New job Product Manager in Vermont

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  Manages categories across D2C omni channel, creates product assortment and category plans; develops presentations, and communicates selling strategy
• Partners with Web Merchant for channel optimization
• Sources, selects and negotiates costs for new ingredients and mixes; partners with Manufacturing to agree on packaging, product size, relevant product documentation and points of differentiation and the inclusion of country of origin on all products.
• Presents seasonal assortments to Demand Planning, indicates importance of items within assortments, business drivers, features, and marketing plans for inventory management, enabling effective projections and reorders.
• Drives product pricing based on comprehensive understanding of market value, cost, competition, and relative value within assortment; meets or often exceeds category margin targets
• Develops and maintains vendor relations; negotiates pricing, price breaks, shipping, minimums, terms, discounts and allowances
• Ensures high product quality throughout the selection process, including testing prior to selection and leading resolution of quality issues as they arise; collaborates with Sourcing and R&D to identify and recommend suitable substitute ingredients
• Keeps current with trends and new products through self-education of trade publications, vendor-supplied information, relevant web-based sources, consumer insight and attending trade shows
• Oversees Assistant Product Manager responsibilities with incoming samples and product testing
• Manages the innovation of new direct-to-consumer products, including the development process, private label products, ingredients, packaging and labeling, from concept to production
• Leads seasonal product presentations to cross functional departments and serves as liaison with teams such as Product Development, Brand, Social, Marketing, Manufacturing, Creative, Purchasing, Retail and Customer Service
• Analyzes category and item performance to make informed decisions about assortment, pricing, and omni channel selection (catalogue, web, retail)
• Works with data, business tools, consumer insights, trends and creativity to drive product decisions
• Follows well established processes and best practices to guide the prioritization of innovation and product development

Team Management/Leadership

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  Openly communicates team and individual expectations and concerns
• Is readily accessible, willing to listen and seeking to understand
• Engages their team: motivating, directing, inspiring and involving them in decisions
• Nurtures growth in others by supporting their passions, strengths and work styles
• Maintains employee attitude and morale by recognizing outstanding performance and managing performance issues

Minimum job requirements

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  Bachelor’s degree with 5 years relevant work experience in merchandising/product management in the food industry
• Proficient skills in Microsoft Office applications, Excel and Word
• Experience in AX, Asana, Google docs, Analytic and Project management tools
• Ability to work on multiple tasks, prioritize and meet changing deadlines while still producing high quality work
• Ability to negotiate best pricing agreements and develop strong vendor partner relationships
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with peers to develop well thought-out solutions that enhance the brand;
• Strong time management skills and effective communication skills
• Thinks strategically and excels at attention to detail

Success factors/competencies for this role

• Open to change, recommends actions for continuous improvement
• Thinks and acts strategically, understands how their role contributes to larger outcomes
• Provides exemplary customer service to both internal and external customers
• Sets high standards for oneself, meet deadlines
• Learns from mistakes, receptive to feedback
• Effective communicator, listens and respects others’ points of view
• Participates in team problem solving and decision making
• Maintains a positive attitude
• Is community minded – gets involved, volunteers

Physical requirements/work environment

• Physical requirements
  • Must be able to work at a computer for up to 8 hours a day.
  • Must be able to stand for up to 8 hours a day.
  • Must be able to implement displays, visuals, signage and seasonal decor, occasionally lifting up to 20 pounds.

• Work environment
  • Open office environment
  • Remote work environment
  • Trade show environment
  • Air travel to vendor location’s environment

Safety

• Understands that safety is the responsibility of everyone at the organization
• Responsible for providing a safe and ergonomically sound work environment, identifying unsafe conditions and correcting these conditions immediately
• Engages in safety and compliance training programs and encourage 100% team participation in same

Environment

• Adheres to company-wide green norms, looks for ways to reduce, reuse, recycle
• Educates oneself on KAB environmental campaigns
• Strives to continually improve and implement new processes to reduce our environmental impact