Research and Development Specialist - GearTop

Click here to watch the video from Patricia: https://youtu.be/UB6tRVaa-oI

With multiple different brands, this company manufactures a variety of sports & outdoor equipment. GearTOP is a multimillion-dollar brand, offering high-quality sun and wind protection - from sun hats & masks to gloves & balaclavas. TapeGeeks, another one of their brands, sells kinesiology accessories. They have also recently launched Buckit – a streetwear brand currently focused on bucket hats and they will expand to other products in the near future!

For the past eight years, they’ve built a fun, collaborative team consisting of 12 professionals. While all of them work remotely, the team is very close, and many of the employees have been in the company for a long time. A real family feel is what makes GearTOP a great place to work & develop, both personally and professionally!

These are their core values:

1️⃣Be positive and have fun

2️⃣Be ambitious - eager to learn and grow

3️⃣Do the right thing - be open and honest, and have integrity

4️⃣Be attentive to detail

5️⃣Help others as much as you can

If you think this is the kind of team you’d like to be a part of, read on!

Are you looking for a new challenge in research and development?

Do you have a passion for finding the latest products and trends?

Do you have experience communicating with suppliers to develop and deliver samples?

If so, you might be the perfect fit for GearTOP’s Research and Development Specialist role!

As a Research and Development Specialist, you will be responsible for researching new products and trends, communicating with suppliers to have samples produced, and working with the supply chain and procurement specialist to bring these products to life. You will be instrumental in ensuring GearTOP’s three brands have the latest and greatest products available, both for seasonal trends and all-year-round offerings.

More specifically, within this role, you will:

• Research new products and trends to ensure the three brands have the latest and greatest offerings available
• Communicate with suppliers to have samples produced and delivered
• Work with the supply chain and procurement specialist to bring the products you research to life
• Research trends and analyse data to make informed decisions about product development
• Interact and report to the supply chain and procurement specialist, co-founders, product manager, and other team members as needed
• Ensure that the products you research and develop meet the company's specifications
• Maintain persistent communication with suppliers to guarantee product delivery to the desired standards
• Analyse and interpret data to make informed decisions about product development

To excel in this role, you should have previous experience interacting with suppliers and be analytical with an eye for detail. You should also be confident in your ability to communicate and push suppliers to deliver the products you envision. Familiarity with Amazon, where GearTOP sells most of its products, would be a big plus, but training can be provided if needed. You will be fully trained on DataDive tools and the company’s research processes to ensure you have all the tools you need to succeed.

In your first couple of weeks, you will get familiar with the products and brands and join in on the meetings to understand the processes. You will also receive specific training on Amazon, how to communicate with suppliers and any tools we use such as DataDive and Helium10.

Requirements

GearTOP is looking for someone with 1-3 years of experience in a similar role, who is persistent and curious with a passion for research and development. If this sounds like the perfect opportunity for you, apply now and join their team!

To excel in this role, you need to have:

• A strong analytical skill set and the ability to work with numbers and data
• Experience with working and communicating with suppliers
• The ability to adapt to a fast-paced and ever-changing environment
• A creative mindset with the ability to think outside the box and investigate trends for seasonal and all-year-round products
• Confidence and assertiveness when communicating with suppliers and demanding what needs to be done
• The ability to approach management and flag problems as they arise
• Prior experience with Amazon
• A strong work ethic and goal-driven focus
• Honesty and integrity in all your work and interactions
• Excellent decision-making skills

Brownie points for:

• Familiarity with the use of Helium10
• Previous expe