Product Manager, Competitive Analysis

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Product Manager, Competitive Analysis

Protecting over 300 million email accounts, Cisco IronPort is a technology leader whose security applications are used by organizations of all sizes around the world. IronPort provides innovative and high performance products for those faced with the task of managing and protecting their mission-critical networks from Internet threats.

Cisco’s recent acquisition of IronPort marks the second largest private transaction in the company’s history. IronPort now operates as an independent business unit within Cisco. We are looking for talented and motivated individuals to join our Product Management team in order to support and participate in our rapid independent growth as well as the tremendous new market opportunities that will come through Cisco.

This is a unique opportunity to work with a world-class team in a fast-growing entrepreneurial environment, while having access to the resources of the largest networking and communcations company on the planet.

Job Description:

The Product Manager for Competitive Analysis supports the sales team, other product managers, and marketing through analysis of competitive products and the overall market, then effectively position IronPort products by developing comprehensive positioning materials for use by the sales force and PM organization. A huge responsibility of this role is to provide an honest and accurate assessment of IronPort’s position in the market, and our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This position is both strategic and tactical, and is best filled by someone who wants to chart their own course to fulfill their mission.

Successful candidates will be comfortable interacting with a top-notch sales force, worldwide customers, and a highly motivated PM team. Candidates must have the desire to provide a strong voice within Product Management and Marketing, and be comfortable working in a fast-paced self-directed organization. This is a growth position meant to help someone with strong communication skills and a technical background evolve into a strong cross-functional leader.

Primary Responsibilities:
• Perform analysis of competitive products by self-directed research leveraging all available resources. Produce succinct documentation on competitors for distribution to direct and channel sales force. Influence product requirements to contest competitive offerings. Respond to competitive announcements with quick blurbs to sales force.
• Manage the process of product reviews with industry publications. Position IronPort products to win reviews. Provide technical direction to reviewers and testers on why IronPort is the best choice. Develop a reviewer's guide to influence the criteria and methodology for product reviews.
• Act as a company representative in customer, analyst, industry group, and press-facing situations.
• Support sales and marketing efforts as required. Some travel required (including international).
• Develop clear and compelling marketing messages to position IronPort products to win engagements in all market segments. Test, measure, and improve the effectiveness of messaging. Write marketing collateral (e.g. white papers and data sheets) and develop presentations using these messages to influence customers to purchase IronPort products.

Required Experience and Skills:

• BS/BA degree, CS or EE degree a plus, MBA or business classes a plus.
• 2 - 6 years experience in leading efforts in a related field such as product marketing, sales, or engineering.
• Strong technical ability to setup and configure email and web security systems to perform side-by-side analysis.
• Previous focus on analysis of technical products a plus.
• Knowledge of influential industry analysts and press a plus.
• Understanding of the email and web security space is important.
• Comfortable with public speaking in groups of 20 or more individuals.
• Driven, with an entrepreneurial spirit and sense of urgency. Must be resourceful, proactive and aggressive.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented and possessing a high level of integrity.
• Team player that works well in collaborative situations and start-up environments.
• Exceptional written and oral presentation skills required.

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For immediate consideration, please submit your resume here.