Product Manager (MAT Cover)
Location
Christchurch, Dorset | United Kingdom
Job description
Solent Group work with a diverse portfolio of Retailers and supply bespoke products within various categories, including Health & Beauty, Household Impulse Snacking and Reusable Bags. We are proud to be best-in-class when it comes to own-label product innovation. Our Categories are fast-paced with ever-evolving trends and a host of ground-breaking products coming to market on a regular basis – we add value to retailers by leading and owning each category.
Here at Solent we want people to be extraordinary. We pride ourselves on creating and producing amazing products and brands for our Global Customers. You will be joining a company with offices globally across South Africa, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Vietnam, and the UK.
POSITION: Product Manager
DIVISION/DEPT: Product
REPORT TO: Category Manager
LOCATION: Christchurch (Head Office)
TRAVEL: Occasional travel (to SA and supplier/trade shows)
Purpose of the role
- Develop a forward-thinking product development strategy for one of our biggest strategic customers: Consider the detail and final range proposition
- Due to long range windows candidate must have the ability to future fit category development up to 18 months
- Responsible for the critical path end to end across all parties
- To work smart, leverage teams to maximise development, MOQ’s and Cost
- Engage/collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure project viability.
- Ability to lead clear briefs and communicate efficiently to our buying teams.
- Speak & present with confidence on Product and trend knowledge to our customers
- Ability to understand the technical make up of a product
- Be able to work with large amounts of detail
- Produce exceptional presentations for our customers.
Scope & Relationships
- Retailer facing for all Product development
- Internally face into all product, technical, design and supply chain teams
- UK & EU supplier facing and Solent Asia buying team
- Internal Stakeholder management
Main Responsibilities
- Lead all divisional product development overseen by the Head of Product
- Identify and map out key opportunities that are quick wins and future sited.
- Manage the product development from Concept stage to finished goods.
- Plan accordingly: Ability to react to the climate and any range window opportunities.
- Sustainability front of mind in all development in line with retailer targets
- Steer product packaging development collaboratively with design
- Manage product Category plans for the financial year with quarterly reviews
Experience
- Ideal candidate will have Formulated development experience in either Personal care or Household products.
- Can confidently understand and run a critical path
- Project management across multiple SKU’s and categories
- Examples of cross-functional working across multiple teams
- Market and trend understanding in order to overlay onto product plans
- Strong supplier relationships with a commercial mindset
- Trade Show and supplier visit experience.
- Experience in cost management negotiating cost price and MOQ’s
Key competencies and skills
- Strong communication skills and detail orientated
- Ability to review trends and pull into a development calendar
- Strong relationships with suppliers and retailers
- To engage teams globally and across different time zones
Personal Profile
- Excited and passionate about working within a dynamic and fast-paced team.
- Appetite to learn new categories and explore new product ranges.
- Can do attitude to find solutions with a development window.
- Ambitious
What we offer
- Competitive salary with annual salary reviews
- 25 days holiday per annum, increasing to 27 days after 3 years’ service and 30 days after 5 years’ service
- Extensive benefits programme including buying additional holiday, medical cash plan, access to mental health support and many other benefits
- Flexible hours and work-from-home available to all staff
- Great learning and development and progression opportunities
- Yearly bonus structure (based on company targets)
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
- Pension Scheme Contribution
- Solent social events run by our inhouse Social Team
- Cycle to Work scheme
Job tags
Salary
