Purpose
Identify, develop, and implement product opportunities in line with Vietnam Creation Center strategy, for the profitable growth of Reebok Core Footwear (Fitness and Lifestyle product). Effectively manage the product creation process from Design creation to initial production, including product briefs, line confirmation, adopting innovation and market sell through. Continuously optimize the product creation process in close collaboration with factory partner, LO Development, HQ product marketing counterparts, co-located design team, key markets, and Far East material suppliers. Embrace a fast paced environment within a culture based on collaboration, creativity, confidence, and commercial success.
Key Accountabilities:
Market Strategy
- Define marketing strategies that are consistent with target consumer and overall marketing strategy
- Ensure correct brand positioning of product line consistent with brand DNA
- Lead / execute merchandising plans and strategies that support seasonal stories and key initiatives
- Lead the briefing and implementation of all relevant seasonal and strategic concepts, including distribution by channel, product, and color introductions / merchandised assortments
Product Strategy
- Manage / execute the product line, product, and/or category life cycles from conception through sales and distribution
- This role will have a special focus on exploring new concepts related to materials and process, working directly with design counterparts and local suppliers
- The role will explore not only the sourcing of new material and process but also bringing these to life through exceptional and creative story telling that can be used internally and externally
- The position will be accountable for creating new product USP’s that define clear differentiation for the brand but also retain strong margin/competitive FOB’s
- Ensure category approach is integrated with those of other product categories
- Develop compelling, marketable category concepts, stories, and/or global vision that balance analysis with creative vision
- Ensure a balanced, effective product assortment that meets or exceeds revenue and margin targets, with a focus on Design to Value mindset
- Participate in the development of business plans
- Enroll key local material suppliers in our creation/innovation process and build strong long term relationships.
- Create and deliver process and strategies that enhance product quality, speed to market, improved cost, and/or account servicing. Ability to scale and deliver template for proven and tested improvements to other functions/business
Industry, Market, and Consumer Acumen
- Use relevant and appropriate resources to accurately determine, anticipate, and validate current and future trends, competition, retail landscape, and cultural drivers
- Interpret and understand consumer dynamics, predict shifts, and react to trends
- Make accurate assessments and projections of competitors' strengths and weaknesses in the global market relative to the Reebok brand, products, and product lines including market presence, tactics, merchandising, and trends
- Translate market research analysis to tangible product concepts
- Accurately assess the impact consumers have on the market
- Gather and apply market research and/or consumer feedback to accurately anticipate and fulfill consumer needs, and identify consumers and trends
- Travelling to various markets around the world with a special focus on Asia (due to proximity) to build strong relationship, provide top notch service, and grow incremental business opportunity
Technical Communication
- Use appropriate Reebok forms and templates, such as briefs and tech packs, to capture, convey, and communicate design and product information to others throughout the design cycle
- Effectively and efficiently navigate and use Reebok software tools and systems
Manage Business (Processes and Projects)
- Communicate updates of relevant projects, and business results to relevant team / project members, business partners, and others in a timely and appropriate manner
- Lead team and/or departmental and/or cross-function, special or seasonal project teams to produce high-quality work and display professionalism while under pressure
- Intense focus on commercial business and key accounts
- Play in active role in special projects collaboratively with HQ counterparts and Transformation Office
- Ability to simultaneously manage negotiations and discussions with LO, factory, material suppliers, as well as commercial side of business, i.e. markets and accounts
- Lead the project tracking process with product creation team to continuously manage efficient communication with a mind-set of Continuous Improvement (CI) and creative solutions.
Financial Aptitude
- Create products that integrate technology, function, and design aesthetic and remain within cost margins
- Assess potential cost / margin impact of materials, color, graphics, treatments, technology, components, and construction choices
- Resolve cost / margin issues and ensure product / design realization and execution, within budget, against the targeted Go-In-Margin, revenue, quality / pricing, and timelines to meet market requirements
- Analyze and select design / product elements based on cost and a hierarchy of importance
- Ensure business units achieve targeted financial results, revenue, and margin
- Analyze net forecasting data to assess and validate margin projections and weighted margins
Knowledge Skills and Abilities:
Communicate with Others
- Receive and give feedback in a positive, constructive manner
- Transport information effectively in individual and group situations using the most appropriate and effective medium, such as, but not limited to, presentations, meetings, one-to-one situations
Manage Relationships and Diversity
- Cooperate well and effectively with people from a wide variety of backgrounds within and outside of the company
- Tackle conflicts proactively and find constructive solutions together with his/her counterparts
Planning and Organization
- Work independently and perform a variety of tasks with different levels of complexity by developing effective plans and organizing his/her work efficiently
- Think and act in a goal-oriented manner, prioritize, and complete tasks in order of importance
- Respond to changing deadlines and deliverables adeptly and with resourcefulness
- Ability to prioritize, multi-task, adapt to changing demands, and make quick yet well thought out decisions will be essential in this role
Result Orientation
- Drive accountability across the team, ensuring timely completion of all tasks within the seasonal development calendar, successful conclusion of time-sensitive special projects, and continually identifying ways to improve the process
- Strong self-awareness, use of empathy and the ability to embrace a team culture based on pride, passion, and respect for each other will be critical in driving results within this role
Strategic Acting
- Partner with cross-functional leaders to design, streamline, and optimize processes and workflows to ensure quality of entire commercialization process
- Successfully partner with all other areas within and outside of department to ensure that the story, message, and overall deliverables are in alignment with the entire department's goals
Qualifications (Minimum required education and experience):
- 7 years experience in product management, merchandising, or related field
- Strong knowledge of footwear materials and process is a plus
- Knowledge of product creation process is essential
- Bachelor degree in related field
- Ability to travel internationally
- Strong presentation skills (presenting to large groups expected)
- Ability to partner with, collaborate with, and influence internal and external business partners
- Ability to multi-task.
- Must be proficient in Microsoft Office products
- Excellent analytical skills and interpersonal skills
- Excellent verbal and written language skills in English
