Product Development & Management

Job Description
TITLE: PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Location: Austell, GA
Pay: $95k – $110k, plus generous benefits
Position Type: Full-time, permanent immediate position; hybrid (1 day remote, 4 days onsite)

Our team at The Recruiting Pros is recruiting a talented Product Development Manager with experience in developing technical consumer goods products include those requiring mechanical/digital/Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/IoT (Internet of Things) functionality on behalf of a well-established wholesaler/retailer located in Austell, GA. The company continues to be innovative and creative, and they are committed to the ongoing investment in their people, processes and products.

In this role you will collaborate with Sales, Sourcing and retailers to create and manage the 1 – 3 year product strategy for your assigned category including the creation, expansion and life cycle management of branded and non-branded products to match each retailers’ objectives and to achieve company goals related to product and category growth, increased market share, revenue, profitability, and ROI.
To be successful in this role you will need NPD experience and knowledge of packaging, instructional materials, creating testing criteria and evaluating results, IoT specifications, and quality control standards plus an understanding of various channels of distribution including mass, specialty, DIY, office products and home dcor for brick-and-mortar stores as well as e-Commerce.

This role is a mix of product management and development, and you will spend your week managing the product lifecycle with a thorough understanding of external vendor specifications, SKU analysis, consumption, data/POS analysis and research, forecasting and pricing/margins.

You will leverage your resourcefulness, creative nature and product development experience related to mechanical and technical consumer goods to maintain an understanding of how to conduct market research and manage your findings related to product trends/customers’ needs/retailers’ product strategies and have the ability to clearly communicate ideas and concepts to internal and external stakeholders, retailers, factory partners and leadership.
This is a full-time, permanent placement position with a hybrid work schedule (one day remote, four days onsite) and will require travel to customer sites and overseas vendors (approximately 10% to 15% travel).

Routine responsibilities will require you to:

• Use market trends and analysis to identify new product opportunities including innovation, enhancement and new product development.
• Understand retailer and consumer needs, market trends and channels of distribution to determine successful product development strategies.
• Conduct market research and use industry resources to uncover trends and new product opportunities and/or innovation to meet and anticipate consumer needs and interests.
• Gain knowledge of market trends to make sound business decisions and to manage pipeline of new product opportunities ensuring the Voice of Customer (VOC) is always in focus.
• Work with a team of design engineers, both internally and externally, to develop products with detailed specifications and F&B to meet product performance objectives.
• Establish new product development criteria, marketing plans, feasibility, and timelines for each product project from creation through product launch including 30-60-90 placement tracking.
• Collaborate with QA, Sourcing, Customer Experience, and Vendors to examine ongoing product improvements. Communicate and manage ECN (engineering changes) process.
• Partner with QA/QC department to establish clear and concise testing process to be included for all new product development projects.
• Create testing standards for each product that includes hands-on usage, as well as utilizing internal staff, and focus groups.
• Lead the product management process including coordination, communication and scheduling between internal departments (Sales, Engineering, Quality and Supply Chain) and external resources (retailers and international manufacturers).
• Lead New Product Development Process (NPD) to ensure RACI activities are assigned and communicated to all teams involved with project.
• Collaborate with Sales Management team on new channels of distribution to expand existing and new product placement.
• Working jointly with sales, marketing and sourcing create recommended pricing strategies for launch and promotions using competitive data, margin requirements, and retailer pricing models.
• Manage product category life cycles and product portfolios.
• Be the product champion to assist sales management during account presentations to demonstrate products, using sales tools created by the marketing team.
• Engage Sourcing, QA, Marketing and key external vendor development teams both domestic and international in quarterly brainstorming meetings on new products and current product improvements.
• Communicate with licensors at quarterly presentations of new products and potential placements.
• Explore new product license opportunities that match company strategic direction and present ideas to upper management.
• Collaborate with Marketing team to support product launch goals including the development of sales tools, retailer presentations, and product placement activities.
• Lead and participate in monthly meetings with Customer Experience department, QA and Marketing to review online reviews and incoming consumer calls to address solutions for issues and product improvements.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business or related field required.
• 5+ years product development, design, and/or licensing experience required.
• 3+ years conducting market research, uncovering and understanding consumer needs required.
• Understanding of technical product design and development including IoT required; experience with mechanical, digital, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi functions strongly preferred.
• Experience in product development with brand and private label consumer goods strongly preferred.
• Understanding of finance principles related to costs connected with product development/extension, and re-sampling of the product.
• Knowledge of product competition and its impact on business.
• Understanding of product display presentations for retailers and distributors.
• Intermediate to Advanced MS Office experience including Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Expert communication

If you have the required skills and experience as outlined above, please click APPLY NOW. Once we’ve reviewed your information, you’ll receive a call or email regarding the status of your application. If you realize you are not a fit for this position and know someone who is, we would certainly appreciate your referral.

Our team at The Recruiting Pros has more than two decades of success in placing GREAT CANDIDATES at GREAT COMPANIES. We service the southeast with expertise in filling permanent placement positions related to manufacturing, supply chain, warehousing and distribution. Learn more about us at www.TheRecruitingPros.com
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a protected veteran, disability or any other protected category as specified by applicable law or regulation.

Let’s get to work…