Product Manager

Children's Factory • Union, MO

12d

About The Position

ABOUT THE ROLE: Do you love bringing real, hands-on products to life - from the first sketch to the finished item in a classroom or playroom? As a Product Manager at Children's Factory, you'll lead the development of innovative, high-quality physical products that inspire learning, creativity, and fun. From early education furniture to imaginative play equipment, you'll oversee every stage of the process... transforming ideas into products that enrich children's environments. You'll thrive here if you're passionate about materials, design, and manufacturing, and enjoy collaborating with creative teams to make great ideas manufacturable, safe, and market-ready. WHAT YOU'LL DO: As our Product Manager, you will: Lead Product Development : Manage the entire lifecycle of physical products, from concept through design, prototyping, testing, and launch. Collaborate Cross-Functionally : Partner with Design, Engineering, Sourcing, Marketing, and Manufacturing to bring innovative, child-centered products to market. Research & Analyze : Conduct market and consumer research to identify trends, opportunities, and unmet needs in the early education and children's product space. Evaluate & Innovate: Assess competitor products and industry benchmarks to guide product design and differentiation. Ensure Manufacturability: Work closely with engineering and production teams to align design intent with cost, quality, and manufacturing capabilities. Plan & Execute Launches: Develop go-to-market strategies, timelines, and positioning plans for new product introductions. Optimize Product Portfolio: Support product lifecycle management, SKU rationalization, and continuous improvement efforts. Every day, you'll have the opportunity to turn creative concepts into meaningful, tangible products that make a difference for teachers, parents, and children alike. ABOUT YOU: You're the right candidate if you: Have hands-on product experience: You've worked with physical products (furniture, toys, learning tools, or consumer goods), not just digital or software-based offerings. Understand design and production : You know how materials, construction, safety, and compliance influence great product design. Collaborate seamlessly: You enjoy partnering across teams - from creative to technical - to make ideas manufacturable and market-ready. Think like a creator and a strategist: You balance creativity and market insight with sound business judgment and practical execution. Are highly organized and proactive: You manage multiple projects, deadlines, and details while keeping the big picture in focus. Have a passion for products that make a difference: You care about designing items that inspire learning, play, and development in real-world settings.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Design, Product Development, or a related field.
• Proven experience managing physical product development - ideally in furniture, educational products, or consumer goods .
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams through concept, design, sourcing, and launch.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 (Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with project management tools such as Monday.com or Smartsheet is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead Product Development : Manage the entire lifecycle of physical products, from concept through design, prototyping, testing, and launch.
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally : Partner with Design, Engineering, Sourcing, Marketing, and Manufacturing to bring innovative, child-centered products to market.
• Research & Analyze : Conduct market and consumer research to identify trends, opportunities, and unmet needs in the early education and children's product space.
• Evaluate & Innovate: Assess competitor products and industry benchmarks to guide product design and differentiation.
• Ensure Manufacturability: Work closely with engineering and production teams to align design intent with cost, quality, and manufacturing capabilities.
• Plan & Execute Launches: Develop go-to-market strategies, timelines, and positioning plans for new product introductions.
• Optimize Product Portfolio: Support product lifecycle management, SKU rationalization, and continuous improvement efforts.

Benefits

• 12 Paid Holidays : Including Christmas Eve and the Day After Thanksgiving so you can enjoy more time with family.
• Generous PTO Accrual : Because work-life balance matters.
• Paid Parental Leave : Support for growing families.
• Volunteer Time Off : Give back to the community while getting paid.
• Generous 401(k) Company Match : Helping you plan for your future.
• Educational Assistance : Invest in your career growth with tuition reimbursement.
• Comprehensive Benefits : Medical, dental, and vision coverage starting the first of the month following your date of hire.

What This Job Offers

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