Product Manager Assistant

Position Summary:
Assist Product Manager in all aspects of product development process including but not limited to new product design, sourcing, assorting and editing product categories in order to maximize company sales growth and profitability.  
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities: (Additional duties may be assigned)

• Assist PM to research unique opportunities for new products in assigned categories that support our brand direction. Make sure all new development supports our brand direction of fun, quirky, artisanal, positive, colorful and authentic products that convey our point of view on "The Home".
•   Develop knowledge of home furnishing market trends through research and competitive shopping to ensure we are developing unique new products that will thrive in a competitive landscape. 
•  Work with PM to identify trends in categories, styles, and silhouettes.
•  In collaboration with PM, develop collections with assigned themes within a range of product values for each collection.
• With support from Product Manager, develop understanding of business including sales analysis, pricing and inventory management. 

Business Management

•  Work with the PM to ensure products meet or exceed predetermined gross margin targets and assist to maintain the specifications and product details. 
•  Coordinate with the quality control team and subsequently work with product managers and vendors to identify issues with incoming products and rectify the issue based on results of our product and packaging testing protocol.
•  Handle all sample inventory movement including location creation, receipt, transfer and proper disposition.
•   In conjunction with PM, promote growth in categories through planning and product development strategies to meet or exceed established goals.
• Protect the quality and integrity of the products by frequent communication with manufacturing resources through production phases.
•   Assist PM in managing the item master spreadsheet, and create product testing forms.
•  Review invoices for accuracy prior to payment approval.
• Update all manufacturing sources with any/all changes to products. 

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position does not have any supervisory duties.

Education and Experience:   

Requires a BA, BS Degree (or equivalent experience) and proven Microsoft Office 365 skills – especially Excel and PowerPoint with the ability to build Excel models given a general or specific objective. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Requires strong organizational skills, attention to details and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Desired Skills:

•    Excellent work ethic and ability to work in fast-paced environment.
• Appreciation and respect for cultural and language diversity.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Professional presence and articulate presentation.
•  Open-minded and inquisitive to learn new things.
• Familiarity and adeptness with modern office technology.
•  Analytical thought process and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in AutoCAD, Photoshop, and Adobe Creative Suite.

Special Requirements:

Location: Auburn, NY
Travel: 10%

Equipment Used: 
 
Computer, printer, scanner, telephone and photocopier 

Computer Software:  Outlook, Word Excel and PowerPoint

Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, reach, push, pull, lift, crouch, kneel, bend, climb stairs, use fingers to grasp, handle, feel, and perform repetitive motions of hands or wrists.
• Exerts up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently or constantly to move objects.
• Close mental and visual attention required to perform work dealing primarily with preparing, analyzing, and interpreting data and figures, using a computer terminal, and/or extensive reading. 

Environmental Conditions:

Work is performed in a typical office environment with occasional exposure to falling when climbing a ladder. 

MacKenzie-Childs is an EEO employer