Sr. Product Development Associate

Gorilla Commerce; Norwalk (CT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing consumer products company is seeking a passionate Senior Associate for the Product Development team. You will support growth initiatives by developing and launching new products, optimizing the existing portfolio, and collaborating across functions. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced environments, managing multiple projects while demonstrating exceptional organizational skills. Must have a Bachelor's degree related to product design or marketing and experience in product development.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in product development role, bonus if experience managing a direct report.
• Must have a continuous improvement mindset, be a curious learner.
• Extremely detail-oriented and action-oriented.

Responsibilities

• Research and analyze consumer, competitor and industry trends.
• Identify new product opportunities to drive growth.
• Manage product launches and quality improvements.

Skills

Product development

Market research

Project management

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Product Design, Development or Marketing

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Gorilla Commerce is looking for a passionate Senior Associate to support the Product Development team’s growth initiatives by developing and launching new products and optimizing the company’s existing portfolio. This role requires someone who is highly motivated and results driven, with a strong bias for action. A lot of steps go into launching new products that fuel growth, and this role touches them all. The ideal candidate will be able to thrive in a fast-paced environment, juggling multiple priorities and projects at once. Flexibility, organization, attention to detail and the ability to prioritize in a constantly changing and highly ambiguous business environment are key.

What You’ll Do

• Research and analyze consumer, competitor and industry trends and developments
• Identify new product opportunities to drive growth and revenue
• Conduct market research and analysis to identify trends, customer needs, and competitive landscape
• Collaborate across functions to manage product launches and quality improvements
• Responsible for maintaining product briefs and tracking development using project management software
• Liaise with our Sourcing team to track the product lifecycle, drive cost negotiations, and optimize packaging and quality efficiencies
• Manage color approvals, integrate product ideas from multiple sources, and decide when/how to push projects forward
• Maintain color and sample libraries
• Take and publish clear, concise meeting minutes
• Effectively communicate pricing, sourcing, and project information to relevant stakeholders
• Identify and implement opportunities for process improvement and cost savings
• Own and drive meeting agendas with cross-functional partners to achieve deliverable schedules
• Work with cross-functional teams to monitor and action customer complaints and returns, quality improvements and corrective actions
• Plan for and travel 2x/year to Asia to accomplish new product development and procurement goals
• Work with and manage designer on unique product designs where necessary
• Identify and implement process improvements in Product Development and project management tracking software
• Strategize process improvement opportunities and propose recommendations to manager for implementation
• Create SOPs and write documentation to standardize internal processes
• Lead and support other product initiatives, including packaging design, cost negotiations, vendor management, and ongoing process development
• Expertly manage project timing, deadlines, and resources
• Effectively communicate project workload, deadlines, and priorities to manager on a weekly basis

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Product Design, Development or Marketing or equivalent years of experience
• 2+ years in product development role, bonus if experience managing a direct report
• Basic/Intermediate Excel and PowerPoint skills
• Must have a continuous improvement mindset, be a curious learner
• Open to constructive feedback and willing to ask questions
• Ability to maintain a high level of productivity while managing multiple projects and priorities
• Extremely detail-oriented and action-oriented
• Demonstrates ownership and self-accountability; come prepared to meetings to speak about your own projects and deliverables
• Balance of creative and analytical mindset
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Comfortable with change and ambiguity
• Love to roll up sleeves and do all aspects of the work
• Knowledge of the new product development lifecycle
• Strong eye for product design, color and construction
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Ability to effectively collaborate across multiple functions
• Possess a process-oriented mindset and ability to consider process standardization and improvements