Associate Product Manager

Founded in 1998, Gartner Studios' mission is simple; to bring style and delight to your life and events - at a value you'll love! Our thoughtfully designed and developed stationery, celebration and workspace products are sold at major retailers across the USA, Europe and Canada. As a Gartner Studios team member, you'll be surrounded by a dynamic and diligent team. Poised for growth, we believe in the entrepreneurial spirit and encourage promotion from within. If you're a highly motivated and dedicated person seeking professional growth and experience - we look forward to speaking with you. As we say, it's about "ideas, products & people!Consumer Associate Product Manager Position SummaryThis position is responsible for managing and executing both import and domestic programs in compliance with all customer and governmental regulations. Programs are required to be delivered on-time while meeting the quality expectations against our brand as well as our external customer requirements. The position requires strong attention to detail, timeline management, product knowledge, problem solving skills, critical thinking and clear communication with precise information to our procurement team, overseas sourcing team and factory partners. This is not a MS or IT position; this is a consumer product management position. It also requires collaborating, team building and partnering with both internal and external teams. As this position requires detailed communication between the US and international locations, work hours will be staggered to cover portions of both US and international business hours. Must be available to work in Stillwater, MN location a minimum of 3 days per week.Please submit application via the following link: ResponsibilitiesManage the supply chain process and communication to deliver 100% on-time quality programs with overall margins that meet or exceed our annual company goal.Work in conjunction with the product development and design teams to write clear and precise specifications into an RFQ (Request for Quotation) within the PLM system.Support and follow best practices in the process of executing and delivering your programs on time.Build and maintain a costing matrix for each category you own by partnering with your supervisor, product development, and sourcing teams.Partner with Procurement team to determine factory partners with the best fit to quote each program.Communicate directly with Gartner's overseas sourcing team and factories to problem solve issues and opportunities.Work with the art production team to manage the timeline and accuracy of art files being delivered to the vendor partners.Assure timely delivery of all samples required for customer and product development approval.Provide help and support to QA staff to ensure that all testing is completed to allow on time delivery.Provide support to all operations as needed.All other duties as assigned.Position Responsibilities as Assigned by ManagerUnderstanding of product offering, retails and competitive landscape for all key accounts/customersOverall product direction, with the application of marketplace/trends, characteristics, vision and planning for product lines both internal and externalCreation, P&L analysis and presenting to senior management line lists for approvalAdhering to company margin expectationsNegotiate pricing to meet P&L requirementsCommunicating customer wholesale cost and additional program details to Sales ManagerLeading and or collaborating on all sales forward documents, samples and presentation deliverablesCollaborating with Sales Managers and Design Team to create new or refreshed products and programs within necessary timelinesCollaborating with Project Manager, Sourcing / Merchandisers and Business Analysts to achieve margin goals, product quality and to meet production timelines.Reviewing and applying sell through reports and consumer key performance indicators all product development initiativesCollaborating with Business Analysts on forecasting and review of inventory turnsResearching, collecting and leading all product kick off meetings with Creative Director and Design TeamCommunicate necessary action items to ensure all products are represented on Gartner websites. This may include but not limited to, photoshoots, all key data points for upload, SRP recommendation, product detail for marketing purposesTraveling to and presenting as deemed necessary by Product Development Director, Director of Sales and or Sales Manager for relevant customer/account meetingsCollaboration with vendors on real-time product development, relationship building, costing and specification negotiationsCompany ExpectationsConsistent emphasis on collaboration with cross-functional team membersMitigating conflict with urgency, addressing concerns with subordinates, peers and management independently and professionallyConsistently and respectfully on time for all meetingsProfessional present in all meetings, focused (not on computer with other work, cell phones)Vigorously respect time management, for yourself and all team membersEstablished and clearly articulated point of view (POV)Troubleshooting, solution identifierPreparedness for all inward and outward facing meetings and presentationsModel behavior: exceptional attitude, act with urgency, clear expectations & communicationConsistently and accurately follow all process procedures, tools and system requirements as instructed by managerJob SpecificationsMinimum Education:· Bachelor's Degree or equivalent work experience required· Operations, Supply Chain, or International Business-related degrees preferredMinimum Experience:· 2 years' experience in sourcing and/or product development related fields· Proficient in Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe, Microsoft Teams· General understanding of stationery product business with the ability to develop a very detailed understanding· Proven ability to work in fast paced environment while juggling multiple competing tasks and demands· Must display a positive and can-do attitude· Overseas experience working in Hong Kong or greater international sourcing operations capacity preferredKey Skills:· Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills· Excellent oral and written communication· Deliver clear and concise direction as well as feedback to both domestic and international team's· Detailed orientated with strong analytical skills· Ability to organize, manage, and coordinate resources to manage the execution of all programs· Resilient and adaptable in working with new and different product formats· Collaborates with overseas sourcing team and factory partners· Drives for results with a sense of urgency and commitment to achieve goals· Able to multi-task across competing prioritiesOther Requirements:· Requires working on a personal computer up to eight hours a day· Communication with international teams outside of normal business hours· Flexible work hours to cover US and Hong Kong and other international business hours

Created: 2025-02-02