Retail Product Manager

Search Solution Group; Newton (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Search Solution Group is seeking a Product Manager for a manufacturing client. You will own product strategy and lifecycle from market research through launch, working with cross-functional teams to drive revenue, margin growth, and market share in the retail sector.

You will analyze markets, define roadmaps, prioritize requirements, and collaborate with sales, marketing, finance, and operations. The role requires strategic thinking and strong leadership, with travel up to 10% including

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Product Management, Engineering, or related field.
• MBA strongly preferred.
• Minimum 3 years as Product Manager or similar product-focused role.
• Minimum 5 years in retail or with retail-market suppliers.
• Proven experience defining, developing, and launching products.
• Experience with cross-functional teams in a matrix or collaborative environment.
• Experience in Sales and/or Finance is a plus.
• Experience with international teams or global product organizations is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Define and communicate a compelling product vision and strategy aligned with company objectives.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify customer needs and trends.
• Manage the complete product lifecycle from ideation to launch and post-launch management.
• Gather, analyze, and prioritize product and customer requirements.
• Develop and maintain a product roadmap balancing short-term needs with long-term goals.
• Communicate roadmaps and strategic direction to key stakeholders for alignment.
• Collaborate with sales, marketing, customer support, finance, and operations.
• Partner with European teams to leverage global expertise for NA market success.
• Establish and achieve revenue and margin targets throughout the lifecycle.
• Monitor performance and make data-driven optimization recommendations.
• Present strategies and business cases to leadership; travel up to 10% including international travel.

Skills

Product strategy

Lifecycle management

Market research

Data-driven decisions

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Sales/Finance collaboration

Communication

Leadership without authority

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

Tools

MS Office Suite

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

Search Solution Group is seeking a Product Manager on behalf of our client, a manufacturing company. The Product Manager will be responsible for developing and executing product strategies that support business objectives, drive revenue and margin growth, and strengthen the company’s position within the retail market. This role will oversee the full product lifecycle, from market research and product development through launch, performance optimization, and product rationalization. The ideal candidate will be a strategic, data-driven leader who can effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and influence business decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and communicate a compelling product vision and strategy aligned with overall company objectives.
• Conduct comprehensive market research and competitive analysis to identify customer needs, market trends, opportunities, and risks.
• Manage the complete product lifecycle from ideation and development through launch, ongoing management, and post-launch activities.
• Gather, analyze, and prioritize product and customer requirements.
• Develop and maintain a product roadmap that balances immediate business needs with long-term strategic goals.
• Communicate product roadmaps, priorities, and strategic direction to key stakeholders to ensure organizational alignment.
• Manage product portfolio depth and breadth by identifying opportunities for product line expansion and rationalizing underperforming or strategically misaligned products.
• Collaborate closely with sales, marketing, customer support, finance, and other cross-functional teams to align product strategy with business objectives.
• Partner with European product management and operations teams to leverage global expertise and accelerate product success in the North American market.
• Establish and achieve revenue and margin targets throughout the product lifecycle.
• Monitor product performance against established business goals and make data-driven recommendations to optimize results.
• Use market, customer, competitive, and financial data to inform product direction, priorities, and investment decisions.
• Support the successful development and launch of new products, ensuring alignment across relevant internal teams.
• Identify opportunities to improve existing products based on customer feedback, market conditions, competitive activity, and business performance.
• Present product strategies, performance updates, recommendations, and business cases to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Travel up to 10%, including occasional international travel, as required.

Requirements include

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Product Management, Engineering, or a related field required.
• MBA strongly preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of experience as a Product Manager or in a similar product-focused role.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working in retail or with companies that supply products to the retail market.
• Proven experience defining, developing, and successfully launching products.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams in a matrixed or collaborative environment.
• Experience in Sales and/or Finance preferred.
• Experience working with international teams or global product organizations is a plus.

Skills

• Strong product strategy and lifecycle management skills.
• Excellent market research and competitive analysis capabilities.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without formal authority.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to balance strategic priorities with day-to-day business needs.
• Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10%, including international travel.

Certifications

• No specific certifications required.
• Product management, project management, or related professional certifications are a plus.

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of product management principles and the product lifecycle.
• Knowledge of retail markets, customer behavior, and industry trends.
• Understanding of product development, product launches, and portfolio management.
• Knowledge of market research and competitive analysis methodologies.
• Understanding of revenue, margin, and financial performance metrics.
• Familiarity with sales and marketing strategies and their role in product success.
• Understanding of cross-functional business operations and stakeholder management.
• Knowledge of North American and international retail markets is preferred.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop long-term product strategies while remaining focused on current business priorities.
• Leadership: Demonstrates the ability to lead initiatives, build alignment, and drive results across teams without relying on formal authority.
• Analytical Thinking: Uses market, customer, competitive, and financial data to make informed product decisions.
• Communication: Clearly communicates product strategy, priorities, performance, and recommendations to stakeholders at all levels.
• Customer Focus: Understands customer needs and translates market insights into meaningful product opportunities.
• Business Acumen: Understands the relationship between product decisions, revenue, margins, market share, and overall business performance.
• Collaboration: Builds strong working relationships with sales, marketing, finance, operations, support, and international product teams.
• Decision-Making: Evaluates opportunities and risks effectively and makes timely, well-informed decisions.
• Adaptability: Comfortable navigating changing market conditions, customer expectations, and business priorities.
• Results Orientation: Takes ownership of product performance and consistently works toward achieving revenue, margin, and strategic objectives.

Company Overview

Company Industry: Manufacturing

Location: Newton, NC

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Search Solution Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued and respected. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status in our hiring process or employment practices. We believe that a diverse workforce brings unique perspectives and strengths, driving innovation and growth. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our team.

We believe that a diverse workforce brings unique perspectives and strengths, driving innovation and growth. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our team.

Disclaimer

Please note that the job description provided is not exhaustive and is subject to change. Additional duties may be assigned as needed to meet the evolving needs of the organization and to ensure the successful completion of projects and objectives.