Product Developer

Rate TBD

Location Vancouver, BC Canada (On-site)

Type of project Sales & Marketing Business Development, Marketing Consultant

Duration contract ongoing

Education required College/University

Years of experience 2 - 5 years

Type of employment N/A

Area of Specialization Business

Languages required N/A

Workhoppers Home Vancouver BC

Description

ROLE

Product Research and Development is the driving force of expanding the
product catalog for the brand. Determining what products will fit best
within the brand while also achieving profit margins is key. Product
and keyword research will be used to determine the best products for
the brand based on customer search intent. The creation and
maintenance of the Product Pipeline is the #1 goal for the Product
Development team

This role is both analytical and creative. Data must support your
decisions, but creativity is needed to find innovative ways to create
new or improve existing product concepts. Intimate knowledge of our
customer avatar and the type of brand voice we have is paramount for
success.

Product concepts will be validated by our customer avatar through
various research methods and working with our Audience Utilization
Manager to gain invaluable feedback from actual customers.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

*
To come up with commercially viable development ideas for given
products to ensure each product has a solid USP.

*
To manage a sourcing and production team to ensure processes are clear
and results are met.

*
Assess processes continually to ensure that the team is working
efficiently. 

*
Work with China based Sourcing Agent to find supplier options to
proceed with sampling using Ignite framework. 

*
To work closely with the suppliers on product development according to
price requirements.

*
Work with freelance designers to create artworks and product designs -
where required

*
Receive and test samples for quality and function.

*
Select products based on quality, spec, price, factory communication
and terms.

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Ensure a min 30% margin is met for all products ordered.

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Negotiating price and terms with suppliers with a win win mindset.

*
Identify testing and labeling requirements and arrange with suppliers.

*
Ensure products move through the workflow according to agreed
deadlines.

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Approval of pre-production and production samples.

*
Writing clear guidelines for each product for the inspection company
to test against

*
Approving inspection reports. 

*
Completing product spec and feature details for the content team to
give them clear guidance on packaging and listing creation

 

RESULTS

*
The Product Pipeline Calendar is established for the next 12 months
and the executive leadership team can determine when we can ramp up
new product manufacturing

*
Products are developed that can be patented, trademarked, and/or
copyrighted to protect our brand from copycats

*
Product designs and features are very meaningful to the customer and
not just added for differentiation purposes

*
A clear understanding of capital needs to the launch the products in
the pipeline is established

*
The company can predict revenue growth from new products by looking at
financial forecasts created

*
The company can use financial forecasts for acquiring debt to pay for
successful product launches

*
The product sourcing team can use the variety of products in the
Pipeline to find the best factories to make multiple products as
applicable

*
The new products developed are validated and voted on by our customer
avatar to ensure a very high chance of success

*
Our products meet our customer avatars needs and further the awareness
of our brand

*
New products have some element of IP that can be used to defend
against competitors

 

REQUIREMENTS

*
A keen understanding of our customer avatar and what products they
need/want

*
A creative mind for developing product concepts that have a meaningful
impact on the customer

*
Highly organized and able to track many products in development at
once

*
Ability to work with many team members on the same project

*
Excellent proficiency in English (Both spoken and written).

*
Ability to plan and execute strategies independently that align with
the organization’s goals and objectives.

*
Proficiency in Asana, Slack, Excel, Google, Office, Loom.

 

This job description is not all-inclusive and certain activities,
duties or responsibilities may be required of the employee as needed.