Company Overview:
Tru Fragrance & Beauty is a team of brand creators, a partner for retailers, and a residency for founders and young beauty brands. We have fifty plus years' experience in the vast fragrance, beauty and wellness space, delivering paramount creative capabilities, category management and logistical excellence. Each year we bring hundreds of innovative, profitable products to market with our diverse retail and brand global partners including Sephora, Target, Ulta, Lake & Skye, TJ Maxx, Undone Beauty, American Eagle, Urban Outfitters, and Marks & Spencer among others.
Our unmatched infrastructure allows us to craft and execute data-driven strategies as unique as each client, providing in-house services within ideation, global operations, retail and brand strategy, brand marketing, data intelligence, e-commerce and funding and portfolio management. Our team of in-house experts are extensions of our retail and brand partners, navigating the ever-evolving industry as one.
In addition to headquarters in New York and Chicago, our elite team of over 100 is located in satellite offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Boston, Miami, and London.
Create opportunity. Produce excellence. Scale smart. Design the future.
Position Overview:
Title: Assistant Manager, Product Development
Location: Willowbrook, Illinois
Type: Full-time; hybrid
Compensation: Negotiable (based on experience)
The Assistant Manager of Product Development position supports the product development cycle for new, trend right products that fit our clients' product and pricing strategies. The ideal candidate will have 2+ years of experience in fragrance and/or beauty Product Development, Marketing or Buying and a keen knowledge of trend in the fragrance, beauty, and fashion sectors. They will work alongside Creative, Marketing, Project Management, and Commercial Sales, reporting to the Sr. Director of Product Development in our Willowbrook office while also supporting our team in New York.
Key Responsibilities:
The Assistant Manager of Product Development will be working with the Product Development team to support the development of new products. Some of the specific responsibilities will include:
- Product Lifecycle Management: Oversee the entire product lifecycle, including product form, innovation, branding, packaging, and fragrance briefs. Ensure that each product aligns with the company's strategic goals and market demands.
- Trend & Whitespace Analysis: Conduct regular analysis of market trends and identify opportunities for innovation. Understand the fragrance market and retailer landscape to spot whitespace opportunities that align with consumer demands.
- COGS Management and Product Pricing: Manage Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and ensure that product development stays within budget while maintaining high-quality standards. Create and manage comprehensive product pricing sheets. Ensure that pricing strategies are competitive and align with market expectations.
- Development Timing & Risk Management: Ensure timely delivery of products and identify potential risks early in the development process with implementation of strategies to mitigate them.
- Client Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with clients. Develop and present long-range plans that address product mix and opportunities. Travel for client meetings and presentations as required.
- Vendor Communication: Own daily communication with vendors, ensuring smooth collaboration and timely feedback through the development process.
Education and Experience:
- BS/BA in Business, Product Development, Merchandising, Marketing, or related degree. Fragrance/Beauty studies are beneficial.
- 2+ years Product Development, Marketing or Buying work experience in Fragrance, Beauty, Consumer Products or Retail.
- Working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite of products (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Additional Skills:
- Passion for fragrance, beauty, fashion, and consumer trends in these areas.
- Excellent project management skills, including the ability to work with different types of people, while creating and maintaining cooperative relationships across the organization.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and presentation skills.
- Self-starter who takes a proactive approach to ensure all deliverables are met.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities without losing attention to detail.
- Positive, energetic, can-do attitude with a team player mentality.
- Problem solver and quick learner that is motivated to think outside of the traditional.
- Innate curiosity and interest of consumer trends.