Senior Category & Product Manager - ZEISS Camera Lenses (m/w/x)

Location: Oberkochen, München

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

ZEISS, a leading supplier of optical and optoelectronic technologies, is bundling units outside the divisions in the Photonics & Optics strategic business unit that offer customers a wide range of optical and photonic technologies in highly specialized markets around the world: mobile imaging, hunting & nature, cinematography, microoptics, spectroscopy, planetariums and simulation projection solutions.

Do you want to shape the future of premium camera lenses? In this strategically important role, you will own the long-term portfolio and category strategy for ZEISS Camera Lenses — from market intelligence and business cases to successful product launches and lifecycle management.

Your Role

• Define and continuously evolve the global, multi-year category and product roadmap for ZEISS Camera Lenses.

• Identify growth opportunities, adjacent use cases and potential new business fields based on customer, competitor and technology insights.

• Steer the portfolio throughout the full product lifecycle — from product concept and investment decision through launch and optimization to phase-out.

• Develop and own business cases, including revenue, volume and margin planning, pricing logic, investment requirements, risks and scenario assumptions.

• Define pricing corridors, commercial success criteria and volume forecasts; derive actions from business performance and market developments.

• Lead international, cross-functional product and portfolio initiatives with R&D, Marketing, Sales, Operations, Quality, Service and external partners.

• Translate market, customer and technology needs into prioritized product requirements and compelling commercial concepts.

• Ensure launch readiness, including product positioning, sales enablement, sample planning and initial sales quantities.

• Represent the category perspective in discussions with internal stakeholders, selected customers, partners and industry contacts.

Your Profile

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Product Management, Marketing, Engineering, Optics, Imaging Technology or a related field.

• At least eight years of experience in senior product management, category management, portfolio management or business development — ideally within photography, videography, imaging, optics, consumer electronics or premium technology.

• Proven experience defining and managing multi-year product roadmaps, business cases and lifecycle decisions for hardware or technology products.

• Strong commercial and financial expertise, including pricing, profitability analysis, volume forecasting and commercial risk assessment.

• Experience leading international, cross-functional teams in a matrix organization, including lateral leadership.

• Deep understanding of photography ecosystems, camera markets, imaging technologies and optical performance drivers.

• A strategic, analytical and entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to turn market trends and customer insights into concrete growth opportunities.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English; German is a plus.

• Willingness to travel internationally up to 15%.

• A genuine passion for photography, imaging technology, premium consumer products and the ZEISS brand.

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team:

Bastian Hoffmann