improvement.
• Final Interview: This may involve a final discussion with senior leadership or the hiring manager to confirm fit and address any remaining questions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quantify Achievements: When discussing past projects, focus on quantifiable results. For example, instead of saying "improved margins," state "increased product margins by X% through the implementation of a new pricing strategy and cost-out analysis."
• Showcase Analytical Process: Be prepared to walk through your thought process for analyzing financial data, conducting market research, or developing business cases. Highlight the tools and methodologies you used (e.g., Excel modeling, market research databases, competitive benchmarking).
• Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration: Provide specific examples of how you successfully partnered with different departments to achieve common goals, emphasizing communication and problem-solving skills.
• Highlight Strategic Thinking: Illustrate how your contributions have directly impacted product strategy, sales performance, or business unit profitability. Connect your operational tasks to broader strategic objectives.
• Prepare for Smartsheet/Excel Demos: If you have strong Smartsheet or Excel skills, be ready to discuss specific examples of dashboards, financial models, or workflow automation you’ve built.

Challenge Preparation:

• Market Analysis: Be ready to discuss current market trends in thermal management or the data center industry and how they might impact Vertiv's product strategy.
• Financial Scenario Planning: Prepare to analyze hypothetical scenarios related to pricing changes, cost fluctuations, or competitive threats and outline potential strategic responses.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Practice articulating how you would approach aligning different departmental goals (e.g., Sales targets vs. Financial margin goals) for a specific product initiative.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's emphasis on strategy, finance, and operations, interviewers will likely probe for a candidate's ability to connect tactical execution with strategic outcomes. Demonstrating a structured, analytical, and collaborative approach will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Microsoft Office Suite: Advanced proficiency in Excel (for financial modeling, data analysis, VLOOKUPs, pivot tables), PowerPoint (for presentations and strategic proposals), and Word (for documentation and reporting).
• Smartsheet: Essential for project management, workflow automation, and collaborative data tracking. Candidates should be comfortable creating and managing dashboards, reports, and automated workflows within Smartsheet.
• CRM (e.g., Salesforce): While not explicitly mentioned, experience with CRM systems for managing sales pipelines, customer data, and forecasting is highly beneficial for understanding sales operations.
• ERP Systems (e.g., SAP): Familiarity with Enterprise Resource Planning systems for accessing financial data, order information, and product cost details would be advantageous.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Business Intelligence Tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI): Experience with data visualization tools for creating insightful reports and dashboards to track product performance, margins, and sales metrics.
• Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Software: Exposure to tools used for financial forecasting, budgeting, and performance analysis.

CRM & Automation:

• Sales Automation Tools: Understanding of tools that automate sales processes, manage leads, and support sales enablement efforts.
• Integration Platforms: Awareness of how different systems (CRM, ERP, BI tools) integrate to provide a unified view of business operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Excel and Smartsheet are explicitly called out. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their practical application of these tools in an operations and strategy context. Understanding CRM and BI tools will further strengthen an application.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A commitment to understanding and meeting customer needs through well-defined product strategies and efficient operations.
• Operational Excellence: Driving efficiency, accuracy, and continuous improvement in all processes related to product management, sales support, and financial oversight.
• Innovation: Encouraging new ideas and approaches to market challenges, product development, and operational processes.
• Integrity & Respect: Upholding high ethical standards and fostering a respectful, inclusive work environment.
• Teamwork: Collaborating effectively across departments to achieve shared business objectives and support the company's strategic priorities.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Engagement: Actively seeking out collaboration with Sales, Finance, and Business Unit teams to ensure alignment and gather critical insights.
• Data-Driven Dialogue: Using data and analytics to inform discussions, build consensus, and drive decision-making processes.
• Feedback Integration: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback to enhance processes and product strategies.
• Shared Ownership: Embracing a collective responsibility for the success of the Thermal Management product lines in the Americas.

📝 Enhancement Note: Vertiv's stated core principles and behaviors (Safety, Integrity, Respect, Teamwork, Diversity & Inclusion, Own It, Act With Urgency, Foster a Customer-First Mindset, Think Big and Execute, Lead by Example, Drive Continuous Improvement, Learn and Seek Out Development) provide a strong framework for understanding the expected collaborative and performance-driven culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Strategic Vision with Operational Execution: Effectively translating high-level product strategy into actionable plans for the Americas region while managing day-to-day operational demands.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Navigating diverse priorities and perspectives across Sales, Finance, and the Business Unit to achieve consensus on pricing, margin targets, and demand forecasts.
• Data Synthesis and Interpretation: Consolidating information from various sources (CRM, financial reports, market research) into clear, actionable insights for strategic decision-making.
• Competitive Market Dynamics: Staying abreast of rapid changes in the thermal management and data center industries, adapting strategies to maintain market competitiveness.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge of thermal management systems, data center infrastructure, and related technologies through direct exposure and specialized training.
• Financial & Strategic Skillset: Enhance capabilities in financial analysis, pricing strategies, market research, and strategic planning through practical application and potential certifications.
• Operational Process Improvement: Gain experience in optimizing sales operations, demand planning, and business processes within a large, global organization.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop leadership and influence skills by managing projects and collaborating with stakeholders across different business functions and levels.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to build a career at the intersection of product, sales, and finance operations, offering a challenging yet rewarding environment for professional growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Discuss a time you had to align conflicting priorities between Sales and Finance regarding product pricing or margin targets. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?
• How would you go about assessing the market potential for a new thermal product in the Americas region? What data sources would you use, and how would you synthesize the information?
• Describe a process you implemented or improved to enhance sales enablement for a new product or feature. What were the key steps and metrics for success?
• How do you stay informed about emerging market trends and competitive activities in the technology infrastructure sector?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Based on your understanding of Vertiv, how do you see this role contributing to the company's strategic priorities, such as customer focus or operational excellence?
• Describe your ideal team environment and how you contribute to a high-performance culture.
• How do you embody Vertiv's behavior of "Own It" or "Drive Continuous Improvement" in your work?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Examples: Organize your experience around key responsibilities: margin analysis, pricing initiatives, sales enablement, market research, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Quantify Impact: For each example, clearly state the challenge, your action, and the quantifiable result (e.g., "Increased quote-to-order conversion by 5% by developing standardized product configuration guides").
• Highlight Process: Explain the "how" – the specific steps, tools (Excel, Smartsheet), and analytical methods you employed to achieve outcomes.
• Showcase Strategic Thinking: Connect your operational contributions to broader business objectives and product strategy. Explain the "why" behind your actions.
• Prepare for Smartsheet/Excel: Have specific examples ready of how you've used these tools to manage projects, analyze data, or create reports.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to articulate their strategic thinking and analytical capabilities, demonstrating how they can drive operational efficiency and financial performance for the Thermal Management product lines.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Strategy Specialist position:

• Submit your application directly through the provided Oracle Cloud portal link.
• Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume to highlight experience in product strategy, sales operations, financial analysis, market research, and proficiency with tools like Microsoft Office and Smartsheet. Emphasize quantifiable achievements related to margin improvement, pricing initiatives, and sales enablement.
• Prepare for Behavioral Questions: Anticipate questions about your cross-functional collaboration skills, problem-solving approach, ability to prioritize, and how you embody Vertiv's core principles and behaviors.
• Research Vertiv: Familiarize yourself with Vertiv's products, services, market position, and company culture. Understand the significance of thermal management in the data center industry.
• Practice Case Study Responses: If a case study or presentation is part of the process, prepare by practicing how you would analyze market data, develop strategic recommendations, and present findings clearly and concisely, focusing on financial impact and operational feasibility.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.