Head of Product/Technical Sales Engineer – Water Treatment Systems
4 days ago
Reedsburg
Head of Product/Technical Sales Engineer – Water Treatment Systems Location: North America (Hybrid / Travel Required) Reports To: Hankscraft Runxin LLC General Manager Role Level: Senior Leadership / Executive Contributor Industry Experience: Minimum 20 years in the water treatment industry Role Overview The Head of Product is a senior leadership role responsible for defining, developing, and executing the product strategy across Hankscraft Runxin LLC’s water treatment portfolio. This role sits at the intersection of engineering, manufacturing, sales, and technical support, ensuring that products are technically sound, commercially viable, compliant, and clearly differentiated in the North American market. This is a hands-on, execution-oriented role. The Head of Product will actively support technical sales efforts, engage directly with key customers and OEM partners, and work closely with internal technical teams to guide products from concept through launch and lifecycle management. The position reports directly to the General Manager and serves as a strategic thought partner while also acting as a senior technical authority internally and externally. Core Responsibilities 1. Product Strategy & Portfolio Ownership • Own the end-of-the-end product roadmap for control valves, water softeners, filtration systems, reverse osmosis systems, and related accessories., • Define and manage product tiers (Essentials, Pro, Premium)., • Lead product lifecycle management, including new product introduction and rationalization., • Ensure alignment with margin targets, tariff strategies, and North American manufacturing goals. 2. New Product Development & Commercialization • Lead cross-functional product development initiatives., • Translate market and customer needs into technical and commercial requirements., • Guide design-for-manufacturability, serviceability, and reliability., • Oversee validation testing, field trials, and launch readiness., • Ensure manuals, specifications, certifications, and training materials are complete. 3. Technical Sales & Market Support • Support technical sales engagements for OEMs and strategic accounts., • Participate in system design reviews and water quality analysis., • Act as a senior technical voice in customer meetings., • Support Sales and GM in closing complex opportunities. 4. Cross-Functional Leadership • Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Sales, and Customer Service., • Establish feedback loops between field performance and product improvements., • Mentor and support internal technical staff. 5. Training, Knowledge & Standards • Oversee technical training for internal teams, dealers, and OEM partners., • Contribute to internal standards for system sizing and water specifications., • Support WQA and industry-aligned education initiatives. 6. Compliance, Quality & Risk Management • Ensure products meet applicable regulatory and certification requirements., • Reduce warranty exposure through technical rigor and root-cause analysis., • Balance innovation with long-term reliability and cost control. Key Projects & Focus Areas Near-Term (0–12 Months) • Product portfolio review and rationalization, • Control valve and system roadmap alignment, • Launch support for new and revised products, • Technical support for priority sales opportunities, • Documentation and training standardization Mid-Term (12–24 Months) • Development of North America-focused product platforms, • Sensor and performance monitoring integration, • Expansion of complete system offerings, • Dealer-facing technical enablement improvements, • Warranty and service cost reduction initiatives Long-Term (24–36 Months) • Support transition toward North American assembly and manufacturing, • Establish defensible product architecture, • Strengthen positioning as a systems and solutions provider, • Develop internal technical leadership and succession planning Required Experience & Qualifications • Minimum 20 years of experience in the water treatment industry, • Deep hands-on experience with RO, filtration, and ion exchange systems, • Strong application engineering and OEM-facing background, • Proven ability to bridge technical depth with commercial execution, • Bachelor’s degree required (Chemistry, Engineering, or related preferred), • WQA or equivalent industry certifications strongly preferred Success Profile The successful Head of Product will be technically credible, commercially pragmatic, and execution focused. This individual will elevate product quality and consistency, strengthen technical sales effectiveness, and help position the company for long-term growth and differentiation in the North American water treatment market.