Alta Technologies, Inc. is seeking an Associate Product Manager to immerse themselves in the IBM and Lenovo enterprise hardware line and support trading, pricing, and product management under a senior product manager. This two-year development role is onsite in Minneapolis, designed for hands-on learning and progression into a product-focused career within a specialized hardware market.
Responsibilities
- Develop a working understanding of Lenovo x86 servers, IBM Power Systems, IBM System Storage, and related parts and components.
- Learn configurations, part numbers, upgrade paths, compatibility considerations, and customer use cases.
- Gain visibility into market pricing, product demand, and the factors that influence resale value.
- Research systems, components, features, and configurations to support quotes, listings, and customer requests.
- Assist the senior IBM/Lenovo Product Manager with quotes, product research, inventory questions, sourcing needs, and customer opportunities.
- Help track buy/sell opportunities, customer requests, supplier leads, and market activity.
- Communicate with brokers, wholesalers, ITAD providers, resellers, and other industry contacts via email, phone, chat, and other channels.
- Learn how enterprise hardware is bought, sold, valued, configured, and traded in the refurbished IT market.
- Provide backup support when the senior Product Manager is unavailable.
- Follow up on inbound leads, quote requests, website inquiries, and potential buying or selling opportunities.
- Conduct warm and cold outreach to brokers, wholesalers, ITAD companies, resellers, and other trading partners.
- Build market awareness that Alta is a strong resource for IBM and Lenovo enterprise hardware.
- Identify companies that encounter IBM or Lenovo opportunities, even if those product lines are not their main focus.
- Triage opportunities for other brands to the appropriate reps and product managers.
- Help open new accounts, initiate conversations, and create future buying and selling opportunities for the department and organization.
- Create, update, and improve ecommerce listings for IBM, Lenovo, and NetApp systems, parts, and components.
- Prepare product descriptions, part number details, specifications, compatibility notes, and pricing information.
- Increase visibility of Alta’s IBM, Lenovo, and NetApp inventory through online channels.
- Assist in identifying high-value, high-demand, or underrepresented inventory for promotion.
- Support content, listings, newsletters, photos, and product presentation that help customers understand Alta’s offerings.
- Review inventory, aging stock, product availability, and potential sales opportunities.
- Assist with pricing research and market comparisons.
- Support valuation work for equipment Alta may purchase from customers, brokers, ITAD providers, or decommissioning projects.
- Learn how to evaluate whether hardware should be resold as a system, parted out, upgraded, held, or moved quickly.
- Collaborate with sales, ITAD, customer service, logistics, technicians, and operations to support customer needs and product opportunities.
- Assist end-user sales reps and internal teams with product questions, availability checks, and configuration support.
- Communicate clearly and quickly to keep quotes, orders, purchases, listings, and customer requests moving forward.
Requirements
- A person eager to learn a specialized trade and grow into a high-ownership product role. Prior IBM or Lenovo expertise is not required, but curiosity, drive, organization, and strong communication are essential.
- Backgrounds in service industries, trading collectibles, inside sales, SDR/BDR, IT hardware, ITAD, refurbished technology, ecommerce, business development, distribution, customer service, or technical support are welcome.
- Experience with IT hardware, servers, storage, networking, ITAD, or refurbished technology is helpful but not necessary.
- Comfort with lead follow-up, outbound calls, email outreach, trading, buying/selling, and relationship-building.
- Strong interest in learning technical products, part numbers, configurations, and market pricing.
- Ability to manage multiple conversations, requests, and opportunities simultaneously.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with high attention to detail on part numbers, specifications, pricing, and customer requirements.
- Comfort using email, chat, phone, ecommerce platforms, spreadsheets, CRM/ERP systems, and online research tools.
- Competitive, fast-moving, curious, self-motivated, and willing to ask questions.
- Ability to work independently while learning from a senior product expert.
- Professional, trustworthy, and responsive when communicating with customers, suppliers, and industry contacts.
- Demonstrates integrity and considers long-term reputation in every interaction.
Benefits
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
Key traits for success
- Curiousity and a strong desire to learn
- Comfort with outreach, including warm and cold calls, follow-up emails, and vendor development
- Strong memory for details, product information, part numbers, and market patterns
- Commercial instincts around buying, selling, pricing, and negotiation
- Technical aptitude and readiness to learn complex enterprise hardware
- Persistence and resilience when contacting new contacts
- Fast response time and a strong sense of urgency
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Ownership mindset with a view toward growth into a broader product role
- Ability to balance immediate support work with long-term development into product management
Why this role matters
IBM and Lenovo enterprise hardware represent a growing product area for Alta Technologies. The company has led in the IBM space since 1995, and customers, brokers, ITAD providers, and resellers rely on Alta for product knowledge, inventory, configuration support, and fair market value. The role helps extend life and unlock value while expanding Alta’s product management talent. The Associate Product Manager will learn from an experienced technical and commercial expert, contribute to relationships and visibility, support customers, and help create new opportunities. For the right candidate, this position offers a pathway to a meaningful career in a specialized industry where expertise, speed, relationships, and judgment matter.
Work location
Minneapolis, MN (onsite)
Compensation
Salary: USD 60,000 per year
