Global Product Director at Protolabs

Be yourself at Protolabs  Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification.  We are an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a diverse team that feels they are valued in the workplace.  So do you feel you do not meet every single requirement but still intrigued? We encourage you to still apply!  You can help make our company even better.  We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, mental or physical ability, or any way you represent yourself.  We strongly believe diversity makes for more successful teams.    Why Protolabs?  We are the leaders in digital manufacturing.  We hire doers, makers, and creative thinkers who tackle our roles with an entrepreneurial spirit.  Our culture is centered around meaningful work that brings new and innovative products to market at unprecedented speeds.  We are a diverse team that comes from all walks of life and take pride in our team who is smart, genuine, humble, and passionate about what we do.  It’s our people who fuel our creativity and make our culture feel like home.  Join our team as a Global Product Director! This is a hybrid role being onsite at HQ in Maple Plain, MN on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The Global Product Director is the senior business and strategy owner for the Protolabs product lines of Injection Molding and 3D Printing, accountable for revenue growth, customer acquisition and retention, margin performance, and long-term competitiveness. This role coordinates the end-to-end delivery of product line financial objectives while defining and executing the multi-year product line strategy, grounded in customer value, market intelligence, and operational feasibility. The Global Product Director leads the translation of market opportunity into clear product roadmaps, investment priorities, and go-to-market execution, working in tight partnership with Operations, Global Technology Services (GTS), Sales, Marketing, Finance, and the Manufacturing Partner Network. This role is jointly accountable with Sales and Operations for product line profitability and is the single point of accountability for product strategy and performance. Why This Role Matters at Protolabs? This role is central to scaling Protolabs’ digital manufacturing platform, ensuring that product strategy, operational execution, and commercial performance remain tightly aligned. The Global Product Director is a business owner, strategist, and integrator, responsible for turning market opportunity into profitable, differentiated growth. You will • Core Accountabilities Product Line Strategy & Business Ownership • Own the rolling 3-year product line strategy and roadmap, aligned to Protolabs’ enterprise growth, margin, and customer experience objectives • Define product positioning (speed, cost, precision, flexibility) based on customer needs and competitive differentiation • Translate strategy into annual operating plans, revenue targets, margin goals, and KPI commitments • Serve as the executive “GM-like” owner of the product line business performance, in partnership with Sales, Marketing and Operations leadership Revenue, Customer Growth & Margin Delivery • Coordinate cross-functional execution to deliver product line revenue growth, new customer acquisition, retention, and gross margin improvement • Own and track key KPIs including revenue, margin, conversion rates, utilization, lead time, on time delivery, quality, and NPS • Drive disciplined portfolio decisions, including capability expansion, rationalization, and partner utilization • Partner with Finance and Operations on ROI modeling, capital allocation, and margin optimization decisions Market, Customer & Competitive Intelligence • Own market intelligence and opportunity sizing (TAM/SAM, segment prioritization, customer needs) • Maintain a deep understanding of competitor capabilities, pricing models, lead times, materials, and service differentiation • Integrate macro trends (automation, AI-enabled manufacturing, sustainability, on-demand production) into product strategy • In conjunction with Director of Market Research, represent the voice of the customer across Protolabs, incorporating insights into roadmaps and investment decisions Product Development & Capability Evolution • Partner with GTS, Engineering, and Operations to evolve manufacturing capabilities, materials, tolerances, finishes, and processes • Prioritize automation, AI-enabled quoting, DFM, and operational efficiency initiatives that improve customer experience and margin • Ensure roadmap initiatives are delivered with clear business cases, success metrics, and operational readiness • Drive innovation across both offerings and business models to stay ahead of customer and market demands Commercialization & Go-To-Market Leadership • Lead product commercialization in partnership with Sales and Marketing, including launches, campaigns, enablement, and training • Define value-based pricing strategies in collaboration with Pricing and Finance • Working with Marketing, ensure product messaging clearly articulates customer value relative to competitive alternatives • Support sales execution through clear positioning, competitive playbooks, and differentiated value propositions Operating Rhythm & Governance • Own product line deliverables including: • Product Strategy Decks • Monthly Product Business Reviews • Innovation Pipeline Tracking • Competitive Playbooks • Provide clear, data-driven updates to the Executive Leadership Team on performance, risks, and investment priorities Leadership Expectations • The Global Product Director is expected to operate as a senior enterprise leader, not a functional specialist. • Lead through influence in a complex, matrixed global organization • Balance strategic vision with hands-on execution rigor • Make data-driven, customer-centric decisions with strong financial discipline • Model accountability, integrity, and bias for action • Build strong partnerships across Operations, Technology, Sales, Marketing, Finance, and the Partner Network What it takes • Direct experience with Injection Molding and 3D Printing manufacturing processes • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technology, or Business; MBA or advanced degree preferred • 5+ years (8+ without MBA) of B2B product management or product line leadership experience in a business exceeding $50M in revenue • Proven track record owning product P&L, growth, and margin outcomes • Strong technical acumen and experience working with engineering and manufacturing organizations • Demonstrated expertise in market sizing, segmentation, voice of customer, value proposition development, and value-based pricing • Experience leading cross-functional, global teams and complex initiatives • Excellent executive communication and stakeholder management skills • Willingness to travel up to ~25% domestically and internationally What's in it for you • We offer a competitive Total Rewards Program including: • Salary, Bonus, Long Term Incentives • Health Insurance: Traditional OR High Deductible plan • Flexible Spending Accounts • Health Savings Account (including employer contributions) • Dental & Vision • Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance • Short-Term & Long-Term Disability • Paid caregiver leave • PTO + Holiday Pay + Wellness Hours + Volunteer Hours • 401k with company match & immediate vest • Employee Stock Purchase Program at a 15% discounted rate • Matching grants through Protolabs foundation • And More! Proto Labs maintains ITAR-compliant operations in all of our United States based facilities.  Due to ITAR regulations, this role is only open to U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders) or foreign nationals granted refugee or asylee status.  Individuals with temporary visas (e.g. E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, TN or OPT) are not eligible for hire in this role.   Proto Labs, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer   Physical Demands: While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use a computer keyboard, monitor and mouse, telephone and printer; reach with hands, and arms, talk, see and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop or kneel and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Work Environment: Indoors (A/C); nonsmoking; the majority of this job function is performed in an office setting requiring normal safety precautions. However, there may be job duties that require the employee to spend time in the manufacturing areas exposed to machinery and noise; eye protection occasionally required. Occasionally works in outside weather conditions. Occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.