The Mission: Why This Role Matters
Most jobs ask you to build products that drive revenue; we’re asking you to build products that protect the people who save us. At HME Ahrens-Fox we aren’t just building fire trucks; we are disrupting a century-old industry. As a family-owned company, we make decisions quickly. This allows us to move faster than our competition as we challenge industry norms and develop new product, distribution channels and service models.
Our firefighters risk everything by running toward danger. Your job is to ensure that when they get there, they have the most advanced and reliable fire apparatus. If you want to see your strategic decisions directly translate into lives saved, this is where you belong.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conduct deep-dive field research with fire departments to validate pain points and gather Voice of Customer (VOC). You won’t just read reports; you’ll be in the stations understanding the "root cause" of operational delays and inefficiencies.
- Define and own the multi-year roadmap for our apparatus lines by segment including Wildland, Fleet and Municipal.
- Act as the "orchestra conductor" for engineering, manufacturing, and sales. Translate complex firefighter needs into clear and concise technical requirements that our R&D teams can execute.
- Ensure every product meets rigorous industry standards (such as NFPA) and physical delivery requirements for mission-critical reliability.
- Partner with marketing and sales to define the target market and value proposition for our newest disruptions, showing fire chiefs why HME Fire Apparatus is the best choice for their departments.
Qualifications:
- 8+ years in Product Management, ideally within fire apparatus or heavy vehicle manufacturing
- Proven success: Multiple successful product launches that you owned entirely from start to finish as a product manager resulting in sales, margin and market share growth.
- A "Firefighter First" Mindset: A passion for emergency services. You understand that "good enough" isn't an option when lives are on the line. Experience as a firefighter is a plus.
- The ability to influence without authority, whether you're presenting to a boardroom of executives or a crew of veteran firefighters.
- You can manage the tactical "firefighting" of daily demands while staying in tune with the market trends and long-term strategy.
General Physical Requirements:
- Generally sedentary work; seated at desk for extended periods while talking on telephone or performing work on computer; standing, bending, reaching above shoulder level, walking, occasional lifting and carrying (up to15 lbs.), frequent near vision for reading and computer work; repetitive use of hands, fingers, wrists for key board and other business machine usage; occasional stressful conditions; overnight travel sometimes required.
- Working Conditions: Approximately 75%-90% of work is performed in an enclosed office, cubicle, or open workstation under conditions that can be described as “normal office environment”, with controlled climate and minimal exposure to health or safety hazards; occasionally work may require presence in plant manufacturing area. When in plant manufacturing area, there is possible exposure to:
noise - loud, sharp, extended, impulse; up to, and occasionally exceeding, 85dBA (noise levels may require
HME is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all employees and applicants. HME prohibits discrimination in employment opportunities or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex/gender (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
