Sr. Product Manager - IP Phones

ShoreTel: The Company

 

Business:  ShoreTel is leading innovation in enterprise IP telephony. ShoreTel phone systems were created specifically to run Voice over IP (VoIP) across multiple sites and do not suffer from the limitations and complexities of VoIP solutions evolved out of legacy voice or data switches. ShoreTel?s unique architectural approach delivers reliability, scalability and manageability, as well as a user interface that sets the standard for ease-of-use and productivity. Companies are using ShoreTel?s distributed IP-PBX system to leverage expertise across multiple sites, thus improving customer service, increasing employee efficiency and closing more business. 

 

Founded in 1996, ShoreTel has provided the communications backbone and telephony applications to thousands of delighted customers.  In fact ShoreTel is proud to say that its customer satisfaction is at world class levels, the only company in the market to achieve this goal.

 

ShoreTel?s experienced executive team has successfully guided the company?s dramatic growth.  The company is backed by premier investors including Lehman Brothers, J. P. Morgan, Crosspoint Venture Partners, and Foundation Capital.

 

Market:  VoIP is one of the hottest segments in the technology market and continues to grow substantially year after year. Analysts estimate the growth trend to be about 35% per year reaching $10 billion by 2008 as businesses replace traditional PBXs, key systems, and Centrex service. ShoreTel was named by InfoTech as the fastest growing IP PBX in the United States in 2005.

 

Solution:  ShoreTel?s pioneering IP PBX system is in its sixth major release, a thoroughly proven voice solution. The ShoreTel 6 system employs a unique distributed architecture that unifies multiple sites in a single voice system and delivers enterprise-class telephony and voice services to customers from 10,000 seat enterprises to the smallest branch office or mobile worker.  Network managers leverage a single-system view and the ability to run the entire multi-site network from anywhere via a highly intuitive, browser-based management interface. No other IP telephony system packs as many tools and productivity features into such a cost-effective solution that leverages existing data and voice infrastructures so thoroughly while being easy to implement, manage, and use. By bringing the power and flexibility of IP to voice, ShoreTel turns business phone systems into powerful platforms that enable a whole new level of collaboration. 

 

Awards: ShoreTel has been acknowledged by industry analysts and trade journals as a leader in the market space.  The ShoreTel system has won industry awards every year since it began shipping, most recently ?VOIP System of the Year? and ?Product of the Year? from PC Magazine.  ShoreTel also has won recent awards for it management interface and telephone handsets.

 

Channel:  ShoreTel sells its IP phone systems worldwide through a select group of channel partners that provide top-notch service and support.

 

Culture:  ShoreTel, Inc. is committed to the principles of:  Best Product, Results Driven, Exceptional Team, Absolute Integrity, Delighted Customers and Dynamic Growth.

 

 The Role:

 

As the Sr. Product Manager for the ShoreTel IP Telephone portfolio you will be responsible for the continued business success and customer satisfaction of the phone sets and end user devices.  As one of the primary end user tools, ergonomics and usability is key.

 

The ideal candidate is highly driven, with 7+ years experience in Product Management and/or Product Marketing in the IP Telephony industry.  Phone set experience is required and knowledge of end user ergonomics is a plus.

 

The Product Manager must have proven experience in driving cross-functional teams to successfully deliver product to market including both inbound and outbound aspects of a launch.  The product manager will be responsible for understanding the competition in depth, defining the product roadmap, justifying initiatives with solid business cases, taking a lead role in the product introduction process and ensuring the field is ready for the new features/releases. As well, the Product Manager will have Product Marketing responsibilities, including evangelizing the products internally and externally,  pricing, promotions, programs, forecasting, sales & partner tools and customer presentations.

 

Candidate should be detail oriented and highly organized, able prioritize and juggle multiple tasks and priorities.  As well the candidate should be comfortable presenting in various forums:  customer demonstrations, partner presentations, tradeshows,  executive presentations,  and analyst reviews.



Experience:

 

?  Must have a minimum of 7 years of increasing responsibility in Product Marketing or Product Management in IP Telephony.

 

?  Management in phone set technology required (both IP hardphone and softphone is ideal).

 

?  Knowledge of related networking technologies and standards including Ethernet, DHCP, VLAN, DiffServ, wireless networking.

 

?  Ergonomics & usability (key for phone set development) preferred including user interface design of screens.

 

?  Must have excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills and have a demonstrated ability to develop compelling external communications.

 

?  Must have proven project management experience through all phases of the development lifecycle ranging from the definition to the release to the market.



?  Must have proven interpersonal, organizational, and leadership experience. 

 

 Education:

 

BS in Computer Science, Engineering or a related field is required.  MBA is preferred.

 

Rewards:

 

Compensation

Competitive compensation plan.  ISO stock options will be included in the package.

Benefits

Excellent benefits ? Health benefits (medical, dental, vision), 401(K), Life and AD&D Insurance, Long term disability, 401K, Supplemental Insurance Options, 20 days of Paid Time Off to use for vacation, illness, or personal use per year and 10 company-paid holidays.

Opportunity

Opportunity to contribute to the growth of a great company and a new emerging market.

Excellent Team

Great staff, focused work environment, high energy, fast paced, high commitment.  Corporate sales support for contracts, pricing, reseller recruitment, lead generation and installed base support.