Quick-to-Market, Sales & Product Line Manager

Company Description

This is an exciting position as a Quick-to-Market, Sales, and Product Line Manager of a beloved brand that is known as one of the footwear industry’s most respected products.

Job Description

As a Product Line Manager, you will report to the Director of Product and serve as an instrumental component of a vital team in the organization. Operating outside of the standard in-line product calendar and timelines, the PLM for QTM works very closely with the sales team to understand customer needs for new product. These needs are converted into product briefs that go directly to design for fast creation of CADs. The PLM then manages the product process directly with sales, design and the supply chain team to execute fast samples, and ultimately to secure customer orders. The QTM, Sales, and PLM has deep working knowledge of the global sneaker market, in terms of trends, pricing, competition and current market conditions, along with knowledge of the product creation process. The PLM for QTM ensures that the retailers’ needs are met, with product at the right price/value and at the right margin, with a focus on fast execution via a seamless and efficient product process.

How you make a difference

Core Tasks:

• Participate in key account meetings, sales meetings and product meetings to understand the inline range, and to hear sales and customer feedback.
• Identify gaps in the range and find opportunities for incremental revenue through account exclusive SMU’s and QTM products.
• Travel to key US markets to build active relationships with the sales team and key retailers.
• Benchmark competition in terms of styling, price and value to make decisions and write briefs on new products.
• Manage a QTM product process between the retailers, sales reps, design and the supply chain team to ensure fast response to market opportunities.
• Managing the QTM Product Process:
  • Quickly turn customer needs and opportunities into product briefs for the QTM designer.
  • Gain fast customer approval and acceptance of QTM designs and then work with the supply chain team to make samples.
  • Manage the sample process and ensure samples get to the customer quickly and efficiently.
  • Work alongside the sales team to turn QTM samples into customer orders.
  • Track all QTM product projects to ensure deadlines are met, projects stay on track and the sales team and customers are kept informed of status.

Communication with Sales team

• Build strong working relationships with the sales leaders and sales reps, and be the product creation expert they can consult with, providing information on timelines and product possibilities.
• Understand what’s working in each territory and key account in terms of product sell-in and sell-through.
• Understand what product is needed with specific information on price, margin and styling.
• Identify and brief all QTM and SMU opportunities and requests, maintaining communication with all parties at each stage of the process.

Market Knowledge

• Know regional market trends across channels, product categories and price points.
• Know the wholesale landscape and be familiar with key retailers across distribution channels and tiers.
• Know what the competition is doing and identify opportunities and threats.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires an existing knowledge of the athletic footwear market, including product creation, design, pricing, trends and, the retail landscape. This position requires someone with a sales mentality and a relentless pursuit of speed and efficiency. An energetic, driven individual with attention to detail, commitment to deadlines and excellent communication skills, who is ready to be part of a dynamic team committed to aggressive brand growth goals.

Education and/or Experience:

• A minimum of 2 year's of experience as a PLM or Merchandiser in a footwear company.
• Industry experience is required.

Great interpersonal skills with the ability to get along with diverse personalities.

• Self-motivated – energetic and passionate about the brand and the business.
• Results-oriented and driven by deadlines and accuracy.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Aptitude

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Advanced Excel, Word, and PowerPoint skills
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed

Physical Demands

• Sitting for extended periods of time
• Walking, standing for brief periods of time
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard
• Prolonged visual acuity necessary to view video display terminal, VDT

Work Environment

• Office

• K-Swiss Global Brands provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.