Product Manager

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Product Manager – leads development of the company’s future product lines. He/she manages and maintains the flow of new product ideas into the ideation funnel and manages those ideas through the product development process all the way through to launch. The Product Manager coordinates the efforts of multiple disciplines including engineering, finance, sales, marketing, manufacturing, and sourcing to develop and position new products for successful launch. The Product Manager owns the new product development process from product ideation through launch. He/she conducts market research and concept validations, generates pro-forma P&L analysis and forecasts, and crafts product specifications and requirements, and creates / executes action plans for every project.

The Product Manager – must possess a unique blend of business and technical savvy; a big-picture vision, and the drive to make that vision a reality. He/she must enjoy spending time in the market to understand customer problems and find innovative solutions for the broader market. The Product Manager – New Products must be able to communicate effectively with all areas of the company. He/she must possess the ability to move projects through to completion and the courage to kill projects that don’t meet development criteria.

The Product Manager's role is part strategic planning and part project management. Solid strategic planning skills are required, as well as the ability to see projects through to completion on time and on budget. He/she must be smart, energetic, and relentlessly committed to executing on the product plans while also having strong interpersonal skills and team orientation. The Product Manager – New Products reports to the Senior Product Manager, New Products.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages new product development projects through approved NPD process.
• Leads & owns NPD/Stage Gate meetings and process
• Conducts market research to unearth opportunities for line extensions, new product categories, and “blue ocean” opportunities
• Conducts market viability assessments on new product ideas.
• Creates accurate comp shops for new product categories/segments
• Develops new product specifications
• Conducts financial analysis of new product projects, including CAPEX, Pro-Forma P&Ls, and ROI analysis
• Works with engineering, sourcing, and supply teams domestically and internationally to meet project requirements
• Develops and executes launch plans – hands product off to existing lines team after launch
• Achieves launch targets on time and on budget

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of 3 to 5 years’ experience in Product Management preferably in the Hand Tool, Construction or Consumer Products Industry
• Direct experience working with global manufacturing and sourcing
• Direct experience gathering Voice of Customer (VOC) and market research required
• Strong project management skills
• Ability to get things done and push through roadblocks while maintaining strong working relationships across multiple stakeholder groups
• Demonstrated success at managing new product development projects.
• Understanding of consumer and market research concepts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel internationally – to work with development teams in Asia.
• Team player mentality with ability to collaborate with others to achieve desired outcomes
• Strong analytical skills – understanding data to drive the business.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, marketing or business
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without formal authority.
• Big Box retail experience preferred.

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