Senior Product Manager

Job Department: Lamps, Candle Warmers & Wall Deco.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We are seeking an experienced, highly organized, and detail-oriented Senior Product Manager to lead product development initiatives from concept through production. This role will serve as a primary owner of the product lifecycle to ensure products are developed, priced, approved, and delivered on time while meeting quality, margin, and customer expectations.

The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver with strong experience in product development, costing, sourcing, and project management who thrives in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Troubleshoot challenges with realistic and creative solutions. Key responsibilities include:

Product Development & Project Ownership

• Own the product development process from initial concept through order confirmation and production approval.
• Manage development priorities and timelines to meet calendar milestones and customer deadlines.
• Review development, pre-production (PP), and top-of-production (TOP) samples for design, construction, quality, color, and overall execution.
• Provide direction on sample revisions and approve factory comments when necessary.
• Identify and elevate development, production, or timing risks that may impact delivery schedules.
• Establish priorities following customer and sales meetings and ensure key action items are executed promptly.

Costing & Margin Management

• Own and maintain margin sheets, ensuring accuracy of product and costing information. Full knowledge of retail math, related formulas & importing/costing math is REQUIRED
• Review FOB costs, packaging configurations, CBM calculations, duties, tariffs, HTS classifications, landed costs, and profit margins.
• Lead factory cost negotiations to achieve target margins and customer retail expectations.
• Review factory-provided costing information and resolve discrepancies before finalization.

Factory & Sales Communication

• Lead communication with overseas factories regarding product development, costing wwnegotiations, production issues, and schedule management.
• Partner with Sales and leadership to provide development updates, communicate priorities, and resolve issues requiring strategic decisions.
• Escalate factory delays, quality concerns, and production discrepancies as necessary.

Buyer Meetings & Product Assortment

• Develop product assortment strategies and presentation plans for customer meetings.
• Ensure samples, pricing, and supporting product information are prepared and presentation-ready.
• Translate customer feedback into actionable development priorities and factory directives.
• Review post-meeting action plans with team members and assign responsibilities accordingly.

Sample Tracking & Management

• Maintain accurate sample tracking systems, including development status, expected arrival dates, tracking information, revisions, and approvals.
• Proactively follow up with factory partners regarding sample readiness, shipment details, outstanding information, and photos.
• Receive, organize, label, and maintain all incoming samples.
• Coordinate sample movement between product development, photography, packaging, showroom, and storage locations.
• Support inventory management and periodic sample cleanout initiatives.

Sample Review & Quality Assurance

• Review development, PP, and TOP samples to ensure compliance with quality and customer standards.
• Evaluate color, construction, dimensions, materials, packaging, functionality, and overall product execution.
• Collaborate with internal teams and factory partners to resolve quality concerns and implement improvements.

Showroom Management

• Conduct daily showroom reviews to ensure an organized, professional, and customer-ready environment.
• Maintain product displays by customer, category, and assortment.
• Prepare showrooms for customer and sales meetings, ensuring presentation materials and samples are properly displayed.
• Coordinate showroom resets and product organization following meetings and presentations.
• Perform other duties as assigned

COMPETENCIES

• Experience working with overseas factories and international sourcing partners required.
• Experience in consumer products, home goods, giftware, seasonal products, or related industries preferred.
• Retail account and buyer presentation experience preferred.
• Experience with product costing, margin management, tariff classifications, HTS codes, landed costing, and international trade requirements strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of product development, manufacturing processes, sourcing, factory communication, costing, and margin management.
• Full knowledge of retail math, related formulas, and importing/costing math is required.
• Strong understanding of FOB costs, landed costing, duties, tariffs, CBM calculations, HTS classifications, and profit margins.
• Proven ability to negotiate costs with overseas factories while balancing margin, quality, timing, and customer requirements.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple products, customers, and priorities simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify risks early and develop realistic, effective solutions.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and product/sample tracking systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with overseas factories and international sourcing partners.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to product quality and accuracy.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with Sales, Sourcing, Operations, Product Development, and executive leadership.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and effectively prioritize changing business needs.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Product Development, Merchandising, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred. 5+ years of experience in product development, sourcing, merchandising, or product management.