Graduate Product Manager

Pets Choice Ltd; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job description

This is an amazing opportunity for a Graduate who is keen to develop in Product Marketing!

As Graduate Product Manager for EPD, you will play a key role in enhancing and optimising our existing product ranges. This role focuses on continuous improvement efforts, such as refining recipes, improving packaging, recommending range extensions and streamlining production processes.

You will be responsible for driving initiatives that enhance product quality, increase efficiency, and ensure that our offerings remain competitive and meet the evolving needs of our consumers.

With ambitious company growth plans, this is a genuinely exciting time to join as you will have the opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future development of our products. You will have the autonomy to drive new ideas from concept to implementation, making a significant impact on the success of our Brands!

Responsibilities will include:

Project Management

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, with a focus on meeting deadlines through a stage and gate process, staying within budget, and ensuring quality. Experience in using project management tools or methodologies (e.g. Agile, Lean, MS Project) is a plus.

Analytical Skills

• Ability to analyse data to identify opportunities for our ranges and improvements to existing products. This includes undertaking benchmarking, understanding consumer preferences, market trends and performance metrics to inform decisions.

Problem Solving

• A creative and practical approach to resolving challenges in product formulations, packaging design, or production processes. Must be able to troubleshoot issues efficiently and find solutions that meet both quality and cost targets.

Attention to Detail

• High attention to detail to ensure that product improvements, whether in recipes, packaging, or processes, meet high-quality standards and comply with relevant regulations.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Ability to work effectively with multiple departments internally and externally, including R&D, manufacturing, marketing, and supply chain.
• Clear communication and teamwork are essential to successfully implement improvements.

Product Lifecycle Management

• Understanding of how to manage products from concept to launch by following a critical path, with a focus on maintaining and improving product performance over time.

Sound interesting? We're looking for applicants with the following skills and experience:

• Graduate with a relevant degree or someone with experience of Product Development, specifically in improving existing products, within the food industry.

If you are a graduate we're looking for some understanding of product management from your studies with a keen interest in developing in this type of role. A willingness to learn, time management skills and a positive attitude.

If you have experience we are looking for:

• Experience of working within a stage and gate process and using a critical path to get a project from concept through to launch.
• Quality control – experience in ensuring products consistently meet high quality standards, and are familiar with product testing and quality controls.
• Budget management.
• Consumer insight or sales data to drive product improvements that meet consumer needs.
• Knowledge of the role of packaging, and acknowledgement of packaging functionality.
• Commercially savvy, with strong analytics skills, comfortable in interpreting performance data and trends and can make compelling recommendations.
• Experience gained from a Trade Marketing, Product Management, Product Development role.