At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and grow our product portfolio while driving sales and brand awareness.
- Company: A leading UK distributor of non-food FMCG products with a dynamic culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, annual bonus, and 5 weeks holiday.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with excellent growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Join a creative team and make a real impact on product development.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical skills and experience in product management required.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
Location: Bury St Edmunds/Hybrid
Employment Type: Full-time Mon – Fri, 37.5 – 08:30 – 17:00
Reporting Line: Head of Brand & Commercial Partnerships
Salary: £35,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
About the Company
This is a UK dedicated, large-scale distributor of non-food FMCG products. We provide a cost-effective sales, marketing and distribution service for FMCG manufacturers from around the world of both branded and private label products for supply to multiple retailers, convenience stores, discount retailers, online retailers, pharmacies, wholesalers and foodservice operators across all key channels.
Role Overview
We are seeking a dynamic Product Development Manager to strategically manage and grow our product portfolio, driving sustainable sales, margin, and contribution in line with company objectives. This role requires a commercially astute and creative professional with strong analytical and relationship management skills. This is a strategic, hands-on role suited to a results-driven professional who can balance commercial insight with creative brand development.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain an up-to-date understanding of the brand portfolio, market dynamics, emerging trends, and competitor activity.
- Conduct regular range reviews and benchmarking exercises with brand owners to identify growth opportunities and rationalise underperforming products.
- Negotiate with suppliers, agencies, and service providers to secure competitive terms, pricing, and where possible, marketing investment.
- Ensure principals and suppliers deliver the service levels and support required to meet customer expectations and drive business growth.
- Collaborate closely with marketing agencies to develop and execute brand marketing plans within agreed budgets, aimed at driving sales and brand awareness.
- Work with brand owners to plan and implement promotional and trade marketing initiatives, ensuring alignment with consumer marketing activities.
- Research and evaluate potential new principals to expand the company’s portfolio and support growth objectives.
- Manage discontinued and clearance product lines efficiently to create space for new product development.
- Plan, coordinate, and oversee the new product launch process, including packaging design (where applicable), ensuring effective communication across all internal departments and accurate forecasting for Sales, Supply Chain, Logistics, and Customer Service teams.
- Provide comprehensive support to the Sales team through accurate product data, presentations, and timely responses to information and pricing requests.
- Foster open, effective, and collaborative communication across cross-functional departments.
- Achieve sales and profit growth targets as set by your line manager.
- Prepare and deliver high-quality professional presentations for both internal and external audiences.
- Lead, engage, and develop direct reports by setting clear direction, expectations, and fostering a culture of performance and accountability.
Skills & Experience Required:
- Excellent numeracy and literacy skills, with strong attention to detail.
- High proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint, to a professional and analytical standard.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with the capacity to evaluate and compare alternative commercial options.
- Effective multitasker, able to manage a wide range of products and prioritise workload efficiently.
- Commercially astute, with a clear understanding of how decisions and actions impact sales, profit, and overall business performance.
What We Offer
- Annual bonus eligible position
- Hybrid office/home working model (following successful completion of probation).
- Growth and learning opportunities
- Collaborative work environment
- 5 weeks annual leave plus bank holidays
- Auto-enrolment Pension
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- DSE Contribution
- Onsite Parking
- Complimentary refreshments provided during working hours.
Product Development Manager in Bury St Edmunds employer: Cooper Lomaz
As a leading engineering firm in the United Kingdom, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic work culture that prioritises innovation and collaboration. Our employees benefit from comprehensive training programmes and clear pathways for career advancement, ensuring that you can grow alongside our cutting-edge projects. With a commitment to employee well-being and a supportive team environment, we offer a rewarding workplace where your contributions truly make a difference.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Development Manager in Bury St Edmunds
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Cooper Lomaz!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Cooper Lomaz would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Cooper Lomaz through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Development Manager in Bury St Edmunds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Product Development Manager, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Product Development Manager position at Cooper Lomaz. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cooper Lomaz
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
