Housewares Products - Merchandise Development Manager

Job Description

Job Description

About the job

A great opportunity for an individual with previous buying related experience (Assistant Buyer), or previously employed in a Product Development role. Become part of an established business and work for a successful retail sourcing company that works with major US retailers developing private label housewares products. We are a rapidly growing company with opportunities for professional growth and development. We are a unique organization that provides an entrepreneurial business environment with all the support required to be successful! Knowledge and experience with cooking, baking and housewares products is a plus! 

Job Summary

We are seeking a dynamic individual to join our team as a Product Manager in our Lake Forest, California office. The ideal candidate must have an outgoing personality, great communication skills and high attention to detail. Previous experience with spreadsheet analysis and information organization is required. Experience with home goods products or a personal interest in cooking, baking, or kitchen knowledge is a plus! You will work with our international sourcing offices based in Asia from initial quotes to finished product. This is a Full-Time position reporting to the SR Product Managers as well as the VP of Sales and Marketing. The ideal candidate has a collaborative mindset and an eagerness to learn and grown within the organization. 

The Role:

· Creating product briefs to be developed with the Asia sourcing team to assess best manufacturing options.

· Developing worksheets for product development and ideation, cost analysis, SKU detail, MOQs, and manufacturing comments.  

· Manage product set up for vendors, enter and maintain SKU information to ensure accurate cost, retails, item descriptions, attributes, and categories.

· Working with design team to create assortments and product presentation. 

· Working with customers to present these concepts and manage revisions, organize sampling and follow up through final production. 

· Working with overseas team to ensure completion of information throughout the project process including quotations, samples, and shipments according to customers’ requirements.

· Admin support with sample receipts, mock ups and shipments. Sample packing, unpacking and drop-offs. Assist in maintain samples and showroom. 

Requirements
• Bachelor's Degree

· Thrives working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial style work environment. 

· Self-starter with the ability to own a project independently as well as in a team environment.

· High comfort with multi-tasking and managing multiple projects simultaneously with different collaborators and customers.

· Ability to take direction from multiple sources with varying management styles

· Strong sense of urgency, and ability to manage multiple deadlines.

· Excellent Organization skills

· Excellent time management skills

· Quick learner, with a positive attitude

· Trustworthy and dependable

· Strong ability to creatively problem solve 

· Strong listening, written, and oral communication skills

· Knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite. Excel used daily, requires proficiency with spreadsheets and formulas to maintain reports used for tracking statistical data.  

· Ability to lift 40lbs (unpacking and moving boxes, packing samples)

Benefits

· 2 weeks accrued annual PTO

· 10 paid office holidays

· Opportunity for professional growth and promotion within the organization

· Retirement contribution matching, after initial probation period (up to 6%).

Salary Range: $55 - $65,000 commensurate with experience. 

You will need to be very self-motivated and results driven. You must have excellent communication skills in order to clearly define briefs to overseas offices as well as internal sales and design teams. In addition, you must have confidence to deal direct with buyers to ensure the success of your product development and secure sales.