Product Manager

At Wickes we are extremely proud to offer innovative products that meet the needs and wants of our customers. To support this ongoing process we are looking for an experienced and passionate Product Manager to join our Kitchens team on a permanent basis at our Support Centre in Watford.

Wickes is more than just the nation’s favourite DIY store, it’s a place where we’ll ask for your ideas, listen to your opinions and value the contributions you make.  Chances are you’ve never experienced anything quite like our culture.  All our colleagues come from different backgrounds, but what we all have in common is a determination to succeed and a passion for being the best we can be. If that sounds like you, we’ll make you feel right at home.

We have recently reopened our Support Centre in Watford, where our commercial team are based, along with our other support functions. We recognise the value of bringing our teams together to collaborate, support each other and build on our amazing culture.  We are also encouraging our teams to work flexibly, with a blend of remote / office working.

The role:

You will be responsible for the end to end product development life cycle of our products utilising a wide variety of inputs including; market research, data analysis and customer research. We are looking for someone with extensive experience in understanding consumer needs and the retail environment with the ability to spot gaps in consumer product offerings and the drive and enthusiasm to fulfil them. They must have a commercial mindset and a sound understanding of marketing and sales principles. Experience of the kitchen industry would be preferable but is not a requirement.

Key responsibilities:

• Developing new and innovative products through insights from market research and buying behaviour

• Defining the key features, specifications and requirements of the product based on customer preferences

• Ability to create product strategy documents that describe business cases, revenue and ROI

• Establishing strategies for product pricing and positioning

• Managing the budgets of multi-disciplinary teams involved with product development

• Assisting with product launches and marketing campaigns

• Conducting competitor research and pricing analysis to learn more about our customer’s needs

• Creating project timelines and implementation schedules

• Working closely with existing suppliers as well as helping to identify new potential suppliers

What are we looking for:

• Proven experience in product management 

• Knowledge of every aspect of the product development life cycle

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Proven ability to manage and supervise multidisciplinary and cross functional teams

• Ability to create product development and marketing strategies

• Strong leadership and project management skills

• In depth knowledge about the industry and product’s users

• Ability to analyse complex data to identify market trends and customer’s behaviour

Benefits:

We offer excellent benefits that help make Wickes a great employer including:

• Competitive Salary

• 20% company discount

• 25 days holiday

• Company Bonus Scheme

• Pension Scheme

• Life Assurance

• Colleague recognition awards

• Rewards and discounts with over 1,000 retailers