Product Development Manager

Campus Promotions

The Campus Promotions (CP) Product Development Manager reports to the President and works closely with the CEO in order to develop and execute strategies that will enable Campus Promotions to launch a robust and sustainable new product offering in FY2007. The standard work commitment is likely to approximate 15-20 hrs/week in the office during the school year and 30-40 hrs/week during the summer, but the expectation is that the Product Development Manager will manage his/her time well and do whatever it takes to get the required work done.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategy

  • Analyze Current State of CP’s competitive position in terms of value proposition, pricing and operations
  • Working closely with the President, CFO and CEO, develop a framework of metrics to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of potential CP product offerings
  • Lead rigorous analysis, in conjunction with the CFO and President, of high-potential products
  • Interact with the CP Advisory Board (made up of SAI Management, SAI Directors, local business owners, and CP alumni/ae) regarding product development analysis
  • Launch a new product offering by August/September of FY2007

Market Research

  • Conduct research using appropriate data gathering techniques (i.e., surveys, focus groups) in order to: (1) gather general information on the end users of CP products (i.e., CU students); and, more specifically (2) determine the viability of high potential CP products from the perspective of the end user
  • Conduct research on CP advertisers’ goals and marketing objectives in order to ensure that the new CP product offering is in line with their objectives

Relationship Management/Coalition Building

  • Develop and maintain partnerships with contacts at key enabling entities such as the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, Campus Life, the Ithaca Chamber of Commerce, and SMC
  • Develop and maintain relationships with key individuals in Ithaca businesses

Product Production Management

  • Sales
    • Recruit and direct a sales team in order to efficiently conduct professional sales contacts via phone calls, letters, email, walk-in visits and scheduled appointments
    • Prepare a sales kit as a tool to pitch CP’s new product offering
  • Production
    • Analyze offerings of service providers in order to select a cost-effective and reliable printing vendor
    • Implement a pool of free-lance professional graphic designers to be leveraged by CP on a project by project basis
    • Understand technical issues relating to publishing (electronic and print) well enough to effectively interact with the graphic design team and printing vendors
  • Distribution
    • Develop an efficient, effective, and cost-effective distribution plan that is in line with the value proposition of the product, and oversee its implementation

Documentation

  • Monthly submission of all analysis/documentation to President
  • Complete an exhaustive operational manual for CP new product offering to be launched in August/September 2007
  • Thoroughly document all contact with non-SAI individuals in order to maintain CP institutional memory

General Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain Campus Promotions’ reputation among students and businesses by providing superior products and excellent customer services
  • Contribute to the overall benefit of SAI by participating in meetings, office hours, team projects, and corporate recruiting, orientation, training, and by aiding other businesses in peak times.
  • Honor all deadlines and address all action plans delegated by the President and CEO of SAI, and report to them accordingly.
  • Ensure a smooth transition for the business successor by maintaining accurate and detailed records of business transactions as well as the issues relating to and resolution of any problems that occurred during the manager’s tenure.
  • Update the training manual to ensure its relevance for the incoming manager.
  • Foster long-term business growth and development.

Requirements:

  • Ability to be a “self-starter”
  • Creative thinking skills
  • Excellent planning skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Very strong work ethic
  • Ability to gain respect from managers, staff and customers

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