Manager, Product Management - Zulu

Leapfrog Brands • Chicago, IL

2d • $110,000 - $120,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Leapfrog is excited to launch a search for a Manager, Product Management to help lead the evolution of our ZULU brand to increased resonance with its target audience! In this role, you’ll own the journey from idea to launch helping to shape, build, and bring new products to market. This role is all about connecting consumer insights to real products, partnering across teams, and making sure what we create resonates. If you like a mix of strategy, execution, and collaboration, we would love to hear from you!

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in product development, product marketing, brand marketing, or a related field, preferably at a manufacturing or consumer goods company
• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent experience) in Business, Marketing, Management, Engineering or a combination of the above
• Able to target a consumer-first perspective when it comes to introducing new products/processes or improving current products.
• Comfortable with data analysis and storytelling, leveraging inputs from multiple sources to create an actionable brand and innovation strategy
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize effectively, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and stay organized in a fast-paced environment.
• A mindset geared toward building relationships across multi-functional teams, coupled with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Highly-effective communication skills both written (presentation/email) and in-person (ability to host succinct, effective conversations that solve problems and ability to make effective presentations to all levels of management)

Responsibilities

• Lead new product development (creation and management) from brainstorm phase through mass production, as well as partner with leadership to define the overarching category direction to our design and engineering teams.
• Define and develop product specifications, marrying consumer wants/needs, white space in the market, and new/flagship product technologies as the primary consumer advocate.
• Develop user-relevant design targets for product performance and user experience and act as the beacon of these targets to the cross-functional team of engineers, industrial designers, and commercial marketers.
• Manage product cost structure, reporting, and cost rationalization exercises and collaborate with supply chain, merchandising, and supply planning teams on product sourcing strategy recommendations.
• Create and maintain P&Ls for all customers/programs to support sales efforts.
• Serve as the voice of the consumer and the market with your cross-functional partners to ensure that product development decisions meet consumer needs.
• Ensure consistency across all consumer touchpoints, including but not limited to paid media, email, retail and social channels.
• Act as the product and/or category expert for cross-functional team member questions and concerns, as well as travel to key customer meetings to pitch new products
• Provide direction and oversight into the creation and execution of go-to-market collateral to support product launch, including instructional material and consumer-facing product specification information.
• Lead category management by analyzing market, consumer and competitive data to uncover insights that drive product positioning, innovation and growth strategies
• Be called upon to take leadership of larger cross-functional breakthroughs that increase executive visibility and accelerate career growth.

Benefits

• 15 days Paid Time Off your first year, and an additional day each year thereafter (up to 25 days), as well as company paid sick days, holidays and parental leave options
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as commuter benefits and additional voluntary benefits
• Annual bonus payouts for all salaried employees, and up to a 5% 401k match with no vesting period
• Summer Fridays - from Memorial Day to Labor Day enjoy half days every Friday

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager