Product Manager, Hardlines

About hand2mind:

For more than 60 years, hand2mind has inspired learning through play by creating hands‑on, classroom‑tested materials that help children learn by doing. We’re a growing, family-owned company recognized as a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and trusted by teachers and families alike. We create a wide range of educational products—classroom tools like Hands-on Standards®, consumer products for NumberBlocks®, and innovative items like our new BubblePlush™ Yoga Balls. If you’re curious, collaborative, and a kid at heart, you’ll feel right at home here. Join us in shaping the future of learning with our award-winning team!

Team & Position Overview:

We are looking for a creative, organized, and resourceful Product Manager to oversee the development of our educational product and toy lines. You will thrive in a collaborative and rapidly evolving environment, managing a product portfolio from concept through to market launch. You will be responsible for steering cross-functional teams and working with overseas manufacturers, various internal departments and external licensors as needed to bring our innovative educational products to life. A sense of humor is a plus!

Responsibilities: 

• Manage 8-12 new products through the product life cycle, from ideation to market launch- ensuring products meet key milestone dates, align with our educational mission, and meet quality standards.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including editorial, industrial design, creative, sales, custom solutions, and marketing, to bring innovative educational products to market on time and within budget.
• Work with vendors to quote products, negotiate prices, and determine delivery schedules to meet product launch goals.
• Support market research efforts by gathering data, customer feedback, and conducting competitor analysis to identify opportunities, trends, and insights that inform product strategy.
  • Identify competitors, analyze their strengths and weaknesses, and assess market trends.
  • Organize, participate, and lead product testing for new concepts.
• Participate in data maintenance projects utilizing Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) and product related spreadsheets.
• Work closely with Sales and Marketing on key sample requests for customer meetings, photoshoots, video shoots, trade shows, etc.

What we’re looking for (Key Performance Objectives):

• Within 60 Days: Use project management tools like Monday.com to actively track milestones and ensure smooth execution for all ongoing projects. 
• Within 9 Months: Lead brainstorming sessions for future product ideation generating 20-30 ideas for building out the product road map. 
• Within 12 Months: Within budget and timeline constraints, successfully lead cross-functional teams to develop and launch 8-12 new products that meet educational and quality standards or made to order products that meet specific retailer needs.

Requirements/Ideal Attributes:

• Bachelor's Degree required, advanced degree preferred.
• 3-5 years of consumer product development experience.
• Excellent organization, presentation, and communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Creative mindset with entrepreneurial spirit who thinks outside the box.
• Able to meet multiple, challenging deadlines and work within budgets.
• Comfortable with analyzing basic financial data for assigned categories to make recommendations that support overall brand/product goals.
• Excellent at solving problems creatively and/or knowing when to seek help.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Able to effectively communicate with key stakeholders including colleagues, executive team, vendors, and customers.

We are a drug-free workplace and an EEO employer.

Please note: This role will be filled by our internal recruitment team, so no assistance is needed from any outside staffing agency at this time.

Compensation Range: $85,000 - $95,000 annual salary – Actual compensation may vary due to other factors such as: years of experience, skill set and location. Total compensation includes profit sharing bonus potential, 401k matching, and a variety of other benefits (details can be found here). 

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