Product Director

Founded in 1983, Kele Inc. is a leading distribution, and solutions partner with national reach and a global presence. Built around our customers and powered by our people, Kele provides millions of in-stock parts from more than 300 brands to drive automation & efficiency in nearly every type of facility, from office towers and factories to data centers and hospitals.

Our goal is to empower progress for maintenance managers, engineers, contractors, and all those building the future. We do this by delivering parts rapidly, providing custom assemblies upstream, and offering unmatched support to ensure projects run smoothly and downtime is minimized.

With 12 locations nationwide and headquarters in Tennessee, Kele combines deep technical expertise, rapid logistics, and a solutions-first mindset to help customers simplify supply chains, meet tight schedules, and deliver high-quality outcomes.

Kele fosters a culture rooted in collaboration, innovation, and customer obsession, empowering associates at every level to contribute, grow, and make a meaningful impact.

We are currently hiring for the role of Product Director.
 

SUMMARY  

Kele Industrial is seeking a results-oriented and collaborative Product Director to manage a defined portfolio of products and manufacturer relationships. Reporting to the Director of Product Management, this role is responsible for driving product-level strategies to increase revenue, improve profitability, and support the sales organization. The ideal candidate will bring strong product and supplier management experience, excellent cross-functional collaboration skills, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Product Strategy & Execution

• Develop and execute product line strategies that align with organizational goals and sales initiatives.
• Manage lifecycle planning, portfolio positioning, and cross-selling initiatives for assigned products.
• Monitor industry trends, customer needs, and competitor offerings to adjust positioning and strategy.
• Lead strategy and execution for a portfolio of industrial instrumentation products, ensuring alignment with company growth objectives.
• Identify opportunities to expand instrumentation offerings and strengthen position with key vendor partners.

Manufacturer & Supplier Relations

• Own day-to-day relationships with assigned manufacturers and suppliers.
• Negotiate pricing, programs, rebates, and marketing funds to optimize value and margin.
• Coordinate communication between suppliers and internal teams to ensure alignment of strategy and execution.
• Manage relationships with leading industrial instrumentation manufacturers, maintaining alignment on growth strategy, product positioning, and commercial programs.
• Collaborate with key vendors on joint business planning, with a focus on driving adoption and market share across instrumentation categories.
• Attend distributor meetings hosted by our key vendors to represent Kele Industrial Automation.

Sales Enablement & Support

• Partner with the sales team to provide product training, resources, and expertise that drive revenue.
• Serve as the product subject matter expert (SME) to support opportunity development and customer acquisition.
• Collaborate with sales leadership to identify and close product-related performance gaps.
• Partner closely with field sales teams on customer engagements, including joint sales calls and application-based solution development.
• Provide guidance on product selection for a wide range of industrial applications, supporting customers across diverse end markets.
• Serve as a key resource for complex instrumentation opportunities, helping translate customer requirements into effective solutions.

Product Marketing & Promotion

• Work with the marketing team to support the development and execution of campaigns for assigned product lines.
• Contribute to content creation, promotional strategies, and messaging to elevate product awareness and demand.
• Participate in trade shows, webinars, and events as a product representative.

Inventory, Pricing & Profitability

• Collaborate with operations and finance to manage inventory planning, turnover, and supplier performance.
• Establish and maintain competitive pricing models that support gross margin targets.
• Monitor product performance metrics and adjust programs to improve financial outcomes.

Training & Knowledge Development

• Conduct product training sessions for internal sales teams and external customers as needed.
• Develop tools, guides, and resources to enable team proficiency and confidence in product-related discussions.
• Lead the development of foundational industrial instrumentation training as part of onboarding for new sales team members.
• Deliver ongoing education to improve sales team competency across core instrumentation categories and applications.
• Establish standardized training materials and programs to ensure consistent knowledge across the organization.

Process & Operational Excellence

• Maintain accurate product data and documentation across internal systems (ERP, CRM, PIM).
• Ensure adherence to standardized processes for product launches, supplier onboarding, and marketing execution.
• Provide input into operational improvements and best practices for product management.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Industrial Distribution, or related field.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with a focus on execution and outcomes.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal abilities.
• Experience working in cross-functional environments and managing competing priorities.
• 5+ years of experience working with industrial instrumentation products or related technical solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to apply technical product knowledge to real-world customer applications.
• Experience supporting sales teams through training, customer engagement, and solution development.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with ERP/CRM systems (e.g., Epicor, Salesforce, Power BI, Microsoft CRM).
• Knowledge of industrial instrumentation products (specifically pressure, level, temperature, controls, and flow)
• Familiarity within industrial vertical markets such as food & beverage, pulp & paper, water & wastewater, oil & gas, chemical, power, and manufacturing.
• Experience working with digital marketing and sales enablement tools.
• Ability to interpret and act on financial reports related to product performance.
• Experience working with major industrial instrumentation manufacturers.
• Familiarity with leading automation and instrumentation platforms is strongly preferred.
• Background supporting a wide range of industries and applications.

Kele Companies offers all full-time associates the following benefits and perks:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance ​
• HSA
• FSA (medical and dependent care)
• 401(k) with employer match up to 4% with immediate vesting
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance; supplemental life for employees and dependents available
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement