Associate Product Manager

Associate Product Manager

The Associate Product Manager supports and/or manages limited product lines within the Food Business Team, driving business and product strategy, execution, and results in a manner that maximizes long-term profitability. The incumbent in this role will support P&L results and is responsible for the health of an assigned product portfolio for the U.S. Foodservice and National Account Food Business.

Day-to-Day Role:

• Proactively manage a limited portfolio of products, and plan and drive growth through revenue and profit building blocks
• Assist his/her leadership to develop and implement multi-year and annual strategies for the assigned product lines through close collaboration with other functions
• Collaborate with his/her leadership and Commercial Finance to create annual financial goals and budgets including revenue, gross margin, COGS, price and portfolio mix aligned to strategic priorities
• Support his/her leadership in developing and implementing pricing strategy for the assigned product lines and recommend or make certain pricing decisions
• Assist and potentially lead (assuming project Sponsor role) cross-functional efforts to discover and execute cost-reduction initiatives that do not negatively impact the customer/consumer experience
• Participate in all aspects of product life-cycle management for assigned products including the product portfolio strategy, product management, pricing guidelines, product development, product enhancements, and SKU optimization
• Identify and then support commercializing, through collaboration with other functions, new product development and innovation projects. As needed, assume Sponsor role to ensure projects deliver the predicted business benefits
• Develop a solid understanding of our customers and markets, and use that information and insight to develop and drive successful implementation of strategies
• In collaboration with his/her leadership, partner with Sales to drive relationships with key customers and provide direction on product line focus areas to maximize sales and profitability
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales on product-line marketing including brand strategy, brand standards, channel marketing messaging, and brand activation to achieve desired customer outcomes and financial results
• Collaborate closely with Sales and Supply Chain Management on demand planning and forecasting to achieve desired financial and customer outcomes (e.g. minimize excess inventory and maximize fill rates for key product lines)
• Assist Business Team leadership in building a robust business case to support innovation and capacity expansion efforts within assigned product lines
• Collaborate with other business units where needed to ensure the best overall outcome for the business
• Continually challenge team to make logical, data-driven decisions incorporating company policies, procedures and philosophies
• Model/promote a culture of accountability within the Business team and throughout the organization

Core Skills and Qualifications:

The ideal candidate must possess all of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in business or related field of study
• Two (2) years experience in a general business role supporting decision making in marketing or product management
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to blend creative problem solving with data driven, analytical, financial (e.g. NPV, financial statements, DCF), and quantitative skills with a demonstrated ability to analyze complex problems with data, assumptions, and judgment using best practices and analysis to formulate solutions and make decisions
• Proven ability to drive change including the ability to influence all levels, streamline processes, integrate, and associate pieces of information gathered from multiple sources
• Ability to recognize and solve challenges and implement solutions
• Ability to operate with sense of urgency and focus on providing exceptionally reliable customer service
• Organizational skills including the ability to prioritize workload to meet deadlines
• Strong knowledge of and experience working with financial concepts such as ROI, net present value, and other related analysis methods
• Ability to be composed, adapt, and effectively manage tasks and projects in a dynamic, fast-paced, customer-focused work environment characterized by rapid change, minimal lead times, and multiple competing priorities while meeting all assigned deadlines
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in order to clearly communicate intricate job-related processes that ultimately affect decision making
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to be assertive, show initiative, demonstrate personal accountability, take ownership of work, and apply learned concepts
• Ability to tactfully resolve problems and provide feedback
• Ability to think strategically and for the long term
• Experience using Microsoft Office, including the ability to create reports, documents, presentations and spreadsheets, in MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint
• Ability to maintain confidentiality on sensitive issues

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• SAP experience

​​​​​​​Product Manager

The Product Manager manages specific product lines within the Food Business Team, driving business and product strategy, execution, and results in a manner that maximizes long-term profitability. The incumbent in this role will deliver P&L results and is responsible for the health of an assigned product portfolio for the U.S. Foodservice and National Account Food Business.

