Assistant Product Manager (2009325)

Job Summary

The Assistant Product Manager is responsible for the execution of both product planning and product development. This includes partnering with the Product Manager on management of the product throughout the product lifecycle, gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements, defining the product vision, and working closely with suppliers and regional marketing teams to deliver winning products. It also includes working with sales, marketing and support to ensure revenue and customer satisfaction goals are met. The Assistant Product Manager's job also includes ensuring that the product efforts support the company's overall strategy and goals.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Executes product, marketing and business strategies and roadmaps to enable achievement of regional Plan sales and profit objectives.
• Works with the Product Management team on the success of approved NPD programs (quality, cost, schedule, sell-in, sell-through, consumer satisfaction).
• Participation on cross-functional teams to execute the NPD plan. Drive accountability for task milestones.
• Responsible for continually improving the standardized NPD methods to reduce cycle time, thereby reducing unnecessary costs and improving market responsiveness.
• Conducts SKU analysis and model reduction.
• Responsible for identifying areas of potential market research to stay current on consumer insight, trends, new products and packaging (regional marketing teams are responsible for conduct of market research).
• Supports the execution of packaging structure.
• Execute objectives for packaging structure.
• Assists in the development of product owner's manuals.
• Responsible for assisting with product cost analysis and cost improvement initiatives.
• Assists in the execution of product segment roadmaps to ensure optimal positioning and utilization of the assigned product group(s) across all market segments.
• Responsible for assisting with the product P&L.
• Execution of NPD process documentation and tracking.
• Assists and provides support to the Product Management team in partnering with Sales and Sales Forecasting departments on producing, maintaining and updating new product forecasts.
• Performs existing product performance testing as well as new product testing.
• Continuously monitors product group performance and customer satisfaction in order to proactively resolve problems and minimize loss or exposure.
• Responsible for partnering with Product Manager on determination of product and packaging colors.
• Participation in execution and analysis of facts and trends of the product category, competitive product entries and consumer usage and attitudes with internal and external resources; recommends action to capitalize on profit opportunities or correct problem areas.
• Participation in ensuring category and positioning information for selling materials is available; works with Sales to identify special selling opportunities or problems and recommends appropriate action.
• Participates actively in Sales calls as required to support Key Accounts.
• Evaluation and analysis of market conditions. Makes recommendations for revising strategies and the Operating Plans as needed. 
  
  
  
  • Understand implications of the recommendations and is prepared with contingencies and alternative course of action if necessary.
  • Assists with development of customer strategies. Understands role each customer plays and how to successfully market our products through our key customers.
  • Works with internal departments to identify, analyze and implement programs based on consumer insight and trend data. Is able to effectively link consumer insights into tangible, strategic plans.
  • Responsible for the continuous improvement of product group(s) in terms of quality, performance, packaging, manufacturing process, profitability, cost reduction and cost of goods sold.
  • Responsible for type and quality of packaging utilized for the assigned product groups.

• Strong knowledge of product development required.
• Background and/or interest in the creation of ideas/concepts of product development – concept to final product.
• Entrepreneurial mindset.
• Must be able to analyze complex data, situations and develop range of solutions.
• Proven project management experience.
• Proven leadership and strategic skills with ability to drive both short and long term initiatives.
• Must be a decisive, action-orientated individual.
• Proven ability to communicate cross-functionally.
• Must have excellent written and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively on teams.

Education and Experience Profile 

• Bachelor's degree required. Mechanical Engineering preferred.
• 1-2 years experience in consumer products product management and development.
• Direct experience in customer engagements, business case analysis, product definition & tradeoffs, go-to-market messaging & planning, new product introduction and product life-cycle management.
• Product Management experience preferred.