Sr Specialist Product I
Job Description
Under the general guidance of the Manager, Global Product Management executes the Company's Global Product Strategy and leads the development of more complex products. Leads in the development and implementation of global portfolio/product development plans by independently gathering information and providing key review at various points in the planning process, develops analyses of pricing, cost, and competitor information, develops options for products and packaging, and ensures the accurate, consistent communication of information to the Manager, and to key partners across the organization including the Global Opportunity and Sales group. Independently generates and evaluates solutions to address timeline issues and other product development challenges as they arise and provides recommendations to reporting Manager and department leaders as necessary. Independently works on special projects related to NPD or other critical work. Mentors other team members. Projects focused more on narrow timelines, complex formulations and product lines, or work that is considered critical to the business. Responsibilities include:
- Under the direction of the Manager, leads in the commercialization of global and regional new product development projects (including but not limited to new product innovation, formula updates, and packaging changes); and commercial innovation projects (including but not limited to value engineering) to support the product lifecycle management of the assigned product portfolio, delivering on profitable growth for the company. Collaborates and communicates with R&D, program management, product research organization, creative, legal/regulatory, and region/ local marketing teams to manage/advance said projects’ timelines.
- Projects focused more on narrow timelines, complex formulations and product lines, or work that is considered critical to the business.
- Independently works on special projects related to NPD or other critical work
- Develops new product concepts and strategies in collaboration with the Manager.
- Executes on the strategy for commercial innovation, product innovation, Go to Market plans, and product activation for both new and existing product categories.
- Has a solid understanding and awareness of both internal/external Categories.
- Completes market, competitive, and internal sales performance reviews to understand business/ product opportunities.
- Monitors trends in the competitive landscape and provides insights into the product portfolio.
- Leads the creation of New Product Development project requests to the product leadership team and regional marketing teams.
- Provides formula and package direction to internal partners for product development. Evaluates and provides preliminary approvals on product and package aesthetics.
- Works with brand positioning team to create product positioning documents for new products as well as updating current product positioning documents for commercial innovation opportunities.
- Prepares pricing recommendations based on competitive analysis, secondary research, and internal cost parameters.
- Partners with a product research organization to develop and recommend the scope and methodology of consumer and product research including qualitative consumer research, consumer claims tests, and, when required, clinical testing.
- Provides post-product launch analysis to leadership to evaluate the success of recent launches and to help design potential improvements for the future. Reviews independent sales force and industry feedback in the form of blogs, editor reviews, etc. Makes recommendations that affect future product launches.
- Communicates effectively and builds key partnerships with key stakeholders across the business.
- Identifies roadblocks and provide solutions, elevates issues to leadership as necessary to be able to work effectively and meet business objectives.
- Researches and provides insights, and recommendations into forecasting, and implementation of re-promotional recommendations to achieve Company objectives for sales and profitability.
- Maintains activities in Agile on supporting projects. Uses other systems such as Tableau Qualtrics to provide insights into the work.
- Mentors other members of the team as needed.
- This job requires on-site work at a Mary Kay facility.
Skills & Experience
Experience: 3+ years portfolio/product/management experience. Beauty industry and/or direct selling experience preferred. Experience in a global market preferred. Experience working on complex projects.
Education: Bachelor’s degree (MBA preferred) in marketing or business administration.
- Proven ability to work on complex product projects with numerous cross-functional dependencies.
- Demonstrated ability to lead multiple projects with multiple timelines.
- The ability to influence and exchange information on multiple projects with various levels of leadership with a broad and global cross-section of key partners is a must.
- Ability to build strong relationships and collaborate across a multitude of functions and levels.
- Solid business and financial acumen with analytical skills including understanding of financial principles and how to demonstrate this knowledge to make sound business recommendations to achieve business goals in a complex environment with multiple layers of partners.
- Must have the ability to demonstrate critical thinking skills, problem-solve, assess risks, and coordinate plans across multiple cross-functional teams.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to act as a change agent and adapt to changing business and organizational dynamics.
- Must demonstrate the ability to gather and analyze competitive, cost, and historical information and to prepare price comparison charts.
- Must be able to effectively manage projects and meet timelines.
- Must demonstrate the ability to develop options and recommend pricing, develop and tabulate results of feedback surveys and ensure the accuracy of communications.
- A good understanding of the core principles of product portfolio management is preferred.
- Must be well organized, have high levels of detail on projects, and handle multiple activities/tasks under pressure.
- Must be proficient in software applications such as MS Excel (development of spreadsheets, import/export, and linking); MS Word; MS PowerPoint; MS Project, MS Teams and MS Outlook, Tableau Qualtrics, or other research SaaS platforms. Oracle Agile software experience is desired.
- Demonstrates the Global Product Management (GPM) functional competency behaviors for Sr Product Specialist I.
