Physical Product Development – Global Category Manager

Job Title:  Physical Product Development – Global Category Manager
Location: Remote
Reporting to: Global Director of Physical Product Development
Overview of Role:
This role will oversee the entire lifecycle of physical products, from ideation and design to market launch, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, innovation, and comprehensive documentation. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of recycled materials, a passion for environmentally responsible products, and exceptional project management skills.

Primary responsibilities

Category Strategy Development:
•    Develop and implement a category strategy for products made with recycled materials.  Categories include but are not limited to bags, drinkware, writing instruments, stationery, tech items, gift sets and/or special packaging.
•    Conduct market research to identify trends, opportunities, and customer needs within the sustainable product space.
•    Conduct competitive analysis on the industry to understand the product value proposition and unique selling proposition.
Product Development:
•    Oversee product design and development processes, ensuring alignment with sustainability goals and quality standards.
•    Maintain merchandising data base of applicable industry & competitor trends, merchandising best practices and design trends. 
•    Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including deco engineering, supply chain, quality, compliance and marketing, to bring products to market within the launch timeline.
•    Track new development samples across the global vendor base.  Review, test, and revise all new product prototypes according to established product and decoration standards. 
•    Source and evaluate recycled materials for product feasibility, cost, and environmental impact.
•    Collaborate with Cimpress Cross Functional teams for product collaboration
Documentation and Compliance:
•    Maintain detailed documentation for all stages of product development, including specifications, testing results, and compliance certifications.
•    Ensure all products comply with relevant regulations and sustainability certifications (e.g., GRS/RCS, FSC, etc).
•    Evaluate and manage product manuals, technical sheets, and user guides.
•    Build and maintain relationships with suppliers specializing in recycled materials.
•    Assist Sales and Customer Service team’s problem solve product inquiries, questions and customer issues.

Performance Analysis:
•    Monitor product performance and customer feedback post-launch to inform future product development.
•    Analyze sales data to evaluate category performance and drive new product development strategy, providing recommendations with analysis and executive summaries.
•    Track key metrics related to sustainability goals, such as recycled content percentage, carbon footprint reduction, and cost savings.
Innovation and Continuous Improvement:
•    Stay informed on advancements in recycling technologies and sustainable materials.
•    Propose innovative ideas to enhance product sustainability and lifecycle impact.
•    International and Domestic travel possible to support at trade shows and product research. 

Preferred Qualifications:
•    Familiarity with Global environmental regulations and certifications (e.g., REACH, RoHS, LEED).
•    Experience with life cycle assessment (LCA) tools and methodologies.
•    Passion for sustainability and a track record of driving sustainable initiatives.

Required skills and knowledge:
•    Ideal candidate has a passion for product with an excellent design aesthetic and attention to detail. 
•    3+ years of experience in Product Development, Category Management, or a related field, with a focus on recycled materials or sustainability 
•    Strong understanding of recycled materials, manufacturing processes, and sustainability certifications.
•    Excellent project management skills with experience managing cross-functional teams.
•    Proficiency in product lifecycle management (PLM) tools and documentation systems.
•    Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
•    Excellent communication and negotiation abilities
•    Able to work within a fast-paced collaborative team environment, managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines
•    Proficiency in Microsoft Office required, and proficiency in product lifecycle management (PLM) tools and documentation tools
•    Promotional Products Industry/Decoration methods experience an asset.

Our values
At Pens.com, we are guided by a set of core values that define our culture and approach to hiring:
Customers-First: 
We are committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences, both internally and externally. By understanding and fulfil