Associate Product Manager Jobs

Support Center - Irving
For nearly 50 years, Michaels has been the destination where Makers get inspired, learn, shop, and create. We strive to cultivate an inclusive shopping environment for all Makers and work environment for all Team Members, providing a place of belonging and empowering everyone to bring their creative dreams to life. At Michaels, every Team Member is encouraged to hone their craft with opportunities for personal and professional growth. From our Stores and Distribution Centers to Artistree and our Support Center, our best-in-class team is passionate about leaving the world a better, more creative place by contributing to every “make”.
Michaels is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are here for all Team Members and all Makers to create, innovate and be better together. The Associate Product Manager reports to a Product Manager. In this role they both support the functions of the product development process as well as help drive the ideation and execution of product development for their assigned projects/categories. The Associate PM works closely with their cross-functional partners to ensure processes & timelines stay on track. Once given a specific PD responsibility, the APM will also work closely with PM & DPD to identify strategic opportunities, interpret trend vision, and translate concepts into products and/or collections in collaboration with the Category Management team. They will understand the division strategies and financial goals to ensure that overall product development delivers consumer-driven programs that are competitive and differentiated.
Major Activities
Process Management:
Timeline Development and Management: Collaborates with the Product Manager to develop the product development timeline. Must provide timeline updates to all key stakeholders throughout the development cycle. Monitor and track key milestone dates that impact the Ship Date, such as assortment approval, SKU setup, and POs written. Works with agility and revises the timeline as needed to deliver projects on time.
Project Management: Sets up all projects in the PLM system. The primary contact with the packaging team and initiates all private brand packaging. Manages the approval process through the Opal system.
Packaging: Executes the packaging vision as outlined by the product manager.
Risk Mitigation : Responsible for identifying and resolving risks that may affect the timeline. Must work with a broad cross-functional team (vendors, agents, supply chain, custom compliance, product integrity and transportation).
Sample Management: Supports the sample review process by managing samples, compiling, and communicating comments, and shipping samples to the vendor.
Category Management Accountabilities:
Understand and evaluate sales performance of the categories, and its private brand sku’s to better deliver on product opportunities.
Collaborate with the sourcing team to maintain IMU targets and revise product as needed to achieve profitability goals.
Product Management:
Trend, Innovation & Ideation : Interpret and integrate Trend into product and/or collection concepts for presentation :
Supports the PM in leading product ideation sessions and reviews the overall market to identify new product opportunities.
Work closely with the trend and design team to have an in-depth understanding of the market and consumer insights to drive innovation.
Product Development:
Communicate project requirements to stakeholders as part of the weekly Critical Path meetings to ensure deliverables are met.
Collaborates with PM on the creation of Product Development Briefs to effectively communicate product needs and sample specifications to both internal and external partners.
Collaborates with the PM to outline specific product details in the product development brief which is reviewed by the sourcing manager for vendor selection.
Supports the PM on the sample approval process.
Partner with the Packaging Team to ensure key features and benefits of the products are identified.
Other duties as assigned
Minimum Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Minimum Education
Bachelor’s degree is required
Minimum Special Certifications or technical skills
Exceptional understanding of MS Office, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
Minimum Type of experience the job requires
Minimum 4-6 years of experience with a major retailer or brand with product development, merchandising, project management, and/or private label experience
Other
Exceptional project management skills
Travel may be required.
Managing international communications may require emails to be answered at night.
Preferred Education
Bachelor’s degree
Experience working with arts & crafts, home décor, or seasonal products preferred.
Previous buying experience a plus
Supervisory experience a plus
Physical Requirements
Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds
Frequently moves or lifts boxes or merchandise
Occasionally ascends/descends a ladder while working with merchandise set up
Applicants in the U.S. must satisfy federal, state, and local legal requirements of the job.
Michaels is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with this commitment, Michaels will assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if a reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the job, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Customer Care at 1-800-642-4235 (1800-MICHAEL).
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