Product Design and Development - Product Manager - Specialized 5

Mindlance•Beaverton, OR

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are hiring for a Product Line Manager position. We’re looking for someone who is passionate about footwear, loves collaborating across diverse functional footwear teams and who seeks to deliver athletes with world class footwear and storytelling via color, material and graphics. The focus of this role will primarily be on the Core Running part of the Footwear Creation process. This person will need to have a strong understanding of footwear creation, trends in color and material and be the pulse for the consumer in ultimately helping define and deliver the future of performance and sport aesthetic. We are looking for someone who is authentic and curious and who is inspired by the possibility of creating the next iconic designs of Running for the future. Strong organizational and communication skills and a collaborative, team-oriented approach are key for this role. We are looking for someone who actively creates an environment of inclusion, trust and collaboration. Who works together with others as one team, supporting others in doing meaningful work while driving impact by winning with our consumers. This role will work with Product Management and a cross-functional team (Merchandising, Design, Testing and Development) on the footwear creation process from brief to final product approval. You will lead both the creation and expression (color, material and graphics) creation workflow through data management and effective collaboration across cross-functional partners. You will be delivering on key dates and holding yourself accountable to be a great teammate that fosters joy and creativity. This role will be responsible for crafting insightful and inspiring seasonal color, material and graphic briefs for the footwear line as well as athlete insights to help inform the key problems to solve and benefits that athletes find valuable for new model creation. They will analyze consumer and competitive trends in the market, collect insights via focus groups with consumers to provide a shared definition of success with cross-functional teammates for the creation of new colors and materials within the footwear line that drives consumer demand while meeting margin and growth targets. A typical day/week includes ensuring the accuracy of information in key systems, sample management, participating and conducting meetings and providing clear communication to guide cross- functional teams thru critical checkpoints. You'll be responsible for collaborating with Product Management, Design, Tech Development and Merchandising teammates to create industry best footwear with world class performance footwear and storytelling.

Requirements

Basic proficiency in Microsoft Suite
Experience building high level product decks using Keynote
Presentation skills
Good cultural fit
Collaborative
Excellent communication skills (to both upstream and downstream partners)
Personable, good people skills
8+ years’ experience in a product-adjacent role preferred
Experience in marketing research
Experience in consumer research
Specific product management experience will be prioritized

Nice To Haves

Footwear industry experience coupled with product management experience
Sport background (with a focus on running)
Retail experience
All-around product expertise
Athlete insights, passion for sport

Responsibilities

Lead the creation and expression (color, material and graphics) creation workflow through data management and effective collaboration across cross-functional partners.
Deliver on key dates and hold yourself accountable to be a great teammate that fosters joy and creativity.
Craft insightful and inspiring seasonal color, material and graphic briefs for the footwear line.
Gather athlete insights to help inform key problems to solve and benefits that athletes find valuable for new model creation.
Analyze consumer and competitive trends in the market.
Collect insights via focus groups with consumers to provide a shared definition of success with cross-functional teammates for the creation of new colors and materials within the footwear line that drives consumer demand while meeting margin and growth targets.
Ensure the accuracy of information in key systems.
Manage samples.
Participate and conduct meetings.
Provide clear communication to guide cross-functional teams through critical checkpoints.
Collaborate with Product Management, Design, Tech Development and Merchandising teammates to create industry best footwear with world class performance footwear and storytelling.
Support Core Running through all things product management: continuing work in flight, breaching new products and opportunities, product creation processes for new models, and supporting multiple aspects across footwear creation.
Support 3-4 different projects at one time.
Work closely with merchandising and marketing teams.