Associate Product Specialist

Position Overview

Grows an understanding of establishing the vision and direction through all phases of the product lifecycle and assists in the execution objectives through cross-functional teams in the areas of product strategy, product development, and product quality.

What you'll do

An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential functions. (These examples do not include all of the functions which the employee may be expected to perform.)

LEADERSHIP

• Identifies and utilizes key resources.
• Seeks to understand the needs, motivations and values of others.
• Takes initiative to understand processes and ask thoughtful questions to process owners.
• Develops relationships with cross-functional team members
• Asks for and receives feedback appropriately and constructively acts upon feedback.

TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION

• Ability to support multiple product teams on a wide variety of projects.
• Contributes to the team by being engaged and present at meetings, trainings and summits.
• Actively listens to gain knowledge from other teams and departments. Genuinely values and recognizes the ideas, abilities, contributions and differences in others.
• Gather data, input and opinions from cross-functional team members to make informed decisions for the product line.
• Listens to understand feedback from cross-functional team members regarding changes or decisions to better understand impact to timelines, cost or product specifications.

COMMUNICATION

• Basic presentation skills, including verbal and written communication. Supports the creation of visual presentation content.
• Effectively communicates through verbal and written communication providing support for basic product related needs with guidance.
• Possesses basic verbal and written communication skills.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Supports product management activities with specifically assigned tasks. Completes tasks with well-defined objectives and outcomes.
• Receives guidance with prioritization of assigned tasks.
• Basic knowledge of project management tools

NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

• Observes ideation process for specific product and/or specific needs.
• Reviews product requirements / product platforms created by other team members in order to gain an understanding of the requirements documentation process. Makes suggestions to provide clarity and consistency.
• Supports user/alpha/beta testing. Gains an understanding of product testing and goals.
• Begins to understand the usage of product trademarks and trade dress and patents.
• Gains an understanding of product development processes and procedures as well as key technologies associated with assigned product.
• Supports activities and accomplishes of basic tasks with supervision that lead up to a product, system, and/or sample book from development through the completion of the launch.

QUALITY/ SUSTAINING

• Periodically attends quality focused meetings.
• Grows understanding of current product and analysis behind planned product discontinuations.
• Grows understanding of project objectives and how objectives relate to product quality and or improvements.

PRODUCT STRATEGY

• Grows a basic understanding all product features, benefits and user applications. Realizes product positioning within the category hierarchy and how it ladders to the master brand. Has basic understanding of key differences in the market, category and competitive landscape.
• Understands product fit within category and adjacent categories.
• Understands product channel differentiation.
• Basic understanding of prioritization within assigned product category.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Basic understanding of data collection and sales reporting.
• Basic understanding of financial analysis.
• Ability to create and submit purchase requisitions.
• Ability to pull sales reports to assist with forecast projections.

RESEARCH

• Basic understanding of trends and insights related to product line. Articulates top consumer or dealer frustrations.
• Basic understanding of product line and key competitors.
• Basic understanding of qualitative and quantitative data, leveraging data to generate insight and/or analysis for the product.
• Grows an understanding of voice of customer data.
• Grows an understanding of setting research objectives.
• Assists in research activities.

Who you are:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 0 to 2 years of related product management and demonstrated project management is required.
• Continuing commitment to ongoing knowledge-based training.
• Hunter Douglas product management experience preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS AND KSA’S FOR EMPLOYMENT

• An employee in this position, upon appointment, should have the equivalent of the following:
• Ability to quickly learn SAP.
• Basic knowledge of the product line
• Ability to learn the principles of finance to prepare budgets and understand all costs connected with line extensions, product enhancements and resampling of the product.
• Basic knowledge of consumer needs in home fashion industry.
• Basic knowledge of project management.
• Solid knowledge of computer use and software packages such as, Word, Excel, and Google suite
• Ability to learn analyzing and comparing competitive data
• Basic knowledge of communication skills (oral and written) and how to adapt to various situations when dealing with or providing feedback.
• Basic knowledge of correct grammar usage to compose and proofread correspondence for spelling, sentence construction and punctuation errors.
• Basic ability to conduct presentations to all small audiences.
• Basic ability to develop and maintaining effective work relationships.
• Ability to learn technical product information.
• Skill in presenting recommendations for action plans to supervisor based on analysis.
• Ability to utilize creative thinking and problem solving techniques on a daily basis.
• Ability to prioritize and organize multiple work assignments across various product lines.
• Ability to conduct work in a self-directed manner with limited supervision.

What's in it for you?

• Annual base salary range: $51,000.00 - $69,000.00
• Bonus target range: 5-10%
• Generous benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, disability
• A company culture that prioritizes internal development and professional growth
• Time off with pay 
• 401(k) plan with a degree of employer matching
• Paid parental leave
• Wellness programs and product discounts

Please note, all offers presented to candidates are carefully crafted to ensure market competitiveness, equity, and reflect the individual candidate’s education, experience, skills and potential.
Hunter Douglas is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with applicable employment laws. EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled are encouraged to apply.

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