Associate Product Manager
Location
San Leandro, CA | United States
Job description
Scope of Responsibilities
1. Support product development and renovation across the PPD product line: - Evaluate new flavor and application trends with market research and make recommendations for new products, applications, and recipes.
- Research and share competitive performance to improve PPD strategies and provide data-based recommendations for new product and application opportunities.
- Support product development with cross functional teams: applications, packaging artwork, graphic design, product documentation, etc.
2. Build PPD capabilities around menu inspirations, applications, and recipes: - Research market trends and foodservice customer needs to develop new applications recipes with PPD products.
- Create and publish a seasonal calendar that supports the sales team with quarterly beverage and dessert concepts.
- Curate existing recipes and develop a robust system for organization and access.
- Build a database of new applications and recipes to achieve further penetration of our PPD ingredients with baristas and chefs.
- Collaborate with marketing, trade marketing, e-comm to showcase recipes across various digital platforms.
- Coordinate with R D, outside agencies and consultants as required.
3. Conduct competitive analysis: - Evaluate Ghirardelli products versus the competition.
- Work closely with the sales team to understand reasons why customers buy our products and prefer Ghirardelli or competition.
- Assist with the development of sales collaterals that distinguish the advantages of Ghirardelli products.
4. Sales Team Collaboration: - Provide information and specs on product as needed.
- Support customer menu development with white paper concepts and custom application/recipe recommendations.
- Organize sales team customer ideations, collaborate with R D or consultants for necessary support, and help present to customers as needed.
- Help build customer presentations and ideations using available data systems, including SAP, Technomic, and AI.
Our Company/Job Summary The Professional Products Division (PPD) is Ghirardelli’s fast-growing foodservice team and offers products for restaurants, specialty coffee shops, bakeries, and other foodservice channels. Our lineup of sauces, frappe mixes, hot chocolate mixes, baking chocolate, and cocoa powders makes incredible beverages and desserts.
The Associate Product Manager will support product development and renovation projects, while leading menu inspirations and product applications for both beverages and desserts using Ghirardelli foodservice ingredients. This role will develop menu trends, applications, recipes, and competitive advantages versus the competition, while building sales collaterals and assisting the sales team with customer meetings.
Specific Knowledge & Skills - Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously within a fast-paced environment, with a high degree of independence and resilience.
- Strong attention to detail with excellence in execution.
- Ability to solve problems and overcome obstacles.
- Strategic thinking skills and proven experience generating original ideas.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Excellent written communication skills and solid presentation skills.
- Adaptability and flexibility to meet changing priorities.
- Good foundation of CPG or foodservice industry, marketing know-how, and an understanding of marketing mix (product, positioning, packaging, pricing, promotion and distribution)
- Strong knowledge and passion of espresso-based beverages and pastry/baking
- Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
Education - BA or BS required; business degree preferred.
- 3-5+ years of related work experience in CPG or foodservice.
- Specialty coffee/baking experience a plus.
Other requirements: - Collects information from multiple sources when defining goals/objectives
- Develops broad knowledge and perspective within area of expertise
- Is forward-looking within role/responsibility area
- Works through complexity to get at the root of problems
- Projects how potential ideas will impact key stakeholders
- Thinks through their immediate actions in relation to achievement of the business plan.
- Builds partnerships across different parts of the organization
- Looks for opportunities to help others
- Respects the perspectives of others
- Actively participates in an environment where learning is a core part of teamwork
Physical, Mental Environmental Requirements - Spends 70% of time at desk working at computer or phone
- Spends 30% or time interacting and meeting with key internal or external colleagues for the purpose of influencing business results.
- Rare to occasional ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds
- Frequent usage of verbal communication equipment (telephone, radio, cellular)
- Infrequent travel
Salary Range: $101,146 - $131,480
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