Product Manager

Product Manager

Opportunity Overview
Are you ready to elevate your career and be a part of creating the world's best desserts? Dessert Holdings partners with some of North America’s most iconic chains to bring people together to celebrate life’s sweetest moments!

Dessert Holdings is looking for a Product Manager to join our team based in Aurora, Colorado or London, Ontario.  Key to driving growth for the organization, this individual will be responsible for supporting Retail and Foodservice channel growth through new product development and commercialization life cycle management by working with cross functional to successfully bring new products to market. This individual will provide guidance, risk assessment and transparency to the Gatekeepers through the existing Stage Gate process. This role is critical to ensure projects are launched on time, on budget, in line with customer requirements and supporting internal business objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Communicate business opportunities, create awareness and transparency for the Gatekeepers and key stakeholders, and bring timely decision requests that are relative to project investments
• Facilitate and provide guidance for key stakeholders, providing appropriate technical and risk analysis outcomes driving Gate Keepers decisions
• Champion strategic product initiatives and product improvements incorporating best practices into development, commercialization thru to in-market launch
• Build and maintain solid relationships with key stakeholders across the organization with a key focus on building an in-depth understanding of their process and requirements to successfully partner in the new product development process ecosystem.
• Maintain accurate and timely information through project tracking, documentation and communication
• Provide clear, cross functional visibility regarding project financials (i.e. costs, margin, pricing)
• Help bridge customer requirements with functional leads (i.e. packaging artwork, documentation)
• Steer multiple projects from prototyping phase through to execution, managing multiple timelines and deliverables simultaneously 

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Business Marketing
• 3+ years of product or project management, brand and/or category management
• Experience in a Foodservice, CPG, Food Manufacturing company is considered an asset

• Ability to lead, plan and deliver multiple projects at the same time across numerous production facilities
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships across the business independently
• Strong oral and written communication skills, English required
• Understanding of general costing/finance principles is helpful
• Strong presentation skills with ability to present to senior leadership internal and external (customers) and conduct training
• Strong computer skills and experience with or ability to learn project management tools 
• Ability to travel up to 10%

About Dessert Holdings

Dessert Holdings is North America’s fastest-growing premium dessert company, recognized for provide retail and foodservice customers with chef-inspired, innovative desserts made with real ingredients, a flexible and low-cost supply chain, and best-in-class service. The company is a collection of premium dessert companies and brands:  Steven Charles, The Original Cakerie, Lawler’s Desserts, Atlanta Cheesecake Company, and Dianne’s Fine Desserts.  Dessert Holdings is owned by Bain Capital, employing more than 3,200 people across eight manufacturing facilities, and is continuing its journey of rapid growth.

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