(Near O’Hare Airport)

Please forward resume to Jennifer for immediate consideration: jroberts@htassociates.com

SUMMARY:

The Product Marketing Manager’s responsibility is to guide our industry leading product offerings from conception to launch. The Product Manager will have a highly visible role managing one or more Managed Services products and be viewed as an expert within the company. The individual will lead multiple projects from competitive research, requirements gathering and definition through deployment, positioning and subsequent feature upgrades.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will be responsible for all aspects of the assigned product(s) including:

Product and Market Research

• Perform deep user-level analysis to understand key customer problems & solutions and to ensure new capabilities across the company’s product portfolio are delivered and working correctly

Product Envisioning

• Create the vision strategy to lead the way in defining/redefining products and services that provide competitive advantage for clients
• Develop comprehensive market requirements that clearly articulate the target opportunity, customer, value proposition, business model, and packaging/pricing
• Champion and present opportunities for new traffic based products and capabilities to management for consideration and approval

Product Planning and Development

• Write detailed product requirements documents providing developers all the information needed to gain a full understanding of what the product needs to do and how it must work
• Assemble thorough financial models and justifications, and recommend pricing and licensing models for upcoming major product releases
• Translate requirements to internal and external engineering teams chartered with development and testing of products, and play a leadership role in achieving product development goals
• Participate as product owner in frequent product reviews to ensure development understands and implements product requirements

Product Delivery and Maintenance

• Develop detailed product release plans, leading cross-functional efforts to bring new products to market
• Work with sales to conduct customer site pilot testing, supporting the product and developing business intelligence based findings and recommendations
• Work with business units and other product managers to define the roadmap and strategic vision, and contribute to continuous improvement of program and project management practices
• Work closely with marketing to develop product messaging, promotions, collateral materials, internal/external communications, trade/industry events, etc.

BASE QUALIFICATIONS

• 4-7 years of relevant work experience in product management and/or product development
• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing or related field
• Experience in business analytics, with a thorough understanding of the retail industry and key standards/technologies and trends. Demonstrated ability to explain findings and recommendations.
• Ability to present to C-level executives and senior managers
• Ability to champion innovative ideas; including ideation, solution design, definition, acceptance, development through to delivery
• Ability to build financial models, business cases, and set pricing strategies

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Retail Industry experience, including store operations and/or retail marketing
• Background in building new analytic and shopper insights
• M.B.A.
• Background in product management, product marketing or product development

Please forward resume to Jennifer for immediate consideration: jroberts@htassociates.com

Candidate needs to have experience with 3D Visual/Graphics products

Summary:

Develop and execute go-to-market product strategies; work closely with R&D and Product Marketing to maximize long-term product profitability and achieve short-term revenue targets while leading the product positioning and implementation for the company’s 3D Visual Product Line.  This includes Implementing and driving business and product strategies and responsibility for successful execution of product management deliverables.

Responsibilities:

• Ownership of the product cycle
• Work directly with Next Generation Product Management to develop new innovative 3D visualization and mapping products and features
• Work directly with Product Marketing to message product features and availability
• Responsible for market and product requirements document creation in support of advanced 3D mapping features and other advanced navigation functionality
• Interact directly with all internal departments to execute the product cycle (R&D, DMO, Quality, Finance)
• Builds and maintains relationship with product vendors
• Develops customer technical presentations and internal training materials
• Responsible for project prioritization and creation of the annual roadmap and budget

 Qualifications

• Undergraduate / university degree in technical or software related field
• Master’s degree in business administration (MBA) desired
• 4+ years relevant product management or product marketing experience
• Prior experience in a technology-related industry preferred
• Ability to apply an innovative approach towards completion of deliverables within a product development framework
• Ability to influence others to successfully complete deliverables; manages by influence
• Ability to communicate complex concepts and ideas in a clear and concise manner to internal and external audiences
• Adept at creating and developing relationships with key internal customers and partners

 Send resumes to Jennifer:  Jroberts@htassociates.com

Chicago, IL

Ideal candidate will have experience supporting technology, wireless, internet or automotive industries with both corporate and agency experience.

Position Summary:

Leading technology company focused on innovative products and services is looking for a Senior Marketing Manager with a strong background to include experience in Marketing Strategy, Communications, Product Marketing, Advertising and/or PR

The Senior Marketing Manager is responsible for leading a team that develops and executes forward thinking product marketing tools in an exciting and fast paced environment. The position leads and participates on cross-functional marketing teams and manages creation of compelling positioning/messaging for multiple products, translating complex technical solutions into easy to comprehend marketing messages.

