Sr. Product Manager

Go Maverick Group has a client who is looking for a Sr. Product Manager to join their team. This person will be responsible for managing a portfolio of products while successfully delivering results against company objectives. This includes developing and executing the multi-year strategy for their assigned portfolio and leading a cross-functional effort, resulting in organizational alignment and senior leadership approval. The Sr. Product Manager will use a data-driven approach to product and portfolio planning, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of relevant category influencers, including: changing marketplace conditions, emerging trends, consumer needs/insights/behaviors, customer needs/expectations, competitive landscape, etc. The Sr. Product Manager will ensure the portfolio strategy can deliver against company revenue growth and margin targets with adequate margins and contingency planning to provide a high probability of success.

The Sr. Product Manager will manage the portfolio and products throughout their lifecycle, from identifying and commercializing new product initiatives through product line rationalization. This includes managing existing product updates and improvements, value engineering and cost reduction efforts, and managing systems to measure product performance within their intended channels and geographies. In collaboration with the broader commercial team, he/she will develop commercial/channel strategies for the portfolio, recommending and supporting new sales opportunities and ensuring a seamless coordination between “portfolio channel” and “channel portfolio” planning.

 SPECIFIC DUTIES/ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Establishes and maintains financial plans and budgets to achieve or exceed product portfolio P&L objectives.
• Establishes product line performance metrics & reporting, and ensures the department and organization are regularly informed of results against plan.
• Develops, implements, and communicates how-to-win and where-to-play strategies to provide the best opportunity for success.
• Leads and directs the development of industry, category, competitor, customer, and consumer insights to drive product development decisions and go-to-market strategies. Uses primary (including focus groups, surveys, etc.) and secondary research to develop successful product plans and initiatives.
• Develops and executes 3-year product plan and rolling analysis.
• Provides leadership on product value propositions, unique selling propositions, product pricing, product margins and supply for new product development.
• Champions strategic product initiatives through opportunity identification and quantification (business case), prioritization, ideation, development, and commercialization. Ensures products are developed within deadlines to meet company and customer objectives.
• Incorporates an understanding of omni-channel trade needs and goals into product line development and marketing.
• Leads cross functional teams through product development process and ensures timely execution of new product tooling CAPEX approval.
• Partners with global sourcing and cost engineering to find the best value for our customers and end consumers.
• Utilizes NPD tracking document to ensure timely delivery of products to market.
• Directs and/or is directly responsible for the creation and implementation of marketing plans for assigned product lines and supervises execution of product branding, packaging, merchandising, collateral and other communications strategies that drive tactical execution.
• Assists with new channel / customer development per go-to-market strategy.
• Monitors product costing and margins to minimize COGS creep. Initiates cost optimization efforts as necessary. Establishes product pricing strategy (MSRP, MAP, customer & company margin targets, channel management, etc…) and collaborates with the commercial team to ensure appropriate pricing execution across all channels, customers, and geographies.
• Provides product support (in-person or video conference) for key customer meetings.
• Maintains and manages strategic licensing relationships.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing or related field; MBA preferred.
• 8+ years of product marketing/management experience, ideally at least two years in the CPG industry.
• Exceptional analytical skills, with the experience in making and driving decisions based on data.
• A highly creative individual with demonstrated success in the development and management of new products through close interface with highly creative product development teams.
• Ability to identify and work cross functionally with engineering on technical research opportunities that aids in the development of marketing materials to establish market leader position.
• Experience with stage gate or similar process
• Strong knowledge and experience in all product management skill areas: market research, product pricing and packaging, advertising and promotion, and systems for projecting and measuring product line performance.
• Prior responsibility for developing and executing business and marketing plans along with the budgets that support them.
• Outstanding leadership skills which include written and verbal communication.
• Strong track record of successfully leading a team in an entrepreneurial environment where you are not afraid to roll up your sleeves in addition to leading.
• An excellent team player who can create and thrive in a highly collaborative working environment.
• A natural ability to develop positive working relationships with other employees, customers and others who can influence business success.
• Occasional travel may be required to visit customers, attend tradeshows, etc...

Benefits

Our client emphasizes a positive, collaborative culture and offers a competitive salary, full benefits, PTO/paid holidays, 401k, discounts on products, year-end bonus and more. This is a hybrid position where you would need to be onsite Tues - Thurs in their Northeast OH office and work from home Mondays and Fridays.