Kickstart your career in footwear: Join us as a Junior Footwear Product Manager!
Are you ready to step into the exciting world of footwear product development?
We’re on the hunt for a Junior Footwear Product Manager to join our team at the IBG Office in Naarden, The Netherlands. This is your chance to work with renowned brands like MAGNUM, TOTECTORS, and 4SYS, and play a key role in shaping the future of our product lines in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
In this role, you will collaborate closely with the Senior Product Manager to help shape and execute product strategies and collections. As a pivotal part of the team, you'll support the Senior Product Manager on the entire product lifecycle, working with multiple departments—design, innovation, development, materials, and sourcing—to bring products from concept to market.
This role requires adaptability, attention to detail, and the ability to work across different levels of the product creation process, including line planning and product development. If you have a passion for footwear, project management skills, and a knack for understanding market trends, we encourage you to apply!
A key responsibility of the Junior PM is to assist the Senior PM in carrying out their duties:
1. Product Development & Lifecycle Management
Product Development: Work with market inputs (briefs from sales and customers) and trend data to guide the development of the main product collection, as well as quick turnaround capsule collections (tender or made- to-order).
Manage line lists and design briefs: Create and update the line lists, design briefs, key product looks, and other relevant documents throughout the product development cycle.
Analyze product performance: Maintain a deep understanding of historical performance (units sold, key styles, markets, regions, channels) to make informed decisions on product lifecycle management.
Drive line efficiency: Ensure SKU counts and style numbers meet targets while balancing continuation and newness in the product line.
Achieve margin targets: Jointly accountable for meeting seasonal margin targets, including recommending SRPs (suggested retail prices) and setting target FOB (freight on board) costs.
2. Product Development & Execution
Oversee product creation milestones: Manage the design reviews, material selection, prototype reviews, and sample meetings, ensuring all decisions are logged and followed up on.
Facilitate sample development: Ensure sample development meets design aesthetic, quality standards, margin expectations, and timeline goals.
Track product samples: Manage and track all sample requests, from development to market and commercialization, ensuring timely execution across global teams.
Ensure sample quality: Collaborate with vendors to ensure product samples meet design expectations and share feedback to refine production processes.
3. Cross-Functional Collaboration
Collaborate with design, sourcing, and development teams: Work closely with internal teams to manage product line reviews, sample meetings, and ensure priorities are communicated clearly across departments.
Support marketing and merchandising teams: Share accurate and up-to-date product information and specifications with marketing and merchandising teams, ensuring alignment on design intent and execution.
4. Vendor & External Partner Coordination
Liaise with global vendors: Maintain daily communication with vendors to oversee product development and ensure compliance with brand guidelines.
Handle product packaging and labelling: Ensure packing and labelling guides are updated and shared with vendors, and manage label artworks (e.g., tongue labels, box labels).
Coordinate catalogues and artwork: Assist with catalogue creation, packaging designs, and all relevant files needed throughout the season.
5. Administrative Support
Manage product documentation: Create and maintain all master lists, product images, and documents related to seasonal product lines from conception to production.
Organize logistics: Track, ship, and manage all inbound and outbound packages, ensuring timely distribution.
Requirements
Experience and Skills:
Previous experience in product management, ideally in footwear, or PPE (personal protective equipment).
Project management skills; able to juggle multiple projects and seasons simultaneously.
Ability to identify patterns, trends, and customer needs, and turn them into actionable product features and benefits.
Knowledge of consumer behavior and ability to translate it into product development insights.
Sense of design and development trends within the footwear industry.
Strong analytical skills with comfort working with data to inform decisions.
Intermediate skills in Adobe programs (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator) preferred.
Strong verbal and written English communication skills; ability to present ideas and influence decisions across teams. Knowledge of Chinese language is desirable.
Key Competencies:
Commercial awareness: Understanding of market needs and how to exceed business expectations.
Adaptability: Comfortable working with both local and global teams, adapting to diverse working styles.
Attention to detail: Meticulous in tracking product changes, updates, and specifications to ensure product quality.
Team collaboration: A positive team player with a willingness to support cross-functional teams.
Curiosity and learning: A quick learner who is eager to explore new challenges in a constantly evolving category.
What we offer:
A collaborative and dynamic work environment.
Opportunities for career growth and development.
Competitive salary and benefits package.
Check us out at:
www.internationalbg.com
www.instagram.com/internationalbrandsgroup/
www.instagram.com/totectors_uk/
www.instagram.com/magnumboots/
www.instagram.com/4sysfootwear/