Portfolio Director – Refrigeration

Overview

Lead strategy, roadmap, and execution for a refrigeration product portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• product development
• launch planning
• forecast accuracy
• portfolio optimization
• regulatory compliance
• supply chain

Tasks

The leader in this role will drive new product development, optimize the existing portfolio, and ensure product launches succeed through close partnership with Engineering, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Sales. -Innovation & NPD – Lead the stage-gate process from concept through launch, ensuring products meet regulatory standards and market needs. -Commercial Enablement – Partner with Sales/Marketing to deliver launch playbooks, training, and demos; support line reviews and OEM/wholesaler engagements. -Voice of Customer – Translate contractor, wholesaler, and OEM feedback into clear product requirements and launch plans. -Forecast accuracy and service levels. -Portfolio Optimization – Manage lifecycle decisions, SKU performance, and rationalization to ensure portfolio efficiency. -Supply & Operations Partnership – Work with Supply Chain on forecast accuracy, supplier reliability, and launch readiness. -Market & Regulatory Expertise – Stay ahead of A2L regulatory changes and competitor moves; ensure technical accuracy and compliance. -Leadership & Cadence – Run structured business rhythms (scorecards, quarterly planning) and coach a high-performing category team. -Portfolio Strategy & Roadmap – Define and execute the multi-year refrigeration roadmap; prioritize A2L-compliant solutions, valves, fittings, and servicing kits.

Requirements

• refrigeration
• hvacr
• 8–10+ years
• bachelor's degree
• mba
• a2l compliance

What You Bring

The Portfolio Director – Refrigeration owns the strategy, roadmap, and execution for a diverse product portfolio serving refrigeration contractors, wholesalers, and OEMs. This role combines deep product management skills with refrigeration market knowledge to deliver innovative, compliant, and high-value solutions. -Excellent communication skills and proven cross-functional leadership. -Stage-gate adherence and readiness. -Training/enablement completion for field and channel partners. -8–10+ years in refrigeration/HVACR product or portfolio leadership with successful launches. -Portfolio productivity (GMROI, revenue per SKU). -Knowledge of refrigeration systems/components and A2L compliance landscape. -Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field; MBA/advanced degree preferred. -Experience in portfolio strategy, VOC translation, and stage-gate/NPD.

People Also Searched For

Benefits

-Revenue growth and placement wins.

About Skywater Search Partners

-Founded to bridge the gap between high-performing talent and growing businesses. -Skywater Search Partners thrives in the executive search industry, consistently delivering top-tier leadership candidates. -With deep expertise in sectors like energy, technology, and healthcare, they bring nuanced industry knowledge to every search. -The firm has a history of placing executives who have a significant impact on both the companies they join and the industries they serve. -Notable for their personalized approach, Skywater focuses on long-term relationships, understanding both client and candidate needs at a granular level. -Known for handling complex, high-stakes searches across a variety of sectors, Skywater Search Partners helps organizations scale with confidence.

Sector Specialisms