LifeMade - Product Manager

LifeMade Products LLC, a Jadex Inc operating company, is a global provider of disposable tableware and temperature control packaging solutions supporting a variety of sectors including healthcare and food preservation. We are the industry leader in U.S temperature-control packaging and single-use consumer goods manufacturing. Our brands include LifeMade Consumer Products, Lifoam®, Diamond®, FreezPak®, Envirocooler® and ProPak®. LifeMade Products LLC has 8 manufacturing locations in the domestic United States . Our mission is to create superior products that push industries forward, LifeMade strives to make life – better.

Product Manager (Manufacturing) - United States, Remote

Summary of Position

LifeMade is a leading provider of U.S.-made single-use cutlery and convenience products for the retail consumer markets, including both private brand and LifeMade™ branded products. With innovation and sustainability at our core, we’re thrilled to offer a wide assortment of products committed to providing convenience, quality, performance, and environmental consciousness.

The Product Manager is responsible for both product vision and product roadmap for assigned market segments. This position will be leading the vision of our Cutlery and Straws product line. This includes managing the product throughout the product lifecycle, gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements, and working closely with R&D, marketing communications and operations to deliver winning products. It also includes working with sales to ensure revenue and customer satisfaction goals are met.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Roadmap: Create and maintain a product roadmap that outlines the product's evolution over time. Prioritize features and enhancements based on customer and business value.

Project Management: Collaborate with cross functional teams to guide the product development process, creating timelines in Smartsheet, Leading internal project team meetings, ensuring that the product is built according to specifications and on schedule.

Costing and Pricing: Collaborate with Finance, Operations and Sales on both Costing and Pricing of product.

Manufacturing Knowledge: Clear understanding of manufacturing process, plant capacity and capital requirements.

Product Design / Requirements Definition: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including design, engineering, and marketing, to define product design / requirements

Customer Feedback: Collect and incorporate customer feedback to iterate on the product and make improvements based on customer needs.

Stakeholder Communication: Communicate regularly with stakeholders, including executives, team members, and customers, to provide updates on the product's progress and address any concerns.

Essential Function and Responsibilities

Product Strategy 25%

• Be an expert with respect to the company, its products, customers, sales channels and competition within assigned market segments.
• Work with Marketing and Sales to:  understand customer feedback, evaluate market trends and create a competitor analysis.
• Provide and specify product requirements to product design resources.
• Develop the core positioning and messaging for the product in coordination with the Marketing department.
• Maintain good stakeholder relationship and communication both internal and external
• Recommend pricing strategy to help support sales team in meeting revenue and profitability goals.
• Provide features and benefit information for product line sales tools and collateral.
• Assist sales with key accounts through training, development of presentation materials and, when appropriate, presenting products and strategy to customers.

Product Execution 75%

• Plan, develop, oversee and manage the day-to-day execution of projects within the assigned product pipeline.
• Manage product development process including project management, product approval, and product set-up for products within assigned market segments.
• Develop/present a business case with cost targets and profitability expectations.
• Drive collaboration with a cross-functional teams to develop and implement a product launch plan that is timely, accurate, and compelling.
• Drive cross-functional teams to execute a project and manage multiple project simultaneously with competing priorities.
• Monitor project status and provide regular communication to stakeholders from all levels in the organization.
• Proactively avoid potential risks that would jeopardize the critical path of projects.
• Lead project meetings with project team members to review timelines and individual functional area tasks.
• Employ Project Management best practices around scope, time, cost and risk
• Accomplishes all tasks as appropriately assigned or requested.

Skills:

• Proven Leadership
• Interpersonal with diverse personalities
• Decisiveness with minimal information
• Creative Problem-solver

Experience / Qualifications / Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, Science, MBA a plus.
• 5+ years of experience in product marketing, category management, new product development, product engineering, or project management.

• Experience with Sustainable materials
• Demonstrated success leading and working on cross functional teams.
• Strategic thinker, ability to plan/execute strategy and make decisions without data.
• Demonstrated experience leading project management of manufactured goods.
• Experience with products sold into multi-step distribution channels and national accounts.
• Experience with products sold into retail distribution channels or grocery distribution channels.

• Knowledge of manufacturing processes such as injection molding, thermoforming, blow molding or foam molding, a plus. 

• Advanced skills using Microsoft Office, emphasis on Excel and PowerPoint and experience in Smartsheet
• Demonstrated success managing all stages of the product lifecycle.

• Self-starter with a proven ability to assemble action plans independently and execute them within a cross functional environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including presentation skills and the ability to effectively communicate with management, and internal and external customers.

• Good understanding of financial analysis and statements.
• Analytical skills with knowledge of how to forecast sales and inventory of new products.
• Demonstrated success in engaging effectively and persuasively at all levels of the organization, from staff to senior management.
• Attention to detail and accuracy with a commitment to excellence.
• Ability to think proactively, take risks, propose change, and solve problems creatively.
• Travel up to 25%

Specifics:

• Competitive salary and bonus structure
• Full benefits package
• 401K with match
• Strong vacation and corporate holiday policy