NEW PRODUCTS PROJECT MANAGER

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Job description

NEW PRODUCTS PROJECT MANAGER - Home Organization

Home Products International ("HPI" or "Company"), headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is a privately-held, international consumer products company specializing in the design, marketing and manufacturing of high quality, innovative housewares products. The Company is a leading supplier to large national retailers of value-priced houseware items across three primary product categories:

Storage

Plastic storage totes, carts and drawers, tubs and other products to meet all storage and organization needs for the home.

Garment Care

Ironing boards, covers and pads, drying racks, hampers and other laundry accessories to serve all laundry management category needs.

Home Organization

Wide range of items including hooks and hangers, bath organizers, tote carts and other products designed for room-specific needs, including within the bathroom, closet, bedroom and laundry room.

HPI has long-term relationships with blue chip customers within mass merchandise, home improvement and specialty retail channels.

It holds a significant position in the US market in each of its product categories, including the #1 position in ironing boards with a market share exceeding 70% and the #3 position for storage products.

The Company maintains manufacturing operations in Illinois, Indiana, California and North Carolina.

Through successful commercial and operational initiatives, the Company continues to grow.

HPI is financially sound and well positioned to continue as a leader in housewares.
THE POSITION
In concert with the Category Director, the New Product Projects Manager is responsible for the development, specification and management (cradle to grave) for import product projects for both new products, refreshment of existing lines and cost improvement projects.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Works extensively and cross functionally with Sales, Operations and Finance to successfully complete all product projects on time and on budget.
• In collaboration with HPI Marketing leadership and design team, the ideal candidate identifies, engages and manages third party engineering, tooling and design resources.
• Seeks to improve sales and profit margins by identifying and exploiting opportunities to improve product design and costs.
• Performs functionality and quality assurance testing.
• May facilitate customer testing, sampling, factory evaluations and corrective actions.
• Continuously evaluates all project deliverables and trouble shoots with subject matter experts product design, quality specifications, bills of materials, tooling, product design, packaging, manufacturing processes and capabilities.
• Develop, manage and maintain accurate and optimal product costs and bills of materials.
• Implements appropriate business analytics and reports to track and monitor project results. Provides regularly business reports to management.
• Works extensively with factories in China in the development of new products, sample approvals, artwork posting, and approval of color cards and other packaging.
• Responsible for tracking all import projects and ensuring that factories deliver by the required deadlines and targeted costs/margins
• Travel to factories and overseas manufacturing partners to further build collaborative relationships
• Identify key trends within the Home Organization category, and collaborates/supports the Sales teams efforts with key retailers at line reviews and trade shows
• Drive new product development and innovation to enhance and revise existing lines/channels within the Home Organization category
• Develop a road map, business plan and budget for categories, products, channels and customers

QUALIFICATIONS

• B.S degree in Engineering or equivalent career background.
• 7+ years of successful experience managing product development projects in fast-paced consumer durables environment.
• Solid knowledge of plastics and plastic injection molding.
• Ability to travel regularly (20%) domestically and abroad.
• 3 + years of experience working with factories in China. Should have traveled to China multiple times for business purposes.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• An unusual passion for results with the courage to challenge the status quo, set high expectations, and hold individuals accountable for results.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills to project plan, matrix manage, prioritize work and meet timelines and schedules.
• Ability to continuously prioritize and flexibly adapt to a high volume, fluid workload.
• Strong financial and analytical skills with broad-based business acumen.
• An emotionally intelligent, optimistic, flexible and resilient project leader possessing mature judgment, high integrity, and solid interpersonal skills.
• A team player who works adeptly on a cross functional basis and at all levels to quickly gain trust and respect, build enthusiastic consensus and influence decisive action.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

OPPORTUNITY
Home Products International - NA, Inc. provides an attractive compensation plan with comprehensive and competitive benefits. Relocation assistance will be considered.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $98,449.00 - $131,449.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Relocation assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• managing durable consumer product development projects: 7 years (Required)

Work Location:

• One location

Company's website:

Benefit Conditions:

• Waiting period may apply
• Only full-time employees eligible

Work Remotely:

• YES_OCCASIONALLY