Responsibilities:

• Manages a team of Marketing Managers ensuring alignment and optimization of marketing investment across Solution Experiences and across the portfolio of offerings
• Drives and develops product material for sales teams, including key messages, launch materials, customer presentations, sales toolkits, white papers, product videos, webcasts, events and training materials.
• Works in close partnership with various marketing teams to develop portfolio messaging that can be leveraged by sales teams
• Works in close partnership with various marketing teams support the development of programs to help educate and inspire internal audiences about the full breadth of our offerings
• Drives product messaging strategy and supporting content for major customer and industry events. Supports various marketing teams in tactical execution as needed
• Drives awareness within Corporate Communications of key product milestones/messages for press including message development as needed
• Oversee and direct various agencies and drive creative strategy and process

Requirements:

• College degree
• Minimum 10 years work experience in Marketing Strategy, Communications, Product Marketing, Advertising or PR
• Proven ability to lead and ensure accountability for results
• Ability to interact effectively with all levels of the organization
• Ability to build wide and useful networks of contacts inside and outside the organization
• Impeccable verbal, written and presentation skills with a curiosity and passion to quickly understand new subjects
• Willingness to travel

Please send resumes to jroberts@htassociates.com

(Northwest Chicago Suburbs)

This individual will be responsible for the planning, development, activation, measurement and reporting of social marketing programs across the following channels: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Foursquare/Geo-location, YouTube, and others as assigned.

In addition this individual will have significant operational and staffing responsibility to ensure social marketing efforts are met.

The ideal candidate will be a proven social media marketer (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) with superior experience in digital PR, driving buzz, and building sustainable communities and significant staff management experience.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Working in conjunction with marketing engagement leaders, develops Social Media Marketing programs and projects to drive engagement & traffic to the company’s suite of websites.
• Studies the competition’s use of Social Media marketing and applies those learning’s to marketing plans and engagement tactics.
• Directs Social Media Marketing planning in a “test and learn” culture to positively impact future results.
• Ensures that there is a strategic connection between all Marketing channel and plans to deliver cohesive customer connections
• Provides strategic direction to assigned staff in relation to the opportunities and impacts of Social Media in the Marketing process.
• Manages the Social Media Marketing spend and ensures it is accurate versus the Monthly Forecast and Annual Budget with Finance team.
• Manages the editorial and activation process for each channel; partners with other team members/departments (PR, marketing, online marketing, product development, customer service, merchants, analytics) as needed to ensure success.
• Will study the operational effectiveness of his/her team and improve & tune-up processes.
• As required educates the organization and key partners on Social Media Marketing trends.

REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 6 years relevant experience with 3-5 years in the social media and interactive space
• Strong personal and professional experience in social media channels, emerging media content and community engagement
• An understanding of integrated marketing and traditional public relations and what drives compelling experiences on the Web – and how to integrate social into the broader marketing mix.
• Ability to translate trends, technologies and metrics into conversational English.
• As required acts as a trainer or counselor on development and implementation of social media, emerging media and community engagement initiatives.
• Ability to develop and activate strategic recommendations and program tactics.
• Flexibility to be a hands-on team player adding value, creating strategies, programs and instructional guidance to all levels and teams
• Exceptional at building and presenting concepts/programs for clients and new business opportunities.
• Strong people management and project management skills and ability to supervise and motivate teams.
• Comfortable within an entrepreneurial/start up environment and comfortable with highly visible, multitasking assignments.
• Strong work ethic; resilient; high integrity

Please send resumes directly to Jennifer at: jroberts@htassociates.com

This High-Tech, Global leader seeks a Technical Service Director responsible for the end-to-end technology operations management for a high volume transaction processing 24x7x365 environment that services customers globally including feeds and applications, as well as data collection network gathering information provided to premier clients and partners. The role directs, plans, supports, and manages application and hosting services and is the primary interface between the delivery functions, R&D, and business organizations. This includes management of Linux and Microsoft System Administrators responsible for server operations in a production, development and test environment. The position is also responsible for monitoring and reporting on delivered services including customer satisfaction, business relationship management, and proactive improvement of the levels of service delivered. The position will ensure that the operations services meet the requirements of the business, premier clients, consumers, and partners at all times, spanning the entire product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Primary point of contact with business, product, technical operations, and R&D teams to assure smooth transition from high-level design, through product development or system/service modification, including development of support and escalation models, and service levels.

