Product Manager

Simon Acres Group are pleased to work with a leading Supplier of kitchen components and complete kitchens based in Greater Manchester, who are looking for a Product Manager.

Full time Permanent position, paying between £45,000 - £50,000.

Key Responsibilities:

• Product Strategy: Formulate and implement a robust product strategy that aligns with business objectives, industry trends, and customer demands.
• Market Research: Perform in-depth market analysis and competitive research to uncover opportunities for product innovation and differentiation. Maintain a comprehensive database of competitors' product ranges. Establish strong relationships with suppliers to stay updated on product trends and emerging ideas.
• Product Development: Lead the entire product development process from concept to launch. Collaborate with suppliers to ensure products are delivered on schedule. Manage the New Product Development (NPD) process, including chairing weekly NPD meetings, overseeing project timelines, and ensuring cross-functional team engagement.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with sales, marketing, customer service, supply chain, and finance teams to ensure coordinated execution of product initiatives.
• Product Lifecycle Management: Oversee the product lifecycle, from planning and launch to optimization and eventual discontinuation. Track and report on sales performance, evaluating the effectiveness of product ranges and SKU efficiency.
• Product Data Management: Maintain accurate and up-to-date product data, including descriptions, coding, and attributes. Collaborate with purchasing and IT teams to ensure data integrity and timely updates. Manage controlled documentation for product specifications.
• Pricing Strategy: Collaborate with the Commercial Director to manage product pricing and promotional strategies. Benchmark pricing and specifications, offering recommendations for new products or product updates based on data-driven insights.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure product quality and reliability by implementing rigorous technical assessments and quality assurance processes.
• Sales Support: Provide comprehensive support to the sales team through product training, marketing materials, and sales enablement tools to boost product adoption and revenue growth.
• Customer Feedback: Collect and analyze customer feedback to refine product offerings and enhance the overall customer experience. Use these insights to drive continuous improvement in product development and strategy.

Requirements:

Preferable

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or Engineering.
• Preferred Experience: Background in kitchen or furniture industries is desirable.

Minimum Requirements:

• At least 3 years of experience in product management, with a track record of overseeing a product portfolio and managing New Product Development (NPD) processes.
• Candidates with a background in fitted kitchen sales or design will also be considered, provided they have project management experience and strong product knowledge.

Skills:

• Proven project management skills, capable of handling multiple projects at once.
• A strategic mindset, with a focus on customer needs and a passion for innovation.
• Strong analytical capabilities, with the ability to interpret complex data and market trends. Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint is required.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to work collaboratively across different teams and departments.

Benefits:

• 24 days annual leave
• Buy a day scheme
• Extra day's holiday in your 5th and 10th year
• Reduced Costco membership
• Staff discounts
• Wellness scheme - after qualifying period
• Subsidised gym membership
• Employee assistance programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Death in service benefit
• Free fruit