Day-to-Day Role:

• Proactively manage a portfolio of products, and plan and drive growth through revenue and profit building blocks
• Assist leadership to develop and implement multi-year and annual strategies for the assigned product lines through close collaboration with other functions
• Collaborate with leadership and Commercial Finance to create annual financial goals and budgets including revenue, gross margin, COGS, price and portfolio mix aligned to strategic priorities
• Support leadership in developing and implementing pricing strategy for the assigned product lines and recommend/participate in pricing decisions
• Assist and potentially lead (assuming project Sponsor role) cross-functional efforts to discover and execute cost-reduction initiatives that do not negatively impact the customer/consumer experience
• Lead all aspects of product life-cycle management for assigned products including the product portfolio strategy, product management, pricing guidelines, product development, product enhancements, and SKU optimization
• Identify and then champion and commercialize, through collaboration with other functions, new product development and innovation projects. As needed, assume Sponsor role to ensure projects deliver the predicted business benefits.
• Develop a deep understanding of our customers and markets, and use these insights to develop, and drive successful implementation of strategies
• In collaboration with PLM/Director/VP, partner with Sales to drive relationships with key customers and provide direction on product line focus areas to maximize sales and profitability
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales on product-line marketing including brand strategy, brand standards, channel marketing messaging, and brand activation to achieve desired customer outcomes and financial results
• Collaborate closely with Sales and Supply Chain Management on demand planning and forecasting to achieve desired financial and customer outcomes (e.g. minimize excess inventory and maximize fill rates for key product lines)
• Assist Business Team leadership in building a robust business case to support innovation and capacity expansion efforts within assigned product lines
• Collaborate with other business units where needed to ensure the best overall outcome for the business
• Continually challenge team to make logical, data-driven decisions incorporating company policies, procedures and philosophies
• Model/promote a culture of accountability within the Business team and throughout the organization

​​​​​​​

Core Skills and Qualifications:

The ideal candidate must possess all of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in business or related field of study
• Requires one of the following:
  • Two (2) years of experience in a general business role supporting decision making in marketing or product management, or
  • {for internal candidates} Experience successfully meeting performance expectations consistently in all job responsibilities and functions in an Associate Product Manager position
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to blend creative problem solving with data driven, analytical, financial (e.g. NPV, financial statements, DCF), and quantitative skills with a demonstrated ability to analyze complex problems with data, assumptions, and judgment using best practices and analysis to formulate solutions
• Proven ability to drive change including the ability to influence all levels, streamline processes, integrate, and associate pieces of information gathered from multiple sources
• Ability to recognize and solve challenges and implement solutions
• Ability to operate with sense of urgency and focus on providing exceptionally reliable customer service
• Organizational skills including the ability to prioritize workload to meet deadlines
• Solid knowledge of and experience working with financial concepts such as ROI, net present value, and other related analysis methods
• Ability to be composed, adapt, and effectively manage tasks and projects in a dynamic, fast-paced, customer-focused work environment characterized by rapid change, minimal lead times, and multiple competing priorities while meeting all assigned deadlines
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in order to clearly communicate intricate job-related processes that ultimately affect decision making
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to be assertive, show initiative, demonstrate personal accountability, take ownership of work, and apply learned concepts
• Ability to tactfully resolve problems and provide feedback
• Ability to think strategically and for the long term
• Experience using Microsoft Office, including the ability to create reports, documents, presentations and spreadsheets, in MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint
• Ability to maintain confidentiality on sensitive issues

​​​​​​​Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• SAP experience
• Experience in the foodservice packaging or consumer packaged goods industries

Overview: Dart makes everyday products that give people the freedom to enjoy the food & drinks they love, wherever they are. From to-go containers and dinnerware to tamper-evident food packaging and even the red Solo cup, Dart products have been keeping people on the go and having fun for more than 50 years. Dart is a family-owned, family-focused company of 13,000 employees united by a shared set of values. Headquartered in Mason, MI, Dart has 30 locations in four countries.

Benefits: Dart Container full-time employees enjoy great benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) with company matching contributions, paid vacation, paid holidays, short-term disability, tuition assistance, product discounts and more.

Dart Container is a drug-free workplace.  Candidates are subject to a drug test (excluding THC*/marijuana/cannabis) and background check at the time of offer.

*THC testing ONLY when such testing is required by law.

Dart Container is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all candidates for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

https://www.dartcontainer.com/eeoaa/

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If you experience difficulty applying online, you may call (800) 545-3278 Ext 3390 or email us at applicationassistance@dart.biz for assistance.