Product Operations Specialist Jobs in Alabama

Job Purpose

Own and continuously improve the end-to-end Product Management operating model and core processes (e.g., portfolio planning, product lifecycle governance, VOC/market insights, business case development, stage-gate governance, roadmap management, pricing inputs, launch readiness, and post-launch performance management). This role sets standards, defines controls and decision rights, partners with cross-functional leaders to implement changes, and ensures consistent adoption through documentation, training, metrics, and governance.

Req ID

12004BR

City

Albertville

State:

Alabama

Company Description

Progress Rail stands at the intersection of legacy and innovation—driving the future of rail with a pioneering spirit. Since its founding in 1983, the company has grown to become one of the world’s largest and most trusted providers of railroad products, services, and technologies. Today, Progress Rail delivers a comprehensive portfolio of cost-effective solutions to railway customers around the globe. From the rails themselves to the EMD® locomotives that ride them, the company’s products are in operation across more than 100 countries—powering progress and connecting communities. In 2006, Progress Rail joined Caterpillar Inc., further strengthening its ability to lead the rail industry with cutting-edge technology, unmatched expertise, and a commitment to excellence. At Progress Rail, the team is not just building the future of rail—they are making history every day.

Key Job Elements

• Serve as the process owner for the Product Management operating model, including defined decision rights, governance cadence, inputs/outputs, and handoffs across Sales, Engineering, Finance, Operations, and Aftermarket.
• Define and maintain standard work for core Product Management processes (portfolio planning, lifecycle reviews, stage-gate governance, roadmap management, launch readiness, and post-launch reviews), ensuring clarity of roles (RACI), artifacts, and approval paths.
• Lead cross-functional workshops to identify pain points, risks, and bottlenecks; perform root-cause analysis; and prioritize improvements based on business impact, customer value, and feasibility.
• Establish and run Product Management process governance (intake, prioritization, roadmap for improvements, stakeholder alignment, and change control), including executive-ready reporting and decisions.
• Define process KPIs and health measures (e.g., cycle time to approve business cases, on-time stage-gate deliverables, roadmap stability, launch readiness, VOC coverage, portfolio value realization) and drive actions when performance is off-track.
• Partner with IT and analytics teams to translate process needs into system requirements (PLM/ERP/CRM), streamline data flows, and improve transparency through dashboards and standardized artifacts.
• Own the process documentation repository, including document control, versioning, approvals, and auditability; ensure teams are working to the current standard.
• Ensure controls and compliance needs are embedded in Product Management processes (governance checkpoints, required artifacts, and traceability), and support internal/external audits as applicable.
• Develop and deliver change management and enablement (communications, training, job aids, coaching) to drive adoption across product managers and partner functions; measure adoption and sustainment.
• Perform all responsibilities in accordance with applicable policies and code of conduct.

Education / Training

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• MBA or Master’s degree preferred; Lean/Six Sigma (Green Belt+) or equivalent continuous improvement training strongly preferred.

Qualifications and Experience

10-12+ years of experience in product management, portfolio/program management, business operations, process ownership, and/or continuous improvement, with demonstrated end-to-end accountability for complex cross-functional processes.

Proven ability to design and run governance mechanisms (cadences, decision forums, stage-gate/approval workflows) and drive alignment at manager, director, and executive levels.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; able to define measures, interpret trends, and translate insights into decisions and sustained process improvements.

Demonstrated change leadership: building stakeholder coalitions, influencing without authority, and driving adoption across diverse teams and geographies.

Experience with process mapping and documentation tools (e.g., Visio or similar) and strong proficiency with Excel/PowerPoint for executive storytelling and KPI reporting.

Excellent communication skills—able to write clear standards and facilitate workshops; comfortable presenting recommendations, trade-offs, and decisions to senior leadership.

Strong project/program management capabilities (planning, dependencies, risks/issues, stakeholder management) with a track record of delivering outcomes across multiple workstreams.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience defining product portfolio and roadmap governance, including stage-gate or similar lifecycle management frameworks.
• Experience partnering with Finance on business cases, portfolio value tracking, and investment decision support.
• Familiarity with PLM, ERP, and/or CRM systems and how they support product data, lifecycle decisions, and commercialization readiness.
• Experience developing role-based training and onboarding for product managers, including playbooks, templates, and coaching.
• Strong facilitation skills for executive forums (portfolio reviews, lifecycle councils, launch readiness reviews) and ability to drive decisions and follow-through.

Travel: up to 30%-40% as needed to support stakeholder workshops, site visits, and process rollouts.

Benefits

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance, and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Progress Rail.

• Competitive Salary
• 401(k) plan with up to 6% company match (no waiting period with immediate vesting)
• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life/Disability Insurance
• Supplemental Accident, Critical Care, and Hospital Insurance available along with an HDHP and HSA with seed money
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Education Assistance Program
• Employee Recognition Programs
• Site specific Production and Incentive Plans
• Site specific Step and Skill Level Wage Adjustment Plans
• Site Specific Relocation and Sign-on Bonus Programs

Benefits eligibility varies by job position, full-time/part-time and regular/temporary status. The provisions of the plan documents control such benefits.

EEO

Progress Rail is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.

Job Category

Executive

PRS Facility Location

Albertville, AL (PRSC Corp HQ) - 001

Summary Pay Range

$130,000 - $245,000