Associate Product Manager in Spring Lake, Michigan at Garrison Dental Solutions LLC

Garrison Dental Solutions, a leading innovator in restorative dentistry, is seeking a high-performing Associate Product Manager. Reporting to the Product Manager, this role is designed for an analytically driven individual who wants to take ownership of real product decisions, from customer insight generation through business case development and product launch. The Associate Product Manager will play a key role in managing the dental product portfolio and supporting new product development (NPD) projects, ensuring products meet market needs and contribute to Garrison’s continued leadership in the dental industry.

Key success factors for the first year include:

• Drive product management initiatives to align with both marketing and sales strategies, playing a key role in achieving the 2026 sales budget.
• Assist in development of business cases, including market analysis, competitive landscape, financial projections, and go-to-market considerations for at least two NPD projects.
• Proactively engage with customers and stakeholders to uncover unmet needs fueling long-term growth and innovation.

Why this role is different

• Direct exposure to end-to-end product lifecycle
• Ability to influence real product decisions early
• Visibility to senior leadership in a low-bureaucracy environment

Why Join Garrison Dental Solutions?

Private, Purpose-Driven Company:

• Family-owned, debt-free, and stable for 25+ years.
• Committed to innovating dentistry and restoring healthy smiles worldwide.
• Strong focus on teamwork, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Recognized as one of "West Michigan's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®" for eight years running.

Market Leader:

• Leading provider of restorative dentistry solutions, with products sold in 150 countries.
• Known for innovative designs and advanced in-house manufacturing.
• Double-digit annual growth driven by investments in technology and innovation.
• Products protected by intellectual property and cutting-edge manufacturing processes.

Competitive Compensation & Benefits:

• Competitive base salary of $70,000 - $85,000 based on experience, bonus potential, and 401K with profit-sharing.
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision), life insurance, and disability coverage.
• Professional development, tuition reimbursement, and hybrid work options.
• Whole health support, including an EAP, gym access, volunteer time off, and more.

Experience and Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, engineering preferred
• Demonstrated track record of high achievement through education, internships, professional experience, or other relevant experience
• Experience in business analysis, data analysis, market research, or related disciplines is a plus

Duties/Responsibilities:

Product Innovation and Market Insights:

• Stay informed on dental industry trends, particularly in restorative dentistry, and identify opportunities to enhance product development efforts
• Conduct primary and secondary research to understand customer needs, competitive landscape, and emerging product opportunities

Core Product Management (Matrix Systems):

• Support management of matrix system product lines, including product positioning, competitive analysis, and roadmap development
• Identify product improvements, line extensions, and new product opportunities
• Collaborate with R&D, engineering, and operations to define product requirements and specifications

Adjacency and Opportunity Development:

• Identify opportunities adjacent to core matrix system categories by mapping clinical workflows and evaluating unmet customer needs
• Conduct field research through dental office visits, trade shows, and collaboration with sales teams
• Evaluate opportunities for both consumable and reusable product offerings

New Product Development:

• Support the identification, development, and launch of new products from concept through commercialization
• Assist in development of business cases, including market analysis, competitive landscape, financial projections, and go-to-market considerations
• Participate in cross-functional NPD efforts across engineering, operations, sales, and marketing
• Support the New Product Review process and associated documentation

Portfolio Performance and Analytics:

• Establish and monitor key performance metrics for product lines
• Analyze sales trends, SKU performance, and regional performance to identify opportunities for improvement
• Identify slow-moving SKUs and recommend actions to improve inventory efficiency and profitability
• Support development of reporting tools and dashboards to enable data-driven decision making

Financial and Business Planning:

• Contribute to product-level financial analysis to support prioritization and investment decisions
• Build and refine financial models (NPV, contribution margin, ROI)

Sales and Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Work closely with sales and marketing teams to align product strategies and support product-specific initiatives
• Participate in trade shows and customer-facing activities to gather insights and support product adoption
• Build relationships with customers, key opinion leaders, and partners to support product development and commercialization

• High-performing, self-driven individual with a strong desire to exceed expectations and take ownership of outcomes
• High level of curiosity and willingness to learn, particularly in technical and clinical subject areas
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights
• Ability to analyze complex situations and determine practical solutions
• Clear and effective communication skills with the ability to work across functions
• Team-oriented with a collaborative approach and respect for others
• Demonstrated accountability and ownership mentality
• Strong bias for action and results orientation
• Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize effectively
• High proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Experience with Power BI or similar tools preferred
• Ability and willingness to travel to approximately 5 to 10 locations per year for tradeshows, customer visits, and field research.
• Ability to work on-site at Garrison’s Spring Lake offices three days per week, while working 2 days per week from home office, with additional in-office presence as needed based on project and team requirements.

Garrison Dental Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.