Physical Product Development – Global Category Manager

National Pen

92d • $60,000 - $70,000

About The Position

This role will oversee the entire lifecycle of physical products, from ideation and design to market launch, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, innovation, and comprehensive documentation. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of recycled materials, a passion for environmentally responsible products, and exceptional project management skills.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in Product Development, Category Management, or a related field, with a focus on recycled materials or sustainability.
• Strong understanding of recycled materials, manufacturing processes, and sustainability certifications.
• Excellent project management skills with experience managing cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in product lifecycle management (PLM) tools and documentation systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.
• Able to work within a fast-paced collaborative team environment, managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office required, and proficiency in product lifecycle management (PLM) tools and documentation tools.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with Global environmental regulations and certifications (e.g., REACH, RoHS, LEED).
• Experience with life cycle assessment (LCA) tools and methodologies.
• Passion for sustainability and a track record of driving sustainable initiatives.
• Promotional Products Industry/Decoration methods experience an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a category strategy for products made with recycled materials.
• Conduct market research to identify trends, opportunities, and customer needs within the sustainable product space.
• Conduct competitive analysis on the industry to understand the product value proposition and unique selling proposition.
• Oversee product design and development processes, ensuring alignment with sustainability goals and quality standards.
• Maintain merchandising data base of applicable industry & competitor trends, merchandising best practices and design trends.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including deco engineering, supply chain, quality, compliance and marketing, to bring products to market within the launch timeline.
• Track new development samples across the global vendor base. Review, test, and revise all new product prototypes according to established product and decoration standards.
• Source and evaluate recycled materials for product feasibility, cost, and environmental impact.
• Collaborate with Cimpress Cross Functional teams for product collaboration.
• Maintain detailed documentation for all stages of product development, including specifications, testing results, and compliance certifications.
• Ensure all products comply with relevant regulations and sustainability certifications (e.g., GRS/RCS, FSC, etc).
• Evaluate and manage product manuals, technical sheets, and user guides.
• Build and maintain relationships with suppliers specializing in recycled materials.
• Assist Sales and Customer Service team’s problem solve product inquiries, questions and customer issues.
• Monitor product performance and customer feedback post-launch to inform future product development.
• Analyze sales data to evaluate category performance and drive new product development strategy, providing recommendations with analysis and executive summaries.
• Track key metrics related to sustainability goals, such as recycled content percentage, carbon footprint reduction, and cost savings.
• Stay informed on advancements in recycling technologies and sustainable materials.
• Propose innovative ideas to enhance product sustainability and lifecycle impact.
• International and Domestic travel possible to support at trade shows and product research.

Benefits

• Bonus/incentive pay.
• Diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees