Product ManagerPosition Summary
We are seeking a hands-on and commercially focused Product Manager to support market research, product planning, new product development, and commercialization.
This role is suitable for a growing organization where responsibilities are broad and team members work closely across different functions. The Product Manager will be responsible for identifying market opportunities, developing product concepts, coordinating product development projects, analyzing costs and pricing, preparing customer presentations, and supporting product launches.
The successful candidate should be comfortable working independently, managing multiple projects, and taking ownership of products from initial market research through commercial launch.
Experience in the food, pet food, consumer packaged goods, or related manufacturing industry is preferred.
Key ResponsibilitiesMarket Research and Opportunity Identification
- Conduct market research to identify consumer trends, customer needs, product gaps, and new business opportunities.
- Research competitor products, ingredients, claims, packaging formats, pricing, promotions, and market positioning.
- Review retail stores, online marketplaces, industry reports, trade publications, and customer feedback to understand market developments.
- Analyze customer sales data, product performance, and market information to identify potential new products.
- Prepare market research summaries, competitor comparisons, and product opportunity recommendations.
- Attend trade shows, customer meetings, supplier presentations, and industry events to gather market intelligence.
- Translate market findings into clear and practical product concepts.
Product Planning and Concept Development
- Develop new product ideas based on market research, customer requests, consumer trends, and company capabilities.
- Prepare product briefs covering target customers, key benefits, ingredients, product format, packaging, retail price, target cost, and market positioning.
- Evaluate new product opportunities based on customer demand, market potential, production feasibility, cost, pricing, and expected profitability.
- Recommend product positioning, product names, claims, packaging concepts, and selling points.
- Develop product roadmaps and priorities based on business opportunities and available resources.
New Product Development
- Manage new product development projects from initial concept through formulation, sampling, testing, costing, packaging, production trials, and launch.
- Work directly with R&D, Production, Quality Assurance, Procurement, Packaging, Sales, suppliers, and external manufacturers.
- Coordinate product samples and evaluate appearance, texture, flavour, functionality, packaging, and overall product quality.
- Collect feedback from customers and internal teams and coordinate product improvements.
- Follow up on project timelines, samples, costing, specifications, packaging artwork, and production readiness.
- Identify potential project risks and work with the team to resolve issues.
Costing, Pricing and Commercial Analysis
- Work with Procurement, Production, and Finance to calculate product costs.
- Review ingredient costs, packaging costs, labour, manufacturing costs, freight, and other related expenses.
- Develop recommended selling prices based on cost, target margin, market pricing, and customer expectations.
- Compare different formulas, ingredients, packaging options, and production methods to identify cost-saving opportunities.
- Evaluate the commercial feasibility and profitability of new products.
- Maintain accurate product costing and pricing information.
Product Commercialization
- Coordinate the preparation of product specifications, ingredient lists, nutritional information, packaging requirements, product claims, and customer documents.
- Support packaging development, artwork review, label information, case configuration, and pallet requirements.
- Work with Quality Assurance to ensure products and packaging meet regulatory, customer, and company requirements.
- Coordinate production trials and first commercial production runs.
- Ensure that all required product information and approvals are completed before launch.
- Support the transition of new products from development into regular production.
Sales and Customer Support
- Prepare product presentations, market research reports, product comparisons, customer proposals, and sales materials.
- Support the Sales team in customer meetings, product presentations, quotations, samples, and follow-up activities.
- Communicate with customers to understand product requirements and develop suitable product solutions.
- Assist with customer product submissions, new item forms, product specifications, and pricing requests.
- Present product concepts and explain product features, benefits, ingredients, claims, and market opportunities.
- Follow up on customer feedback and coordinate necessary product changes.
Existing Product Management
- Review sales results, margins, customer feedback, complaints, and product performance.
- Recommend improvements to product formulation, quality, packaging, pricing, or positioning.
- Identify opportunities for product extensions, new flavours, new sizes, or new packaging formats.
- Support cost-reduction projects without negatively affecting product quality.
- Recommend whether underperforming products should be improved, repositioned, or discontinued.
- Maintain updated product information and internal product records.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science, Nutrition, Product Development, or a related field.
- Three or more years of experience in product management, market research, product development, marketing, commercialization, sales support, or a related role.
- Experience in the food, pet food, consumer packaged goods, ingredients, packaging, or manufacturing industry is preferred.
- Experience conducting market and competitor research is required.
- Experience managing new product projects from concept through launch is preferred.
- Strong commercial understanding of product costs, pricing, margins, and customer requirements.
- Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and project management skills.
- Ability to work independently and manage several projects at the same time.
- Comfortable working in a growing company with broad responsibilities and changing priorities.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to follow projects through to completion.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and other business software.
- Knowledge of food ingredients, manufacturing processes, labeling, regulations, or quality systems is an asset.
- Experience working with retailers, private-label customers, distributors, or food-service customers is an asset.
Key Competencies
- Strong market awareness
- Commercial thinking
- Hands-on project management
- Product innovation
- Research and analytical ability
- Customer-focused mindset
- Ownership and accountability
- Cross-functional coordination
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Working Conditions
- The position is primarily office-based, with regular involvement in product development, production trials, sample evaluation, and customer presentations.
- Occasional travel may be required for customer meetings, store visits, supplier meetings, production visits, and trade shows.
- Flexibility may be required during production trials, customer deadlines, and major product launches.
Equal Opportunity
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process upon request.
Pay: $70,000.00-$100,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
