Senior Product Development Manager, Custom Shop

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is a world-famous brand with offices across the globe. Fender was born in Southern California and has built a worldwide influence beyond the studio and the stage. A Fender is more than an instrument; it’s a cultural symbol that resonates globally.

We are seeking a Sr.Product Development Manager, Custom Shop to join our Hollywood or Corona team to assist in developing and managing all aspects of the Custom Shop brand.

The Sr. Product Development Manager, Custom Shop will support Sales, Service, Marketing and Custom Ops by managing general product line mechanics and providing logistical, cross-functional, and administrative support for strategic Product Development, Manufacturing, Sales, Service and Marketing initiatives.

Essential Functions:

• Collaborate with the Director of Product Development to design and implement product strategies, aiming to meet key strategic and financial objectives.
• Take responsibility for the lifecycle management of catalog products and custom options, from concept initiation through to end-of-life (EOL).
• Partner with the R&D, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Purchasing teams to streamline the introduction of new products, facilitate prototyping, manage production, and produce custom items.
• Work in concert with the Purchasing team and current suppliers to explore additional opportunities for sourcing and cost optimization.
• Coordinate with the Marketing and Sales departments to ensure that product launches are executed on schedule.
• Travel to the Corona facility, as well as attend sales meetings, customer events, and trade shows when required.
• Provide expert support to the Sales, Customer Service, and Consumer Relations departments on all Custom Shop-related queries and issues.
• Engage with various FMIC internal departments, such as Legal, Finance, and Operations, as needed.
• Act as a mentor to guide Product Development Managers within the team.
• Undertake special projects as directed.

Qualifications:

• Possess a Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field, or have equivalent work experience.
• 3+ years of experience in analytics, sales, product development, or marketing.
• Comprehensive understanding of the music industry, encompassing trends, genres, and brands.
• Profound knowledge of Fender's products and its history.
• Demonstrate high levels of analytical thinking, organizational ability, and professional conduct.
• Exhibit exceptional communication and presentation skills.
• Advanced skills in SAP/Business Warehouse (BW) preferred
• Possess strong competencies in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite is considered beneficial.
• Be willing to travel up to 40% of the time for factory visits, consumer events, media engagements, trade shows, sales meetings, and dealer training.
• Guitar playing expertise and field experience are highly desirable.

About Fender Musical Instruments:

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is one of the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors, whose portfolio of brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Presonus®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, EVH®, Charvel®, Bigsby®, and Groove Tubes®, among others. For more information, visit www.fender.com. FMIC offers a competitive benefits package which includes medical, dental, 401(k), paid time off, and an equipment purchase program to help you get the band back together. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, disability, veterans’ status, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.

Fender is required by law in certain jurisdictions to include a pay scale in the job posting for this position. “Pay scale” means the salary or hourly wage range that Fender reasonably expects to pay for this position; it is neither a promise nor a guarantee of the compensation that the successful candidate will receive. The pay scale for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that Fender considers in making compensation decisions, including, without limitation: skill set, experience, and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. If this is a remote position, the pay scale disclosed herein may be adjusted further based upon the applicable geographic differential associated with the location from which the successful candidate will work. Please note that it is not typical for a Fender employee to be at or near the top of the pay scale for their role – especially as a new hire – and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. Subject to the foregoing, the current pay scale for this position is $88,000.00 – 176,000.00