Department Manager - Product Development (Non-Food & General Merchandise)

Key Responsibility:

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

• Analysing category of potential opportunities for OB line / range development and identify ideal cost / sell price / margin vs benchmarking product / brand

• Analysing and sourcing for potential strategic suppliers and briefing suppliers on requirements and T&Cs of being an Own Brand supplier

• Working closely with Technical Manager for respective category by agreeing on product quality to develop vs benchmark identified and tracking the progress until achieve the right product quality / cost to pass internal test + customer panel (this potentially involves multiple sample versions and is time consuming for follow ups)

• Preparing product briefs together with Technical Manager and Marketing and submitting sign-off by relevant parties

• Circulating Product Launch Sheet, coordinating and tracking the launching date with cross functions (Mktg / Quality / Ordering team / SRD / Instore Availability team) & suppliers

PLANOGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Briefing SRD team on any NEW launches / Relaunches to ensure impactful planogram and aligning range change schedules with launch / relaunch dates

• Checking to ensure planograms are done correctly prior to uploading

• Landing communication with stores to ensure planogram compliance and set up via Support Office

MANAGING PRICE INCREASE

• Managing E2E price increase on Own Brand lines with suppliers

• Reviewing price increase justifications from suppliers and potential resource of products with new suppliers for relaunch if better price secured for same or better quality (in which case to repeat entire end-to-end process stated in point 1 above)

PRODUCT RELAUNCHES / RANGE EXTENSIONS

• Being owner for relaunching products due to change in market dynamics - include packaging refresh / quality review to align with benchmarking brand / pack size change / price increase / etc.

• This involves repeating end-to-end process stated in point 1 (ie, same process as launching new product)

• Analysing and reviewing launched products for opportunities for range extension - pack size or new variant extensions

OWN BRAND AVAILABILITY

• Initiating Own Brand Trade Plan activity to drive sales & participation

• Working closely with Promo team to secure feature space and ensure promo process compliance for activation

• Working closely with Supply Chain forecasting team to agree on promo qty collaboratively

• Monitoring availability at DC and stores during promotions

SUPPLIER BASE MANAGEMENT

• Maintaining good working relationship with existing vendors

• Constantly seeking / sourcing for new potential vendors to bring excitement to OB range

• Actively nurturing supplier capability to ensure sustainable growth for the brand

Other tasks

• Assisting with and responding to request from cross functions on any OB related matters e.g. adhocs request to furnish OB information / data for Minister visits, etc./communication to stores

• Market / competitor survey on product range / price / promo strategy

• Other assignment as it deems appropriated

  
  

Qualifications:

• 3 - 5 years of experience in Product Development, Own Brand Management or Category Management with retail business background.

• Leading Own Brand E2E process and program management would be a BIG plus.

• E2E Product Development

• E2E Program Management

• Supplier Management

• Category Management

• Numerical and Data Analysis

• Effective Presentation

• Interpersonal and Communication