Product Development Manager

Responsibilities

• Identify new Metal Site Furnishing product opportunities that are customer driven and competitively advantageous. Define market potential and product positioning.
• Lead product development projects through a stage gate process to launch new Metal Site Furnishing products that align with overall business strategies and growth objectives.
• Work with external vendors, with the support from the sourcing and engineer teams, to develop products that meet identified customer needs, cost targets, schedules, quality levels, and manufacturability requirements.
• Develop and maintain competitive landscape intelligence including market trends, key players, existing products, new product opportunities, competitive pricing, and marketing strategies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including sourcing, engineering, marketing and creative to deliver homerun products.
• Generate and implement comprehensive marketing plans, promotional programs, and product positioning/messaging to differentiate and strengthen sales of existing key product lines.
• Obtain product specifications, copy ideas and shipping information from vendors; draft new product ads and promotional materials, and prepare new product information for catalogs and websites.
• Optimize ongoing vendor relationships by managing products and lead times, identifying potential problem areas, and addressing quality-related issues that may arise.
• Ensure existing product content is up to date and reflective of current dimensions, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Create and deliver product training programs and sales tools for the Customer Service and Sales teams.
• Attend tradeshows to network with existing vendors and identify new suppliers.
• Travel as needed to vendors (domestic or international), as well as local travel to Wisconsin to visit with the internal engineering team.

Requirements

Qualifications

• 
  Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or related field.
• 5 or more years of product management or product development experienc
• eStrong project management skill set - ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects/program elements simultaneously
• .Strong critical thinking skills and willingness to roll up one’s sleeves to get the job done
• .Experience in the furniture industry and/or a strong sense of industrial design is a plus
• .Excellent written and verbal communication skill
• sAction oriented and results driven