Product Associate

SharkNinja•Needham, MA

6d•$95,000 - $113,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Product Associate is a high-potential, development-focused role at SharkNinja designed for professionals who can move fluidly across Product Development and Program Management functions. You will flex as-needed through both disciplines — gaining hands-on ownership of the full New Product Development (NPD) lifecycle, from concept to shelf, across our Shark and Ninja brands. You will operate as an individual contributor with the mindset of a global leader — owning program outcomes, connecting cross-functional teams, and driving products to market with speed, quality, and commercial impact. This role is best suited for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment and has a demonstrated track record of delivering results across matrixed organizations.

Requirements

Strong understanding of AI Tools and prompts (Claude, Chat GPT, CoPilot etc…)
Bachelor's degree in engineering, technical, or business management discipline
1–3+ years of experience in product development or program management within the consumer goods industry
Strong cross-functional leadership skills — able to lead through influence without direct authority
Bias to action and personal accountability; you own outcomes and follow through without prompting
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting to C-suite, functional peers, suppliers, and retail customers
Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously without losing sight of the bigger picture
Proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, and MS Project (or similar project management tools)
Agile and adaptable- ability to learn new process and projects quickly
High energy, positive, assertive, and confident — especially under pressure

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated success in a fast-paced, dynamic NPD environment
Exposure to global product development — experience working across geographies or with international manufacturing partners
Familiarity with quality management principles and 5-star consumer experience standards

Responsibilities

Jump in to help execute NPD process from ideation through end-of-life, maintaining a relentless focus on scope, cost, and schedule
Actively facilitate cross-functional stakeholder interaction to bring products to market on time and at the highest quality standard
Identify program risks, develop mitigation and contingency plans, and track resolution progress
Spot resource and knowledge gaps and take steps to highlight and remedy them
Operate with urgency — escalating scope creep, cost risks, and schedule slips to senior management while driving resolutions in parallel
Collaborate with commercial teams to ensure go-to-market strategies are positioned to deliver high rates of sales
Use KPIs and data to inform and anchor cross-functional decision making
Channel global information to local teams, acting as an effective conduit across geographies and functions
Partner with Design, Marketing, and Supply Chain to align program execution with business strategy
Own communication streams across all groups to ensure risks are mitigated and deliverables are completed on time
Present program updates, risks, and recommendations confidently to executive management and C-suite audiences
Develop and maintain clear documentation including timelines, trackers, and program governance materials