Associate Product Manager, Accessories & Appliances

Description:

Who We are

John Paul Mitchell Systems (“JPMS”) is recognized worldwide for developing and marketing innovative hair and skin care products since 1980. We’ve been serving the professional beauty industry with salon-quality hair care products, styling tools and professional hair color through our family of brands including Paul Mitchell®, MITCH®, Awapuhi Wild Ginger®, Tea Tree, Paul Mitchell® Pro Tools™, Neuro®, MVRCK™, The Demi and Color XG®.

We were the first professional hair care company to take a stand against animal testing and continue our strong commitment to giving back, supporting a wide range of philanthropic causes both domestically and internationally. Sustainability has always been a priority, and we are committed to making our company operations climate neutral to preserve the beauty of the world around us.

About the Role

As an Associate Product Manager, Accessories & Appliances, reporting into the Director of Marketing, Appliances, you will play a key role in supporting product innovation and development to drive our brands' growth and profitability. You will focus on executing and supporting the day-to-day tasks required to bring products to market efficiently and on time. Working closely with Brand, Purchasing, Creative, Finance, and Operations teams, you will assist in managing product timelines, coordinating cross-functional efforts, and ensuring product details are aligned with business objectives. This is a hybrid position and will work out of our Century City office 3x per week.

What You will Do:

Product Development & Sourcing

• Assist with sourcing and development for the accessories/brushes business, coordinating with vendors and manufacturers to ensure timely and efficient product delivery
• Support development efforts for the electric appliances business, ensuring alignment with product specifications and timelines
• Assist in creating product/packaging briefs and spec sheets, ensuring clarity and accuracy in all product details
• Assist with running reviews with Leadership and the Creative team for product feedback/approvals, ensuring alignment with business objectives, timelines, and overall product strategy
• Coordinate vendor purchase orders (POs) with the Purchasing team to ensure proper order fulfillment
• Support supplier negotiations by helping with pricing discussions, contract terms, and lead-time management, ensuring cost-effectiveness and adherence to project budgets

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Project Management

• Collaborate with the Purchasing team and Project Manager to support the timely launch of new products, ensuring key milestones are met
• Help establish product standards and inspection criteria in collaboration with cross-functional teams
• Assist in creating product launch materials, such as presentations, marketing collateral, and sales enablement resources
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams (e.g., Purchasing, Operations) and external stakeholders (e.g., vendors, manufacturers)
• Support ad-hoc projects as required, contributing to various product management initiatives

Product Performance & Optimization

• Support product testing and quality analysis, ensuring adherence to quality standards and specifications
• Assist in cost-benefit analysis to assess product margin impact and profitability
• Support product performance reporting and analysis, helping to create actionable insights from sales data, customer feedback, and market trends to guide product optimizations
• Support post-launch product optimization, tracking product success and identifying areas for improvement

Market Insights & Innovation

• Contribute to identifying product gaps and opportunities through research, competitive analysis, and customer insights
• Spot innovation opportunities by staying current with market trends and consumer needs
• Attend trade shows and events as needed to stay informed about industry trends and innovations

Who You Are:

• Have a strong work ethic and can-do attitude, leaving a positive impression on everyone you interact with
• Collaborate seamlessly with cross-functional stakeholders, fostering a cohesive team environment
• Strong time management skills and able to act with a sense of urgency
• Self-starter and thrives in a fast-paced environment with minimal guidance
• Comfortable wearing many hats and moving fluidly between tasks
• Utilize relevant industry jargon and terminology consistently in both verbal and written communications
• Act and propose new ideas and solutions before asked
• You are positive, upbeat, and friendly—with a can-do attitude and a knack for solving problems

Requirements:

What You’ll Need:

Skills:

• Previous experience in sourcing and/or developing hair accessories and electric hair appliances
• Strong understanding of cost analysis, pricing, and margin optimization
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Superior project management and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and stakeholders effectively
• Keen attention to detail, with the ability to stay organized and perform well under pressure
• Strong problem-solving abilities, with a solutions-oriented mindset
• Exceptional organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Passion for innovation and beauty, with an eye for emerging trends
• Keen eye for product design and an understanding of consumer preferences in the beauty space
• Fluent in Mandarin is a plus

Education:

• High school diploma or GED required
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration or similar field preferred

Experience:

• 3+ years of experience in product sourcing, development, and/or management

Competitive Compensation:

• The expected base salary range for this position is $70,000 to $80,000. The exact base salary is determined by various factors including geographic location, experience, skills, and education.
• Discretionary Bonus Plan: This position is also eligible for participation in the company discretionary bonus plan, based on personal performance and company results.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: In addition to base salary, JPMS offers a competitive benefits package to eligible employees, including medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, accident insurance, critical illness insurance, disability insurance, retirement savings plans and company match, paid family leave, education-related programs, paid holidays, discretionary vacation time, and more.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse environment.