• Directs the development, maintenance, and documentation of operational infrastructure components, applications, platforms, and/or externally-provided technology solutions.

• Evaluates proposed system or service modifications to ascertain impact on existing processes or systems. Ensures evaluation and testing of changes to guarantee uninterrupted service.

• Manages global team of system & database administrators, service engineers, technical managers, project management, solution architects, technical writers, and release managers aligned to support company’s products and services.

• Create and manage budgets while seeking opportunities for return on investment, analysis of total cost of ownership, and cost savings opportunities.

• Directly responsible for managing project pipeline/intake. Identifies and plans resource allocation to meet internal operational and customer demands.

• Analyze technical or service-provision problems or deficiencies and manage through to resolution, directing internal, external or vendor resources as required.

• Develop and present detailed reporting on key performance indicators, service levels, project status, service availability/performance, and contractual performance of vendors.

• Leads and motivates a global technical staff working continuously in a 24x7x365 environment.

• Participate in and lead troubleshooting calls for major service impacting incidents, providing overall guidance and direction for resolving operational issues.

• Ensure alignment with service platforms objectives and internal business partner roadmaps.

• Evaluate emerging technologies, keeps current with industry trends and innovations.

• Facilitates the resolution of complex technical and business problems which have long-term impact on technical methods, service levels or budget.

• Supervises one or more first level managers or project teams.

Qualifications

Skills and Experience required

· 12+ years of relevant experience

· A background in managing and supporting multiple, large commercial online products and services in a production environment

· Experience in developing high volume, high availability web sites that have low maintenance and support costs

· Experience building and managing high-end operations teams focused on operational excellence

· Well versed in the procedures and policies required to operate an application across a global organization

· Detailed understanding of public and private cloud technologies, application security, and “Operational best practices” for the online service industry.

· Ability to work on multiple projects, simultaneously, with aggressive schedules

· Creative problem solver with a keen ability to standardize a process or procedure

· Extremely well organized and accustomed to maintaining highly dynamic schedules

· Comfortable making presentations and attending a variety of client meetings and events

· Excellent communication and relationship management skills

Ideal candidate will have a combination of wireless, automotive, OEM and/ or retail industry experience!  This is a terrific opportunity to come join a leading global technology company based in Chicago that is experiencing tremendous growth while working on cutting edge projects and offering innovative products and services.

Role:

• Responsible for achieving goals assigned for sell through of the company’s products and services via Consumer Electronics Retailers, Automotive Dealers, and Wireless Carrier Stores.
• Manage TRIP sales – take rate improvement – increase sales of autos that have built-in navigation systems; usually accomplished via training, merchandising, field marketing programs/incentives
• Manage dealer-based RPM sales – renewal program for services – increase sales of product updates to maximize customer satisfaction/experience
• Manage activation and renewal program – increase sales/activation of apps via training, merchandising, field marketing programs/incentives
• Manage Retail Sales Development – Develop position as category expert to influence KDM’s in buying/merchandising roles to maximize the awareness and sell through of products/solutions/services.
• Manage/track a field marketing budget – in 6 month increments
• Work with Corporate Marketing to develop marketing materials/tools needed for managing messaging to end consumer both in-store and online.
• Work with Customer Marketing, Product Marketing, and Channel Marketing to provide training company solutions/products/services
• Responsible for implementation of programs developed with Channel Programs to increase awareness and sales of products/solutions in all business segments.

Requirements:

