Footwear Product Line Manager Ii

Who We Are

At Brooks, we believe a run can change a day, a life, the world. Everyone who works here is a key part of our obsession to make the best running gear on the planet. We want our business — which also happens to be our passion — to be a place where everyone feels welcome and comfortable being themselves. Our company culture defines us, bonds us together, and drives our success. We live this culture daily through our brand values: Runner First, Word is Bond, Champion Heart, There is no “I” in Run, and Keep Moving. This means we always solve for the runner, do what we say we will, give it our all, are generous with our humanity, and find a way to keep moving every day, because joy is kinetic.

Are you ready to help create something extraordinary?

Your Job

The Mission of the Product Line Management and BlueLine teams is to be the voice of the consumer in the product creation process, set the product benefit expectations, and ensure that this vision is maintained from brief to market. The primary goal is to bring Brooks’ complete and competitive footwear product lines to market in a timely and profitable manner and to identify the products, technologies, experiences and processes that will shape the future of running in innovative ways.

As a Brooks Footwear Product Line Manager II (PLM), you play a critical role in creating great products that are loved by runners. As a PLM II, you’ll be part of the Footwear team responsible for setting the strategy, concepts and line plan for key products within Brooks’ global footwear product line that effectively meets the wants and needs of the consumer. You are the consumer expert on your footwear category using insights and data to develop a deep understanding of target runner groups to drive the creation of successful products. The primary focus of the PLM II is to meet the unique footwear product needs of all who run. You will work with the cross functional Footwear team by providing a seasonal product segment framework ensuring decisions meet key deliverables related to consumer, business and marketplace.

Your Responsibilities

• The PLM is the ‘expert’ on consumer mindsets, motivations, behaviors, and preferences.
• Story Crafting, Product Presentation/Communication
• Product Line Planning
• Be the category expert, by constantly having a pulse on the consumer, the competition, and the changing distribution landscape. Stay ahead of the competition by anticipating what will delight the consumer in the future and setting up products within your category for success.
• Brief both inline and cutting-edge innovation projects on a seasonal basis
• Work closely with Development and Design to ensure assigned products hit gross margin targets and are completed on time.
• Participate in insights expressed needs research projects in conjunction with RSL and/or other PLMs that will help inform the desirability and viability of product in the eyes of the consumer through the product creation cycle. Mentor Associate and PLM I’s through this process to grow their knowledge to participate in future projects.
• Process Leader/Product Confirmation/Business Acumen
• Bring the target consumer and the ‘Why’ to life through emotional storytelling to drive compelling product solutions and gain understanding and buy-in from stakeholders.
• Conduct both qualitative and quantitative consumer research to gain an in-depth understanding of specific runner groups and anticipate future trends.
• Create a 5-year roadmap for product experience incorporating yearly updates and innovation.
• Quantify business opportunities for assigned products that support the overall footwear strategic plan.
• Present line architecture, range, products, concepts, and innovative ideas to internal and external stakeholders
• Act as a resource for PR, Sales, and Marketing for product presentations and videos
• Demonstrate working knowledge of materials, constructions, and biomechanics.
• Consumer, Insights & Market Knowledge/Analysis
• Drive success of the category through the growth of the number of products, efficiency of products, and by hitting turnover and weighted margin goals of the category. Create comprehensive consumer-centric product briefs that initiate the product creation process. Includes setting KPI’s to quantitatively ensure product will meet the needs of the runner.
• Provide Design and Development with visual and factual consumer and marketplace cues to motivate and inspire the triad team. Lead a highly collaborative triad process with interaction and shared ownership of entire project, from brief to design to prototypes to production.
• Work cross-functionally with the triad as well as other functions outside of footwear to bring the stories to the end consumer.
• Work closely with Design and Development to make day-to-day product decisions.
• Craft stories for each shoe that stand alone and feed into the seasonal story theme.
• Establish regular interactions with retailers as well as internal and external sales and marketing teams to identify additional insights and opportunities.
• Interact with Asia footwear team as needed on projects.
• During the confirmation process, serve as the main point person on your product segment within the footwear range. Meet deliverables at key milestones and ensure product market readiness.
• Influence the confirmation process to ensure products meet the wants and needs of the consumer as outlined in the brief.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical skills and experience
• Results-oriented person who can balance numerous tasks and utilize all available resources with high urgency and self-motivation.
• A passion for the running enthusiast and active lifestyle
• Demonstrated ability to conceive/create new thinking and ideas pertaining to the consumer and the product line – skilled “product eye.”
• Ability to work professionally and efficiently within the team and across departments.
• Proven experience and success in bringing a footwear product line to market (preferred)
• 3+ years’ experience in a relevant product management related role.
• Working knowledge of the footwear product management process, retail environment, and consumer buying habits
• Business orientation is preferred with demonstrated financial ability to manage gross margins, inventory, and costing.
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Business, or a related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years prior experience working in a footwear running product related job.
• Proven ability to influence, persuade and negotiate to achieve progress toward goals – skilled communicator.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills – skilled presenter (using MS Presentation tools)

Compensation

The pay range for this position, based out of the Brooks Seattle HQ, is $94,192 - $141,288 per year. Base pay offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Other

Brooks is proud to offer a robust benefits package to our employees and their families!

Benefits- including medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance, HSA and employer contribution, FSA, family & fertility assistance, 401K Savings Plan and match, employee assistance program, and transportation assistance.

Paid Time Off- Brooks offers generous time off including three to five weeks of paid time off, eleven paid holidays, paid sick and parental leave.

Bonus- in addition to base pay, Brooks employees may also be offered an annual bonus based on company performance.

Perks- including product discounts, a home office stipend, employee recognition, fitness discounts, volunteer and donation benefits.

At Brooks, we celebrate diversity & equity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and encourage people of all backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills to apply. Brooks is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, two-spirit identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, sensory, physical, or mental disability, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), honorable discharge or military status, protected citizen status, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, HIV or Hepatitis C infection, political ideology, use of a trained guide dog by a person with a disability, or on any other basis protected by federal, state or local law, or any other non-merit based factors.