At Blue Marble, our mission is to create purposeful products that inspire a love of learning in children and empower parents to raise thoughtful, confident kids. If you envision working for an award-winning company with a mission you can believe in, a playful and energetic culture, a talented team of coworkers, and a bright future, look to Blue Marble!
We seek an experienced Product Development Manager to join our amazing Blue Marble Product Development team in beautiful Ashland, Oregon. The Product Development Manager is primarily responsible for leading product development from concept through production, working with internal and overseas teams and licensors to deliver consumer-ready products.
This is a "hands-on" role where you work cross-functionally with our Creative, Industrial Design, Marketing, Sales, and Compliance teams. You'll also work with our overseas team and our Executive Management to ensure that every product represents our company's values and inspires our customers. The Product Development Manager captures the product vision, gathers legal and IP feedback, and ensures approval of concepts before moving forward with the product.
Along with managing products through the product development life cycle, they are responsible for ensuring the team is meeting strategic initiatives and is responsible for meeting internal metrics for a number of product launches per year.
Primary Responsibilities
Continually improves upon the partnership with marketing, creative, and sourcing counterparts, driving a cohesive brand vision and ensuring that products meet assortment strategies, price points, efficiencies, and overall creative direction.
Ensure strategic alignment between all stakeholders and partners throughout the product development process.
Must be able to lead toy products through the entire lifecycle from early concept to launch by working closely with the creative teams and other business stakeholders to execute product opportunities & develop product tech packs.
Lead product-briefing meetings with all internal stakeholders.
Maintains Product Specifications, Bill of Materials and Tech Packs on all Products to ensure products are engineered to cost standards.
Develop retail SMUs, Pallet Programs, and PDQ programs.
Translate marketplace trends and insights into actionable recommendations for innovative growth and new product ideas.
Use our project management and workflow tools for inter-departmental collaboration.
Coordinate and manage key metrics in the development process, including yearly adoption tracking and margin goals, to ensure requirements are met.
Develop skills/enhance the productivity of Product Developers by managing, coaching, providing feedback, instilling teamwork, conducting performance reviews, and promoting training/development.
Please Note: This is not a product design position.
Desired Qualifications
8+ years' experience in product development in a consumer products toy field; sports/entertainment licensor or licensee (Toy Manufacturer).
Must have a comprehensive understanding of children's toy compliance standards and requirements.
A strong understanding of gross margin. Ability to use data analytics to guide decisions and judgments.
Works to deliver the product development plan and achieve the business goals set for the Everyday category. Always puts the customer first when making decisions.
Strong ability to organize and drive development plans to hit deadlines and launch dates.
Strong data management and project management skills required. The ability to find solutions and remove obstacles is required; understanding the impact of decisions.
Possess the ability to communicate complex concepts, projected performance, and risks to team and senior management.
Good command of Microsoft Office Suite applications; Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Experience with PDM, PLM systems, and Project Management (Stage-Gate process) is preferred.
Strategic Agility - Understand key relationships relevant to achieving short & long-range objectives.
Champions Change - Not satisfied with the status quo. Offers compelling ideas to advance the business. Leads change from the front.
What Does Success Look Like in This Role?
A successful Product Development Manager is a skilled communicator, organized leader, and creative problem-solver with a positive attitude and the ability to thrive in an ever-changing and fast-paced work environment. They possess STRONG project management and organizational skills.
They have a proven track record of leading successful teams of product developers who are capable of line planning and leading their own categories while showing year-over-year improvement in their respective roles.
Their experience allows them to avoid common manufacturing and compliance pitfalls, and they know how to keep their projects on track.
Workplace Arrangement
In-person collaboration is a key aspect of Blue Marble's work culture. This role is designated as a hybrid role, with three days a week expected at corporate headquarters in Ashland, Oregon. This arrangement allows for a balance between in-person collaboration and remote work flexibility.
Blue Marble is proud to offer a generous and comprehensive benefits package, including:
401(k) with company match
Health insurance with multiple plans to choose from
Health savings account
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Employee assistance program
Flexible work schedule
Paid time off
Parental leave
Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties to meet the organization's needs.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.