• Bachelors degree in business, management or marketing
• 5 to 7 years wireless carrier channel marketing/channel sales management experience desired and/or 5 to 7 years consumer electronics/mass merchant channel sales/channel marketing management experience and/or 3 to 5 years automotive channel sales/marketing management experience
• Knowledge of channel best practices
• Specific key customer relationships/experiences Wireless carriers/handset manufacturers – examples:  Verizon, ATT, Sprint, Samsung, LG, Motorola
• CE/Mass Merchant retailers – examples:  Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart
• Automotive dealers – examples:  Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Chrysler, Acura/Honda, Nissan, Lexus/Toyota, Ford
• Leadership Experience – 8 to 10 years experience successfully leading/managing/motivating/training a successful national/NA channel sales/channel marketing team responsible for hundreds/thousands of storefront/dealer locations and regional headquarters required.
• Dynamic speaking/presentation skills
• Channel Experience – previous experience developing and executing successful national/NA channel strategies, channel coverage models, channel marketing programs, channel training programs, channel incentive programs effecting hundreds/thousands of storefront/dealer locations and regional headquarters
• Business Development experience – Previous experience starting up new businesses preferred
• Ability to quantify and track business; focus on key performance indicators, provide ROI analysis of investments and success measurement of programs
• Experience developing/managing/executing a North America program budget.
• Experience working in a matrix organization
• Personal Qualities   – Leadership, Positive Mental Attitude, Self Starter, Examples of being a Top Performer/Leader/Manager, Strategic Thinker, Organized, excellent writing/communication skills, Team Player.
• Experience with PowerPoint, Excel

Please forward resume to Jennifer: Jroberts@htassociates.com

Responsibilities

• Overall planning and management of Service Transition delivery including Continual Service Improvement
• Managing and coordinating the Service Transition functions
• Budgeting and accounting for Service Transition team activities and resources
• Acting as the prime interface for senior management in terms of Service Transition planning and reporting
• Making a final recommendation to the business and IT regarding the decisions to release and deploy into production
• Ensuring all organizational policies and procedures are followed throughout transition
• Ensuring the final delivery meets the agreed customer and stakeholder requirements specified in the Service Design.
• Communicates Service Transition activities and strategies to IT management and staff community
• Defining the requirements, processes and tools for Transition Planning and Support
• Maintaining and integrating lower level plans to establish overall integrated transition plans, including planned vs actuals
• Maintaining and monitoring progress on Service Transition changes, issues, risks and deviations including tracking progress on actions and mitigation of risks
• Maintaining records on and providing management information on resource use, project/Service Transition progress, budgeted and actual spend
• Managing and coordinating requests for resources
• Coordinating Service Transition activities across projects, suppliers and service teams where appropriate
• Publishing Service Transition performance statistics and identifying key areas for improvement
• Undertaking formal quality reviews of the Service Transition, release and deployment plans and agreed transition activities in accordance with the quality management plan
• Works directly with ITSM Program Owner and Manager, but will collaborate across IT domains and other IT service management processes to ensure Service Transition processes are well integrated

Education and Training

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, management information systems (or related field), or equivalent experience
• IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) certification required (Foundation-level v2 or v3, and Intermediate-level, including Service Transition, and Release, Control & Validation); in addition, Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (CobiT) and project management certification desirable

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated management leadership experience
• Proven ability to build and manage complex relationships in a matrixed environment
• Strong organizational skills; ability to lead different process teams with competing demands for resources
• Strong analytical, multitasking and prioritization skills
• Proficiency in working in a fast-paced, complex, dynamic and multicultural business environment
• Proven ability to build relationships and influence individuals at all levels of the organization

Key Behaviors and Competencies

• Ability to understand strategic business objectives and the ability for different Service Transition processes to align and support those objectives

Recruiter Information:

Bryan Hearn – Sr. Executive Recruiter
bhearn@htassociates.com
Other Job Openings: http://htassociates.com/category/recruiters/bryan-hearn/

Responsibilities

• Strong data management, data warehousing, Business Intelligence, decision support systems
• Engaging directly with the business to understand their reporting & business reqs
• Formulating a strategy to support the needs of the business
• Creating a solutions/high level systems design in support of those business reqs
• Engaging with and directing both internal as well as external resources needed to successfully deliver the solution to the business community
• Ability to operate within a “Managed Services” organization whereby off shore resources are leveraged & managed to deliver a solution
• Have experience in an Insurance, Banking, Financial Services or Trading env.
• Strong technical knowledge & experience with Oracle, PL/SQL, UIX, DW, etc.
• J2EE development env with websphere being an advantage
• Ability to influence & communicate at the C-Level
• Strong change management experience

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Expert technical knowledge of the system development life cycle, and system and application program development technological alternatives.
• Senior level knowledge of client area’s functions and systems.
• Must be competent to work at the highest technical level of all phases of application program/system design and implementation and have excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
• Excellent project management skills and ability to organize and plan effectively to meet both short and long range project goals.
• Solid knowledge of interface design and user centered design method.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with peers, IT management and staff, and internal business partners/clients.
• Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office suite and other business related software systems or languages including, but not limited to Oracle, Informatica, Crystal Reports, Hyperion, Maximus, BO, BI, Hyperion, Unix and PL/SQL. Experience with Investment and/or Financial applications necessary.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor?s Degree with Master?s preferred in Computer Science, or related discipline, or equivalent work experience.
• Typically a minimum of nine years of solid, diverse work experience in IT with a minimum of six years experience in application program development.
• Applicable certifications preferred.

