Assistant Product Manager Packs, Bags and Soft Coolers
Westfield
Outdoors is an
Indianapolis-based company that solely represents a well-established, fast
growing international manufacturing group. It provides manufacturing and
international importing services for outdoor leisure products, including camping
furniture, tents, shelters, backpacks, trekking bags, soft coolers, hunting
accessories, fishing tackle, and patio furniture. It has developed into one of
the leading companies in the world that provides OEM/private labeling
manufacturing services in the outdoor leisure products industry. Currently we
are looking for the right individual to join our Product Development Team based
in Indianapolis, Indiana.
As a Product Manager you
will be responsible for developing and executing product development
initiatives across the Packs, Bags and Soft Cooler product platforms. This person will develop the Packs, Bags and
Soft Cooler strategic product road map and provide direction to the cross
functional teams ensuring meaningful Consumer desired products are developed
and introduced into the marketplace in a timely manner.
Product Manager
The Product
Manager is responsible for both product development and product marketing. This
includes leading the direction of the product idea / concept through the
product development process, gathering and prioritizing Consumer Insights and Customer
Requirements, defining the product vision, and working closely with the cross
functional team members to deliver winning products. It also includes working
with sales and marketing to ensure revenue and customer satisfaction goals are
met. The Product Manager’s job also includes ensuring that the product
development efforts support the company’s overall strategy and goals.
Expectations of the Product
Manager:
- Defines the 3 Year Product Roadmap for the
Soft Coolers product category
- Develops a Product Line Plan for each major
Customer and for the Company’s Own Brands, outlining key retail price
points, features and targeted product cost on an annual development cycle
basis.
- Leads all Product Dev. Projects with
rationale and justification within the Soft Cooler category
- Innovation – New to the World
- New Product Development – New to the
Industry
- Line Extensions – New products within
the Category, adding Features, requesting new Aesthetics based on Trends
- Provides up to date Marketing information
in support of major Customer’s product line reviews.
- Develops a Catalog Offering under the
Company’s Brand for the Soft Cooler category
- Acquires Consumer Insights via all
Methodologies to ensure products are being developed to meet the needs of
targeted Consumers.
- Requests and conducts grass roots Consumer
Research
- Create the detailed Product Briefs that
provide the direction for the new product development projects obtaining
input from the Sales Team.
- Ensures the four Product Goal Sets of
Product Cost, Product Performance, Project Schedule and Project Budget are
tracked and achieved.
- Leads the Innovation direction for the
Soft Cooler category
- Be an expert with respect to the Competition
in addition to being an internal product expert
- Assist in developing the core positioning
and messaging for the product
- Participate in Customer meetings and
perform product demos to Customers
- Develop sales tools and collateral
- Brief and train the sales force at
regularly scheduled Company meetings
Requirements of the Product Manager Position:
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience as a Product
Manager, Assistant Buyer, Salesperson within the Outdoor Industry
- Demonstrated success, defining and
launching of Consumer Products
- Excellent written and verbal communication
skills
- Bachelor’s degree prefered
- Experience in Project Management, Product
Development and Consumer Research methodologies.
- Excellent teamwork skills
- Proven ability to influence
cross-functional teams without formal authority
- Ability to effectively use MS Office
programs; PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook ,
- Proven Ability to present to all levels of
Management
- Must be able to travel both
Internationally and Domestic 30% of the time
Compensation:
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$45-50k/year base salary plus bonus
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Or salary is
commensurate with experience
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Medical benefits are
provided as part of the package
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401k
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Base pay: $45,000 – 60,000