Associate Product Manager, Hardlines

Hand2mind is a family-owned company that creates engaging educational materials for children. The Associate Product Manager will oversee the development of educational products and toys, managing a product portfolio from concept to market launch while collaborating with cross-functional teams and overseas manufacturers. Responsibilities Manage 5-12 new products through the product life cycle, from ideation to market launch, ensuring products align with our educational mission and meet quality standards Products will include items available to all customers as well as custom items for specific customers Take responsibility for project management tasks, including tracking key milestone dates, to ensure efficient project execution 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 Skills Bachelor's Degree required 1-3 years of consumer product development experience or 3-5 years working with children (i.e. PreK-5 education, speech language pathology, etc.) 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 and 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 Benefits Profit sharing bonus potential 401k matching A variety of other benefits Company Overview We believe in the power of learning by doing: that hands-on learning engages children, deepens their understanding, and provides them with the confidence they need to reach their fullest potential. It was founded in 1965, and is headquartered in Vernon Hills, Illinois, US, with a workforce of 51-200 employees. Its website is