Product Manager
Product ManagerLocation: Gastonia, NC Pay: Competitive Compensation Package Position Type: Full-time, permanent immediate opening Our team at The Recruiting Pros is recruiting a Product Manager on behalf of a well-branded, industry leading manufacturer on the west side of Charlotte. This company is innovative, has a fashion-forward way of thinking and encourages you to tap into your creative side. In this role you'll be responsible for the creation, expansion and management your assigned product lines, working with cross-functional teams such as R&D, engineering and external resources to stay ahead of the competition by the design and formulation of new product ideation and innovation. You will identify, analyze and define the feasibility of each product line and will manage associated P & L results. Routine responsibilities will require you to:Develop and maintain a timeline to manage each new product project through each phase of process from creation through to its' introduction into the marketEnsure that all schedules involved with product development and project timelines are realistic and can be met; adjustment timelines as needed, communicate to affected parties; provide periodic written and verbal status updates through completion of the projectConduct market research to uncover trends related to product pricing, consumer needs and interests, and anticipated sales growthCreate product focus groups to study proposed new products and present findings to team members and representatives of other departments such as Product Engineering, Customer Service, Technical Services and Sales teamsUse information to explore new product opportunities and make operational refinements to existing product lines; regularly review and analyze industry publications leading to awareness of competitionCollaborate with fabricators, dealers and cross-functional stakeholders to explore consumer needs, engineering feasibility, product pricing and anticipated sales growthTravel to fabricators and product dealers to learn firsthand the needs of customers and markets served; attend trade showsParticipate in the creation and management of the budget for each product lineCommunicate effectively with manufacturing sites across USServe as a liaison between the Marketing department and external vendors communicating on a regular basis; arranging meetings to discuss and understand the needs of customers, retailers and the product markets that are servedDevelop and recommend product price strategies for annual line reviews and re-sampling products; including incentive and promotions for distribution partners to encourage salesCreate training materials and programs to educate and inform fabricators, dealers and internal customers; oversee product photography used in sales collateralRespond to product inquiries / issues related to fabricators, vendors and internal team membersCommunicate with vendors and customers to develop product presentation materials; recommend and implement direct mail, market collateral and product sampling to establish product positioning within the marketWork with outside media contacts to develop programs for sampling, merchandising and displaysProofread and review all product brochures to reflect accuracy of product presentationRequired experience: B.S. degree in Marketing or Business is required 5+ years of product development in a manufacturing environment, ideally working in consumer products 3+ years conducting market research; understanding why it is conducted and what to do with findings Intermediate to Advanced level of MS Office, including Word and Excel; proficiency in the Google Suite of products; experience with SAP and SmartSheets considered a plus Understanding of finance principles required to prepare a budget and the understanding of related costs connected with line extensions, product enhancement and re-sampling of the product Understanding of technical product design and development i.e. automations systems, components, etc. Knowledge of product competition and its impact on doing business Ability to uncover and understand consumer needs Understanding of product display presentations for retailers and distributors Expert communication skills both written and verbal; experience communicating with vendor, fabricators and dealers 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 North and South Carolina 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.