Associate Product Development Manager
Heating & Cooling Product Line
Position Overview
The Associate Product Development Manager will support the end-to-end development and lifecycle management of heating and cooling products, partnering closely with major brand suppliers, engineering, sourcing, quality, and commercial teams. This role is ideal for a high-potential product professional with 2-5 years of experience who is ready to assume greater ownership and develop deep category expertise in a fast-paced consumer products environment.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development & Lifecycle Management
- Support the development of new heating and cooling products from concept through launch, including requirements definition, costing, timelines, and readiness tracking
- Manage product updates, line extensions, and transitions in collaboration with suppliers and internal stakeholders
- Maintain product roadmaps aligned to category strategy, customer needs, and seasonal demand
Supplier & Brand Collaboration
- Manage day-to-day communication with international OEM partners across multiple time zones to execute product development initiatives
- Coordinate specifications, samples, testing, and approvals to ensure quality, compliance, and on-time delivery
- Support supplier negotiations related to product features, costs, MOQs, and lead times
Cross-Functional Execution
- Partner with Category Management, Engineering, Compliance, Marketing, and Supply Chain to ensure successful launches
- Support go-to-market readiness, including product content, packaging, certifications, and documentation
- Assist with forecasting input and inventory planning related to new and existing products
Market & Performance Analysis
- Conduct competitive benchmarking, cost comparisons, and feature analysis across heating and cooling categories
- Track product performance post-launch and support continuous improvement initiatives
- Leverage consumer insights, returns data, and quality feedback to inform future development
Qualifications
Experience
- 2-5 years of experience in product development, product management, or category-related roles
- Experience working with international manufacturers, particularly in Asia or Europe
- Experience working with major consumer brands or branded manufacturers required
- Exposure to heating, cooling, appliances, or durable consumer goods is strongly preferred
Skills & Capabilities
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously
- High attention to detail with a structured, analytical approach to problem solving
- Comfortable working cross-functionally in a matrixed organization
- Strong communication skills, including supplier-facing interactions
- Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and PLM or product lifecycle tools
Education
- Bachelor's degree in business, Engineering, Supply Chain, Product Management, or a related field preferred but not required
What Success Looks Like
- On-time, on-cost execution of new product development milestones
- Strong collaboration with major brand partners and internal teams
- Increasing ownership of product lines and development initiatives
- Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into executable product outcomes
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