Associate Product Manager

Petmate is a global pet supply products company that develops products to improve the quality of life for pets and strengthen the bond between people and their pets. The Associate Product Manager supports assigned product lines through category strategy, consumer and competitive research, new product development, portfolio and pricing management, analytics, and cross-functional coordination.

What you'll do:

• Assist in maintaining expertise on assigned product categories including consumer profiles, key market trends, and competitive activity by leveraging research data to stay informed
• Support the development of annual product line roadmaps and long‑term category strategies
• Conduct and summarize competitive research to identify market opportunities and potential product enhancements
• Participate in internal planning meetings and external customer discussions as needed to support category plans and gather feedback
• Assist in coordinating consumer research tests and surveys with marketing and insights team to gather user feedback to inform product strategy
• Coordinate cross‑functional activities in partnership with cross-functional teams throughout the product development lifecycle, ensuring all milestones are met
• Partner with sourcing and manufacturing teams to collect product specifications, samples, and costing information
• Assist in researching new materials, technologies, and industry innovations
• Prepare launch materials such as selling stories, product presentations, pricing proposals, and timelines for internal milestones and customer-facing presentations to support successful product launches
• Assist in developing business cases and Stage Gate deliverables under manager guidance to support each phase of new product development
• Support SKU lifecycle management, including tracking performance, identifying low performers, and contributing to annual SKU rationalization decisions by recommending changes and managing throughput of decisions
• Assist in establishing pricing recommendations that balance profit goals with market competitiveness

What they're looking for:

• Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to analyze data and draw meaningful insights
• Creative problem-solver with an interest in understanding consumer needs
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail, accuracy, and follow‑through
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; high proficiency in PowerPoint and Excel, familiarity with data analysis tools or BI dashboards
• A team-oriented collaborator with strong interpersonal skills, able to work effectively across different cross functional teams
• Comfortable with modern productivity tools and able to quickly learn new technologies to improve efficiencies
• Genuine enthusiasm for creating products that enhance the lives of pets and their families
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field required
• 0-2 years of experience in product management, marketing, merchandising, or a related role (CPG or durable goods preferred)
• The employee is frequently required to stand and walk
• The employee is occasionally required to sit

Benefits:

• Pet-friendly corporate office