Product Manager

Location: Markham, Ontario

**Job Description**:
Job Summary

The Product Manager, Private Brands will own end-to-end product launch from ideation through commercialization, bringing to market new private brand products. This customer (DPL) and product obsessed role will understand market trends and utilize wide range of data to identify new product development opportunities to improve sales, penetration, and profitability.

Essential

**Responsibilities**:
Insight
- Intimate understanding of categories in which brands are being managed including interactions with infinity categories at retail, and in the eyes of the consumer.
- Continuously monitors customer, competitive intelligence, and aids in the development of business opportunities.
- Acquire knowledge and insights of corporate strategy, consumer insights and economic outlook to develop the Private Brand strategy for new and existing products.

Strategy
- Develop strategy for existing product categories including recommended merchandising, pricing, promotions, and marketing to ensure continued growth and maximize sales potential.
- Develop strategies for existing products including reformulations and redesigns.

Product
- Identify & developing new Private Brand opportunities & line extensions.
- Deliver product to market in a timely and efficient manner.
- Manage, maintain product adherence to brand positioning, brand guardrails, and customer value proposition to drive brand loyalty and equity.
- Responsible for end-to-end product development and related project management.
- Develop rationale and business cases for new product development including financial feasibility, supplier selection, product and packaging features, sales projections, pricing recommendations, marketing, merchandising and promotions.

Vendor Management
- Develop and maintain good working relationships with manufacturers to ensure proper execution of product launches and optimum service levels are being met.

Collaboration
- Build relationships and initiate processes with internal and external partners that facilitate cross-functional synergy and collaboration.
- Work in collaboration with Category Managers to understand category strategy and set appropriate product strategies and roadmaps to maximize Private Brand penetration, market share, sales volume & profitability of assigned product categories.

- Participate in department meetings to develop strategies, troubleshoot, and actively pursue innovative items, ingredients, and packaging ideas.
- Lead bi-weekly meeting with Merchandising about product and performance.
- Partner with internal teams to develop enabling tools and process improvements the improve time-to-market.
- Develop strong working relationships with key stakeholders throughout the supply chain to ensure effective collaboration and execution of Private Brand strategies and plans.

Results
- Help manage product development cost.
- Shared responsibility with Merchandising for brand sales, margin performance and achievement of product launch targets.
- Utilize available financial & management information systems to monitor sales results, profitability and recommend actions to improve in market product performance.

Skills, Experience, Education, Certifications
- 5+ years of Packaged Goods, Brand Marketing/Product Development/Merchandising or related field.
- Private Brands experience with a retailer is a plus.
- Experience in Hardlines & Specialty pet products a plus.
- Adept at working cross-functionally and collaboratively.
- Comfortable in a fast-paced environment.
- Willingness to roll up sleeves and get things done.
- Identify opportunities and solve problems.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Adept in storytelling, presenting and influencing.
- Strong analytical skills.
- Ability to resolve situations with colleagues where there may be some level of conflict, stress, or uncertainty.
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize with a high sense of urgency.
- Possess the ability to connect with the merchandising organization and be able to convert opportunities into practical business strategies.
- A proven leader with self-confidence, and a solid track record of accomplishments in challenging environments.
- Proactive thinker and doer - anticipate issues before they arise, has a strong pride of ownership to see projects through end to end.
- Strong project management skills.
- Good listening skills and ability to be effective in working with all levels of the organization.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Competencies
- Innovation Management
Is good a bringing the creative ideas of others to market; has good judgment about which creative ideas and suggestions will work; has a sense about managing the creative process of others; can facilitate effective brainstorming; can project how potential ideas may play out in the marketplace.
- Customer Focus
Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external custom