Job purpose

The Product Manager is a key role in the business planning and product development of our Specialty Gift business. This includes line management, identifying new concepts, product lifestyle, analyzing the retail marketplace and competitive environment, product packaging and merchandising, positioning, business planning, product road mapping, and margin management. The Product Manager has responsibilities and assignments across product categories and customers. This is a highly visible role within the organization.

The successful candidate should have a strong understanding of retail environments and a variety of distribution channels, in-depth knowledge of consumer goods sales and distribution, and Asian sourcing. The selected candidate should have the drive and desire to work within a dynamic, respected, recognized and cohesive team and should exhibit the following traits:

• Ownership: The Product Manager position is a critical position within the organization. As an integral part of the team, we expect a complete sense of ownership in all areas of responsibility. By ownership we mean an unflagging commitment to doing whatever is necessary to make Transpac successful on every measure.
• Passion & Intensity: Success in the Product Manager position requires tremendous passion, drive and intensity. Every individual throughout the organization must sense your full commitment to the business, drive for success, disdain for status quo and complacency, desire for continuous improvement and enthusiastic support of the team and our company. Above all, the position requires someone with an intense desire to succeed.

Duties and responsibilities

Strategic Product Development:

• Develop product line business strategy for Everyday/Decor and Seasonal categories that meet the business objectives to drive growth
• Create definition and understanding of consumer, retail, and competitive environments
• Evaluate current competition and identify potential new opportunities for new categories or items of business
• Investigate new processes and tools necessary to create better work flow
• Work closely & collaborate with Sales and Design to create "best in class" product, packaging and merchandising solutions
• Possibly seek out and negotiate agreements with new licenses that allow for expansion of distribution or product categories
• Perform projects as necessary

Technical Responsibilities: 

• Responsible for, and accountable to, delivery of products on-time, on-margin, and on-spec
• Ensure a consistent stream of new products in support of total business goals and objectives
• Drive development of product roadmap, product strategies, life cycles, and processes
• Responsible for development of, and adherence to product development processes, product management processes, and value engineering
• Work hand in hand with the China team to insure timelines, viable product, and margins
• Confer and coordinate product specifications to provide technical advice and resolve problems

Communication responsibilities:

• To work and communicate well inter-departmentally and foster strong relationships across all areas of the business
• Work well inter-departmentally and cross-functionally to drive customer satisfaction and bottom-line profitability
• Establish and maintain cooperative, constructive interpersonal relationships with the Company staff at all levels
• Establish and maintain constructive communications and relationships with suppliers, customers, and other third parties
• Use effective negotiation skills to create a win-win for both parties

Qualifications/Skills:

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent experience in a related field
• 5+ years of experience in Product Management, Product Development, and/or Brand Management
• Must have experience importing finished consumer goods from Asia
• Production and/or manufacturing background is a plus
• Strong critical thinking and logical reasoning skills
• Excellent organizational, time management and project management skills
• Strong skills in problem identification and solutions-based problem-solving
• Excellent skills managing multiple competing priorities on a daily basis
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Strong team player

Physical requirements:

• Some Domestic and International travel required
• Sitting, Standing, Walking
• Carrying, Pushing, Pulling boxes, and sample orders up to 20 lbs.
• Lifting: Raising or lowering an object from one level to another (includes upward pulling)
• Prolonged use of computer involved; use of hands and finger coordination; Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision. Color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health savings account
• 401(k) and 401(k) matching
• Company paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Voluntary Short-Term Disability
• Paid time off

**The successful candidate must be able to pass a pre-employment background check and drug screening.