Recruiter Information:

Bryan Hearn – Sr. Executive Recruiter
bhearn@htassociates.com
Other Job Openings: http://htassociates.com/category/recruiters/bryan-hearn/

Individual contributor ensuring the release of high quality software and systems through the management of quality assurance (QA) testing projects. Provides technical consultative assistance to management and technology process owners with respect to the development and implementation of quality IT systems and software, provides guidance to others informally, and formally leads project teams on a short-term basis.

 These candidates will be responsible for:

• Engage with the users to understand their requirements
• Define the high level test strategy to support those reqs
• Create the test plan, test beds, test cases, etc
• Engage with vendors to ensure execution of strategy and plan
• Review the vendors deliverable to ensure they are meeting the requirements

 Responsibilities

• Leads quality assurance projects and teams, and consults with IT management, staff and internal clients throughout the QA project life cycle utilizing advanced problem-solving assistance tools.
• Provides technical consultative assistance to management and client areas to ensure the development and implementation of quality IT systems and software, and works with IT management, staff and internal clients throughout the project life cycle.
• Analyzes, develops and implements new or modified quality assurance procedures and processes, test plans, test scripts, and applications/systems for assessing the quality of delivered application software and systems across multiple computing environments.
• Develops metrics for assessing the quality of delivered application software or systems and analyzes trends, researches anomalies and summarizes findings for business process owners.
• Analyzes metrics and data from applicable systems to identify the most complex quality assurance issues.
• Recommends process improvements and works with process owners to determine and manage implementation strategy and roll-out when process improvements are required.
• Participates in the identification and implementation planning of new QA software.
• Stays up to date on trends and developments within functional area of expertise and the insurance industry.
• May focus on software testing ensuring successful testing of releases and programs.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Full technical knowledge of automated testing and modeling tools, change management and test case generation techniques as well as business processes and ability to apply continuous process improvement and quality assurance methodologies effectively.
• Proven knowledge of client area’s functions and systems.
• Advanced knowledge of software and hardware systems and a solid understanding of the potential use of technology solutions in a business environment.
• Strong analytical skills and detail orientation.
• Senior level knowledge of the project management life cycle and project management tools.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively interact with internal and external business partners.
• Ability to lead teams on short-term projects.
• Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite and other business related software systems along with the ability to learn new systems applications quickly.

Education & Experience

• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, or related discipline, or equivalent work experience.
• Typically a minimum of seven years experience in systems analysis, programming and quality assurance project management including prior software testing experience.
• Applicable professional certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops, publishes, and implements test plans.
• Writes and maintains test automation.
• Develops quality assurance standards.
• Defines and tracks quality assurance metrics such as defect densities and open defect counts.
• Requires a bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years of experience testing in C, C++, Java.
• Must have a working knowledge of quality assurance methodologies.
• Familiar with NT, UNIX and/or Solaris environments.
• Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.
• May lead and direct the work of others.
• Works under general supervision; typically reports to a manager.
• A certain degree of creativity and latitude is required.
• Skills used on the project include: Java, SQL, Python, Red Hat Linux, DBMS, and Oracle SQL.

 Qualifications

• Testing skills including test approach and test case preparation, execution, result analysis, recommendations and reporting
• Advanced level of SQL required. Ability to load data, extract data, write complex SQL queries and manipulate data required
• Experience automating scripts and creating automated testing frameworks required (PL/SQL and Python preferred, but Perl is helpful also)
• Ability to read and understand Java code and XML
• Minimum of 2 years of Unix scripting languages experience
• Minimum of 2 years experience working in an Agile environment preferred
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and multi-tasking ability.
• ARC GIS and 3D experience desired.
• Intermediate knowledge Robot framework desired

Recruiter Information:

Bryan Hearn – Sr. Executive Recruiter
bhearn@htassociates.com
Other Job Openings: http://htassociates.com/category/recruiters/bryan-hearn/