Director of Product Management

Who We Are

Alene Candles LLC & Midwest is a private label, contract manufacturer that produces high-quality candles for some of the world’s most recognized retail, boutique, and cosmetic brands. With our headquarters in New Hampshire and additional locations in Ohio, we’ve been in business for over 25 years. We are passionate about making the best products in the world, making safety our number one priority, and being an insanely great place to work. We were proudly named Best Company to Work For in 2020 and 2021 and Business of the Year in 2023.

The Position

The Director of Product Management will be responsible for managing product lines from conception through the product life cycle. You will be responsible for the growth, profitability, and marketing objectives in order to maximize profitability and ensure alignment with business plans. This role reports to the Chief Business Development Officer.

The Location

We are located at 51 Scarborough Lane, Milford, NH. This is hybrid position. You will be expected to be onsite three (3) days a week and work from from home two (2) days a week.

Additional Job Details

• Evaluates and monitors all aspects of the product portfolio, including growth and profitability, materials, inventory levels, manufacturing, marketing, and sales. Coordinates changes to ensure optimization of results against short term business plans and budgets.
• Working with the business segment’s operation and functional leaders as well as Supply Chain, Finance, and Manufacturing to set pricing strategy that is aligned with the global framework and monitors delivery against targets. Evaluates and leads decisions regarding product trade-offs that yield optimal profits.
• Evaluates product performance in the marketplace, and recommends changes in areas of product development, differentiation, and pricing. Conducts or oversees competitive/market research and analysis to support pricing and other strategy decisions.
• Works with operations to establish product quality metrics. Drives initiatives on systemic product issues and monitors overall compliance against quality metrics.
• Lead the overall product line strategy and facilitates R&D requirements, development, manufacturing, and engineering coordination for new or expanded products as well as new emerging product market needs.
• Accountable for growth and profitability of product line(s). Metrics include orders volume, sales, and profitability for given product line(s).
• Responsible for adherence to product line base cost targets to ensure fit with overall global plan while ensuring investments in technology, marketing, etc. are adequate to accomplish product line goals.
• Provides the assistance required to carry out all corporate sales and marketing strategies as well as setting and achieving company goals.
• Work cross-functionally across the company with functions necessary for the product development process such as Production, R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, and Account Management.
• Ensures safety and compliance of product lines and monitor regulations that may impact pricing and other related decisions in the marketplace.
• Lead and work with downstream marketing teams to prepare for customer presentations, articulation of value proposition, etc.
• Understand market needs, trends, and competitor intelligence for the given product lines.
• Design, develop, track, and update competitive intelligence and market penetration databases.
• Supervise a team of employees. Evaluates, develops, and manages employees.
• Ability to travel 20% of the time.

Requirements

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelors Degree in Business Management, Business Administration or closely related field.
• MBA preferred.
• 15+ years of experience in product management, ideally in a manufacturing environment.
• Previous management experience required.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic and financial business plans.
• Comprehensive knowledge of marketing theories and practices, with particular emphasis on inbound product management.
• Ability to travel 20% of the time.
• Able to take ownership and be accountable for results.
• Able to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization including listening and influencing skills.
• Knowledgeable of functional elements that are important for business profitability.
• Able to engage with organization in timely, relevant and appropriate manner. 
• Ability to mobilize and guide group towards achievement of objectives.
• Previous experience with new product development preferred.
• Previous experience in consumer packaged goods or wholesale/retail environment (inclusive of supply chain) preferred.

Benefits

Alene offers a host of competitive benefits for full-time employees, some of which include: Medical, Dental, and Vision with a Healthcare Reimbursement Account, 401(k) with company match, Basic Life Insurance (100% company paid), Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Account, Paid Holidays, Paid Time Off, Tuition Reimbursement and “Alene Gives Back” – our paid volunteer program.

Alene Candles provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Should you require assistance completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact [email protected] or call 603-673-5050 and ask to speak to Human Resources. We will make every effort to accommodate your needs in a reasonable amount of time.