ASSOCIATE PRODUCT MANAGER I

Summary/Objective

Assists in establishing the vision and direction through all phases of the product lifecycle and executes objectives through cross-functional teams in the areas of product strategy, product development, and product quality.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential functions. (These examples do not include all of the functions which the employee may be expected to perform.)

LEADERSHIP

• Basic ability to inspire and motivate others to take action and to influence cross-functional team and divisional leadership as needed.
• Recognizes values, ideas, abilities and contributions of others.
• Proactively initiates important conversations.
• Takes initiative to identify areas of opportunity for inefficient processes or identifies areas of best practice which can be replicated. Asks thoughtful questions and recommends changes.
• Provides constructive, effective feedback to peers, cross-functional team members and management.

TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION

• Contributes to the team by being engaged and present at meetings, trainings and summits.
• Actively listens to gain knowledge from other teams and departments. Genuinely values and recognizes the ideas, abilities, contributions and differences in others.
• Gather data, input and opinions from cross-functional team members to make informed decisions for the product line.
• Listens to understand and acts upon feedback from cross-functional team members regarding changes or decisions to better understand impact to timelines, cost or product specifications.

COMMUNICATION

• Basic presentation skills, including verbal and written communication. Basic ability to create visual presentation content.
• Effectively communicates through verbal and written communication providing support for moderately complex product related needs.
• Possesses good verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrates basic ability to clearly and effectively communicate and document requirements.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• May lead basic small scale projects and support large scope projects.
• Supports facilitation of meetings.
• Basic knowledge of project management tools.

NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

• Participates in ideation process for projects; specific product and/or specific needs.
• Demonstrates basic understanding of product development processes and procedures.
• Creates product requirements / product platforms for small scope projects (with guidance), and assists with requirements / platforms for large scope projects.
• Supports user/alpha/beta testing. May manage alpha and beta testing and compile feedback and data.
• Grows understanding of product trademarks and trade dress and patents.
• Demonstrates basic understanding of product development processes and procedures as well as key technologies associated with assigned product.
• Supports activities and accomplishes small tasks with supervision that guides a product, system, and/or sample book from development through the completion of the launch.

QUALITY/ SUSTAINING

• Periodically attends and participates in quality focused meetings.
• Works cross-functionally to support analysis and prioritization. Creates communication regarding minor quality issues for distribution, with oversight.
• Receives guidance on data and analysis regarding discontinuation within product category.
• Works with cross-functional team on projects which continuously drive a higher quality product better communication to dealers, sales and consumers; and internal process improvement.
• Provides data and analysis of specific portions of processes where improvement is necessary, as guided by cross-functional teams.
• Supports continuous improvement projects in collaboration with cross-functional team

PRODUCT STRATEGY

• Good understanding the product features, benefits and user applications. Realizes product positioning within the category hierarchy and how it ladders to the master brand. Has general understanding of key differences in the market, category and competitive landscape.
• Articulates product channel differentiation with consumers, sales team, dealers, and installers.
• Conducts specifically requested analysis and reporting on key findings that could indicate trends in current and past performance of the product and competition.
• Understands key product strategies and short and long term goals.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Strong understanding of data collection and sales reporting.
• Ability to provide sales analysis as it relates to product margin goals and market positioning.
• Basic understanding of product cost targets.
• Ability to pull sales data and provide analysis to determine and track progress of goals.
• Basic understanding of departmental budgets.
• Ability to create and submit purchase requisitions.
• Basic understanding of AFE process, assists in writing AFE business case.
• Basic comprehension of product integrated margin.
• Basic understanding of product P&L.
• Basic understanding of product price strategy. Pulls and analyzes competitive pricing to guide HD product price positioning.
• Awareness of cost savings initiatives for the product.
• Basic understanding of cost of quality as it relates to product.
• Awareness of ROI as it relates to dealer and consumer satisfaction.
• Basic knowledge of forecasting for the product line.

RESEARCH

• Basic understanding of trends and insights related to product line. Articulates top consumer or dealer frustrations.
• Basic understanding of product line and key competitors.
• Basic understanding of qualitative and quantitative data, leveraging data to generate insight and/or analysis for the product.
• Develops and shares voice of customer data.
• Understands setting research objectives.
• Plans research activities, collects and compiles research data and shares with stakeholders in a manageable format.
• Utilizes research data to formulate support larger scope projects.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Two plus years of related product management experience.
• Demonstrated project management ability is required.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

QUALIFICATIONS AND KSA’S FOR EMPLOYMENT

An employee in this position, upon appointment, should have the equivalent of the following:

Strong knowledge of SAP.

Basic knowledge of the product line
Basic knowledge of the principles of finance to prepare budgets and understand all
costs connected with line extensions, product enhancements and resampling of the product.
Basic knowledge of consumer needs in home fashion industry.
Basic knowledge of project management.
Solid knowledge of computer use and software packages such as, Word, Excel, and Google suite
Basic knowledge of analyzing and comparing competitive data
Solid knowledge of communication skills (oral and written) and how to adapt to various situations when dealing with or providing feedback.
Solid knowledge of correct grammar usage to compose and proofread correspondence for spelling, sentence construction and punctuation errors.
Basic ability to conduct presentations to all size audiences.
Basic ability to develop and maintaining effective work relationships.
Basic ability to process all technical product information.
Skill in presenting recommendations for action plans to management based on the analysis.
Ability to utilize creative thinking and problem solving techniques on a daily basis.
Ability to prioritize and organize multiple work assignments.
Ability to conduct work in a self-directed manner with limited supervision.

Acceptable Training and Experience includes a Bachelor’s degree in a related field. Two plus years of related product management and demonstrated project management is required. Demonstrated project management ability is required. Plus Continuing commitment to ongoing knowledge-based training is desired.

About Hunter Douglas: Hunter Douglas is a global multi-billion dollar Consumer Products (B2B and B2C) company that manufactures window coverings as well as a major manufacturer of architectural products. Being recently acquired by 3G capital it is an exciting time where the focus will be shifting to build a meritocracy performance based culture. One of our greatest strengths is that 3G/Hunter Douglas invests above all else in people. Innovation is what drives us. We are always thinking of new ways to solve challenges. Hunter Douglas is looking for top talent that is ambitious, humble, and results driven.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Hunter Douglas we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Compensation and Benefits:

• 
  Annual base salary range: $66,000-$74,000
• Bonus target range: 5%-10%
• Generous benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, time off with pay, a 401(k) plan with a degree of employer matching, wellness program, education tuition assistance, and product discounts
• Please note, all offers presented to candidates are carefully crafted to ensure market competitiveness, equity, and reflect the individual candidate’s education, experience, skills and potential.