Product Specialist
Hunter Douglas, Inc. · Denver, CO · 3 mo ago
Hybrid$51k–$69k/yrFull-time
Objective
Grows an understanding of establishing the vision and direction through all phases of the product lifecycle and assists in the execution objectives through cross-functional teams in the areas of product strategy, product development, and product quality.
Essential Functions
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Leadership:
- Identifies and utilizes key resources.
- Sets and understands the needs, motivations, and values of others.
- Takes initiative to understand processes and ask thoughtful questions to process owners.
- Develops relationships with cross-functional team members.
- Absorbs and provides appropriate feedback.
- Gathers data, inputs, and opinions from cross-functional team members to make informed decisions for the product line.
- Listens to understand feedback from cross-functional team members regarding changes or decisions to better understand impact to timelines, cost, or product specifications.
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Teamwork and Collaboration:
- Supports multiple product teams on a wide variety of projects.
- Contributes to the team by being engaged and present at meetings, trainings, and summits.
- Actively listens to gain knowledge from other teams and departments.
- Genuinely values and recognizes the ideas, abilities, contributions, and differences in others.
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Communication:
- Basic presentation skills, including verbal and written communication.
- Supports the creation of visual presentation content.
- Effectively communicates through verbal and written communication providing support for basic product-related needs with guidance.
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Project Management:
- Supports product management activities with specifically assigned tasks.
- Completes tasks with well-defined objectives and outcomes.
- Receives guidance with prioritization of assigned tasks.
- Basic knowledge of project management tools.
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New Product Development:
- Observes ideation process for specific product and/or specific needs.
- Reviews product requirements / product platforms created by other team members in order to gain an understanding of the requirements documentation process.
- Makes suggestions to provide clarity and consistency.
- Supports user/alpha/beta testing.
- Gains an understanding of product testing and goals.
- Begins to understand the usage of product trademarks and trade dress and patents.
- Gains an understanding of product development processes and procedures as well as key technologies associated with assigned product.
- Supports activities and accomplishments of basic tasks with supervision that lead up to a product, system, and/or sample book from development through the completion of the launch.
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Quality/Sustaining:
- Periodically attends quality-focused meetings.
- Grows understanding of current product and analysis behind planned product discontinuations.
- Grows understanding of project objectives and how objectives relate to product quality and/or improvements.
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Product Strategy:
- Grows a basic understanding all product features, benefits, and user applications.
- Realizes product positioning within the category hierarchy and how it ladders to the master brand.
- Has a basic understanding of key differences in the market, category, and competitive landscape.
- Understands product fit within category and adjacent categories.
- Understands product channel differentiation.
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Financial Management:
- Basic understanding of data collection and sales reporting.
- Basic understanding of financial analysis.
- Ability to create and submit purchase requisitions.
- Ability to pull sales reports to assist with forecast projections.
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Research:
- Basic understanding of trends and insights related to product line.
- Articulates top consumer or dealer frustrations.
- Basic understanding of product line and key competitors.
- Basic understanding of qualitative and quantitative data, leveraging data to generate insight and/or analysis for the product.
- Grows an understanding of voice of customer data.
- Grows an understanding of setting research objectives.
- Assists in research activities.
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Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
- Zero to two years of related product management and demonstrated project management is required.
- Continuing commitment to ongoing knowledge-based training.
- Hunter Douglas product management experience preferred.
- Ability to quickly learn SAP.
- Basic knowledge of the product line.
- Ability to learn the principles of finance to prepare budgets and understand all costs connected with line extensions, product enhancements, and resampling of the product.
- Basic knowledge of consumer needs in home fashion industry.
- Basic knowledge of project management.
- Solid knowledge of computer use and software packages such as, Word, Excel, and Google suite.
- Ability to learn analyzing and comparing competitive data.
- Basic knowledge of communication skills (oral and written) and how to adapt to various situations when dealing with or providing feedback.
- Basic ability to conduct presentations to all small audiences.
- Basic ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships.
- Ability to learn technical product information.
- Skill in presenting recommendations for action plans to supervisor based on analysis.
- Skill in utilizing creative thinking and problem-solving techniques on a daily basis.
- Ability to prioritize and organize multiple work assignments across various product lines.
- Ability to conduct work in a self-directed manner with limited supervision.
What's in it for you?
- Annual base salary range: $51,000 - $69,000
- Bonus target range: 5% - 10%
- Generous benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, disability
- A company culture that prioritizes internal development and professional growth
- Time off with pay
- 401(k) plan with a degree of employer matching
- Paid parental leave
- Wellness programs and product discounts