Product Manager

Description JOB SUMMARY The Product Manager works under the Director of Product Management. This position encompasses product management over all departments and products within the company. The Product Manager is a champion for new product introduction that will drive long-term growth for Red Gold and is a knowledge center for the entire product portfolio. This role provides cross-functional leadership and bridges organizational gaps between different functional groups, such as Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Product Development, Quality Assurance, Sales, and Customer Service. The position assists in the development and execution of the short- and long-term product & selling strategies. The position also requires continual evaluation of how well the company's products meet current and potential customer & consumer needs versus the competition. PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES Product Knowledge and Portfolio Management Be a knowledge expert of product categories and competitive product offerings in the marketplace Be a knowledge base of manufacturing capabilities for each plant's asset footprint as well as product formulas associated with the products produced by or for Red Gold Creative development for sell sheets, marketing collateral and product initiatives Responsible for the content of the Private Brands and Co-Pack/Industrial sections of the corporate website Management of Purchased Product Oversee the purchased product supply chain procurement process, including the ketchup equipment purchased for Foodservice sales efforts and Retail shipper material Identify potential manufacturers for new products as needed and lead the negotiation of the business relationship around pricing and agreements Responsible for purchased product contract management and communicating price updates internally New Product Development and Sales Execution Champion NPI projects from ideation to commercialization, ensuring customer and company timelines are met Contribute to bi-weekly Transition meetings to keep projects moving forward and on time Coordinate and lead cross-functional 1st production planning meetings Identify new product areas for growth through category reviews, analyzing new item sales trends, and market trend analysis Create well thought-out business cases and rational support to support innovation & NPI pursuits Proactively work cross functionally with Sales and Marketing teams to deliver results Track and monitor succuss of the company's new products as well as those offered by competitors Supports trade show events for the selling of existing and new products Product Research, Analysis, & Reporting Conduct category, product, competitive, and consumer research and analysis leading to the development of actionable insights for product growth strategies and innovation Participates in the analysis and reporting of slow moving and low profit items Effectively present product and sales data in group meetings Develop internal and external selling presentations and materials for product initiatives that communicate business opportunities and recommend action plans Project Management Participate in ongoing workflow measures for established processes Organize and lead bi-weekly packaging meetings to keep packaging projects moving forward and on time Maintain concise project summaries and trackers, conducting periodic reviews with involved stakeholders Initiates transition projects with Product Transition Coordinator and with the field sales team and then offers needed support through completion EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 4 year degree - B.S. or B.A. Degree in Business / Marketing, MBA preferred but not required 5 years of experience in product development, marketing, and/or sales Extensive knowledge of Foodservice and or retail industries Experience with project management and data analysis Required Computer Proficiency - Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word Desired Computer Proficiency - OneNote, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Power BI, Copilot KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Strong analytical skills Curiosity to uncover meaningful insights Excellent Communication Skills - written & verbal Collaboration skills Strong project management skills Leadership skills Articulate Professional Ability to prioritize Good follow-up skills Good manager of time Intuitive Detail-oriented Comfortable and competent at multi-tasking SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES Direct: None Indirect: None PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS To perform this job successfully, the physical demands listed are representative of those that must be met by an employee * Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions While performing the duties of this job: The employee must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time whether that be sitting or standing The employee must be able to use fingers to constantly operate a computer or other type of office equipment The employee in this position must be able to regularly walk The employees must be able to use hands to handle and feel The employee must be able to reach with both hands and arms The employee must be able to visually detect, perceive, or recognize in near and far distances The employee must be able to converse or convey with other individuals The employee may occasionally be required to crouch The employee may occasionally lift/carry items as heavy as 25 pounds JOB COMPETENCIES Ethics/ Integrity/ Trust Attitude and Commitment Diversity Customer Service Company Engagement Quality Cost Consciousness Business Savvy Planning/ Organizing Strategic Thinking Delegation Creativity and Innovation Qualifications Behaviors Detail Oriented - Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well Education Bachelors (preferred) Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. 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