Product Line Manager Lead

Founded in 1984, AFL is an industry-recognized global leader in optical fiber network infrastructure. Our customer-first, high-speed fiber network solutions serve various markets – including energy, enterprise, and hyperscale – across 130+ countries. Products and services include single- and multi-mode optical fiber cable, test and inspection equipment, and our award-winning Data Center Interconnect solution, enabling centralized resource management for enhanced performance across multiple data center facilities.

Key responsibilities:

• Define and execute product line strategy, roadmaps, pricing, and portfolio priorities.
• Lead new product development and commercialization, from market requirements through launch.
• Manage the full product lifecycle, including investment, enhancement, repositioning, or retirement decisions.
• Own product line business performance, including revenue, margin, profitability, and corrective actions.
• Enable sales success through training, content, tools, market insights, and customer-facing support.
• Build strategic partnerships with customers, partners, rack manufacturers, and emerging companies.
• Lead cross-functional alignment across engineering, operations, sales, marketing, finance, and support.
• Manage and develop PLM talent, driving accountability, execution, and improved ways of working.

Qualifications:

•  Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Engineering, Science, Business Administration, or related field
•  5+ years’ experience in product marketing, product development, or related field
•  Strong project management skills
•  Product Management/Marketing expertise, including market trends/analysis, NPI process, product roadmap development, product life-cycle management,
•  Experience working effectively within a matrix environment
•  Data Center Ecosystem Experience: knowledge of the overall environment and infrastructure within data centers, including the different components and how they interact (e.g., networking equipment, rack power distribution, and cooling)
•  Proven track record of successfully establishing initial engagement with companies, driving productive collaborations and fostering successful partnerships

• Moderate travel is required
• Ability to work extended hours to accommodate global operations may be required
• Occasional flexibility may be required to support global stakeholders across time zones.

•  Demonstrated experience leading and developing high‑performing teams, including setting clear goals, providing structured coaching, and driving accountability within a matrixed environment.
• Proven ability to influence and lead cross‑functional stakeholders at multiple organizational levels, driving alignment, decision‑making, and execution in fast‑moving or evolving business conditions.

This role will be based in Milton Keynes on a hybrid working arrangement