JOB TITLE: New Product Development & Marketing Manager
DEPARTMENT: Sales & MarketingSUPERVISOR: VP, Sales & Marketing
ABOUT THE POSITION: This position is responsible for leading and owning the complete New Product Development (NPD) process from concept through commercialization and launch. This role drives the execution of new product initiatives while ensuring adherence to company SOP's, timelines, communication standards and stage-gate processes. The New Product Development Manager will be involved with marketing research to bring back product ideas as well as working with the designer/team to develop new categories and products.
The ideal candidate is highly organized, execution-focused and capable of driving cross-functional accountability across engineering, sourcing, operations, sales, marketing, finance, quality and supply chain teams. Success in this role requires strong communication skills, urgency, business acumen and the ability to efficiently move products from ideation to market while delivering measurable results.
This position plays a critical role in improving speed-to-market, process efficiency and overall launch execution across the organization.
This position can be based out of our offices in NJ, NC or CA and is eligible for relation to Williamsport, PA. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:- Drive communication, accountability and follow-up to ensure projects remain on track and milestones are achieved.
- Lead project meetings and provide clear updates on timing, risks, delays and action plans.
- Maintain project schedules, documentation, status reporting and launch readiness tracking.
- Conduct market research, competitive analysis and Voice of Customer (VOC) activities to identify project opportunities.
- Develop product specifications, positioning, cost targets and business cases for new products.
- Create and manage competitive benchmarking, comp shops and product comparisons.
- Work with domestic and international suppliers and factories to support development, sourcing, testing and launch readiness.
- Partner with strong sourcing and operations teams to support cost reduction, margin improvement and supply chain efficiency initiatives.
- Coordinate product samples, approvals, artwork reviews, packaging updates and engineering change requests.
- Ensure alignment between sales, marketing, operations and engineering throughout the development process.
- Identify process inefficiencies and implement improvements to increase speed, communication and execution efficiency.
- Support forecasting, launch planning and transition of products into production and ongoing business management.
- Ensure products launch on time, within budget and aligned with company objectives.
- Travel domestically and internationally as required to support product development and suppliers management.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:- Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering or related field.
- Minimum 3-5 years of experience in Product Management, New Development or Project management within consumer products, tools, floorcare, appliances or related industries.
- Strong experience managing products through full development and commercialization cycles.
- Proven ability to drive projects from concept through launch with measurable results.
- Strong project management and organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to influence and drive accountability across cross-functional teams without direct authority.
- Strong analytical and business acumen with experience using data to drive decisions.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a high sense of urgency and ownership.
- Experience improving SOP's, workflows and operational processes preferred.
- Big Box retail experience preferred.
- Ability to travel internationally as needed.
Great Star Tools offers a range of benefits to meet our employees' needs, based on eligibility. These benefits include, but are not limited to, our Core benefits: comprehensive healthcare, dental and vision coverage. We offer ancillary benefits, such as Life/AD&D Insurance, Salary Continuation (dependent on location), or Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Voluntary benefits (i.e. Critical Illness, etc.), Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts. We also offer a 401(k) Safe Harbor Retirement Savings Plan with an Employer Match. Vacation/Sick/Personal/Holiday time off is available. Additional details about these benefits will be provided during the hiring process.
Salary Range: $110,000 - $140,000 commensurate on experience and location plus bonus
#NJ-NC-CA
• Manages assigned product line life cycle from strategic planning to tactical activities.
• Achieves sales revenue and gross margin targets.
• Specifies market requirements for current and future products by conducting market research supported by on-going visits to customers and non-customers.
• Drives solutions across development teams (primarily Development/Engineering, Finance, Sales, and Marketing Communications) through market requirements, product feature set, packaging, standard cost optimization, and product positioning.
• Leads assigned new product development projects through the State/Gate process.
• Develops and implements go-to-market plan, working with all departments to execute.
• Participates in Line Reviews and Prospect Pitches.
• Analyzes potential partner relationships for the product.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Interacting With Computers
• Getting Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Thinking Creatively
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
Physical Demandsthe employee is occasionally Stand; Walk; Reach with hands and arms; the employee is regularly Sit; Use hands to finger, handle, or feel; Talk or hear;
Lifts Weight or Exerts Force Work Environmentthe employee is occasionally Up to 10 pounds;
Education and Experience Bachelor's degree required
Required• Sales and Marketing
• Administration and Management
• Customer and Personal Service
• Communications and Media
