product manager, Merchandise, China Asia Pacific Region - Seattle, WA - Starbucks - Seattle, WA

Job Summary and Mission

This job contributes to Starbucks success by leading the development of new products and product-related marketing opportunities. Develops strategic assessments for products, delivers merchandise assortment (core, promotional, and new innovation) and integrated launch programs for products, including product direction and merchandising guidelines for our China Asia Pacific markets. Models and acts in accordance with Starbucks guiding principles.

Regional Teams: The Regional Category Brand Management teams focus on developing holistic regional marketing and category strategies and are responsible for supporting the regional P&L, annual operating plan, the go to market calendar and getting products market-tested, launched and optimized. They build innovation pipelines with a view of 1-3 years and develop breakthrough region-specific marketing programs. They also interact with Global Innovation teams to provide China and Asia Pacific (CAP) requirements and guidance to enable and test 3-5 year breakthrough innovations in market.

China and Asia Pacific (CAP) Regional Team: The CAP regional team is comprised of 15 countries (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Vietnam, and Brunei). CAP is the fastest growing region for Starbucks with large growth ambitions for this part of the world. This is a great opportunity to introduce and grow the Starbucks brand to many new customers in Asia Pacific.

Other Considerations: Role will be located in Seattle and requires heavy interaction via teleconferencing and e-mails with market teams in each major market as well as the regional cross-functional teams located in the Hong Kong Support Center. Experience working cross-culturally in a multi-national/global company is an asset. Travel requirements are minimal.

Summary of Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following:

Business Management:
Manages the product line business against operating plans and budgets. Tracks, analyzes and communicates product and program performance vs. expectations. Provides meaningful insight and recommends action plans to address variances in performance against annual plan.

Manages cross functional team to deliver integrated launch programs for products, including product direction, marketing plans and store operations and supply chain requirements. Communicates product direction to internal and external partners.

Manages project teams, suppliers, and timelines to deliver products and programs. Will work with cross-functional partners to ensure the best available costs, terms and quality.

Develops and manages product line business plans and assortment strategies. Creates and presents the business case for new programs to support growth strategies and profitability targets. Makes recommendations regarding product objectives and strategy, positioning, pricing, packaging, and product lifecycle. May provide information and direction for planning, forecasting and managing inventories.

Builds and maintains strong relationships with key markets within the region. Collaborates with market partners to integrate market insights and business performance into the regional business plans and strategies.

Merges trends and other primary and secondary forms of research with fact based business insights to arrive at sound strategic recommendations. Uses data to tell a logical story.

Provides input into the strategic plan for product(s) they manage. Marketing & Promotions:

Develops and manages multi-channel, integrated marketing plans for promotions, brand initiatives, or product. Creates and presents the business case for new programs to support growth strategies and profitability targets. Creates and/or provides input to recommendations regarding marketing plan objectives, strategy, messaging, marketing mix, and tactics.

Develops, manages, and tracks marketing budgets, timelines, and processes from kickoff to execution. Establishes and maintains processes to ensure effective and timely development and execution of programs within defined budget constraints.

Provides input to consumer positioning, creative brief development, and supports all-agency creative briefing. Evaluates creative concepts and effectively provides creative feedback to internal and external agencies.

Identifies and quantifies specific product drivers in support of marketing calendar strategies.

Product Innovation:
Leads cross-functional and/or cross-channel teams to develop new products and product-related marketing opportunities, from concept to commercialization.

Manages project teams and timelines to deliver products and programs. Strong leadership of cross-functional partners required to ensure successful launch of innovations.

Contributes to the innovation strategy reflecting competitive and consumer trends and market needs.

May assist in the creation of and maintenance of platform/product positioning and guardrails ensuring relevancy across regions and channels.

Monitors the marketplace for new product innovations, competitors, lifestyle trends and emerging technologies. Summary of Experience

Progressive experience in product or brand management, (5 years)

MBA preferred.

Basic Qualifications:
At least two years’ experience in a marketing, brand management or product management.

At least two years’ experience leading the development of new or existing product or strategies from conception to implementation.

At least one year experience managing a budget.

Bachelor’s degree or four years of US military experience in a related MOS/C. Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Consistently uses communications skills to influence outcomes.

May require ability to work cross-culturally.

Ability to confidently present objectives and desired outcomes to leadership and cross functional teams.

Ability to influencing others without authority to get things done in a timely fashion.

Ability to write compelling presentations and succinct emails.

Ability to balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Working knowledge of financial planning, forecasting, assortment planning and inventory management.

Ability to build a level of trust and respect amongst peer group. Recognizes the importance of solid relationships.

Ability to resolve issues or debates independently in most situations. Job Scope

Annual Sales $0-$500MM

Starbucks is an equal opportunity employer of all qualified individuals, including minorities, women, veterans & individuals with disabilities. Starbucks will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all federal, state, and local ordinances.