Assistant Product Manager

ReaderLink; Oak Brook (IL); On-site; USD 33,103 - 35,128; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plans – Medical, Dental & Prescription

401(k) with Company Match

Vacation Pay & Paid Holidays

Job summary

ReaderLink in Oak Brook, Illinois seeks an Assistant Product Manager to support product presentations and manage line reviews. This role involves coordination with product managers and vendors, as well as analyzing sales reports and maintaining relationships.

Ideal candidates should have a high school diploma, preferable a Bachelor's degree, and strong skills in Microsoft Office. The position offers a competitive hourly rate and comprehensive benefits, including health plans and a 401(k) with company match.

Qualifications

• Minimum one (1) year of experience in publishing, print, or a related field is preferred.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience in product management is preferred.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

Responsibilities

• Manage Line Review and Seasonal Solicitation process.
• Coordinate with product managers for planogram changes.
• Assist in the preparation of customer product presentations.

Skills

Microsoft Excel

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Team collaboration

Analytical skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

The Assistant Product Manager supports the presentation and planning of trade publisher products and provides day‑to‑day liaison for Product Managers with the vendors, marketing, inventory, and sales teams.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Manage Line Review and Seasonal Solicitation process.
• Manage Planogram room including changeover of retailer planograms and requesting samples.
• Assist Product Managers on a project request basis.
• Ensure planogram integrity and accuracy for planograms within areas of responsibility, including correct in‑store dates, product mix, store lists, and prepack set ups while following established planogram input standards and requirements.
• Coordinate with product managers to execute planogram changes due to in‑store date changes, drop‑ins, title drops, available inventory, customer requests, or any other scenarios requiring planogram maintenance.
• Attend publisher product presentations and prepare reports for product managers to reference during presentations.
• Assist in the preparation of customer product presentations, including creating, saving, and organizing presentation materials, samples, and reporting.
• Pull weekly sales/buying reports for product managers and ad‑hoc reports for analysis.
• Help build and maintain long‑term relationships with customers and publishers.
• Manage product samples: requesting, unpacking, staging, and shipping to customers.
• Other duties may be assigned, directed, or requested.

What You Will Need:

• High school diploma or GED diploma or certificate required.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field is preferred.
• Minimum one (1) year of experience in publishing, print, or a related field is preferred.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience in product management is preferred.
• Strong to advanced experience in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook is preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal skills – in person, phone, email, presentations, etc.
• Adaptive, team player, and aggressive problem solver.
• Creative thinker with strong analytical skills.
• Problem‑solving skills with the ability to think creatively.
• High energy level with ability to keep multiple projects on schedule.
• Solid attention to detail and ability to multitask.
• Team‑oriented, hardworking, open‑minded, and flexible.
• Must have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to speak with all levels of the organization and outside partners.
• Must be proficient in basic mathematics: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• Ability to do algebra, calculate figures and amounts and apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• A methodical and organized approach to problem‑solving.
• The work performed is in an office environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate at low decibels.
• Must be able to work in a fast‑paced, team environment.
• Ability to travel to trade shows, presentations, customer location, and corporate facilities as needed.

Hourly Rate:

$24.03/hour - $25.50/hour

Employee Benefits Include But Are Not Limited To:

• Health Plans – Medical, Dental & Prescription
• Flexible Spending Accounts – Health & Dependent Care
• Disability, Life and Accident Insurance
• Vacation Pay & Paid Holidays
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Author Events
• Publisher-sponsored Book Club

ReaderLink is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status. EOE/Minorities/Female/Disabled/Veteran.

ReaderLink is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation to assist with completing the electronic application, please email your request to [email protected], or call: [phone].