About the Role
The primary goal of this position is to lead one of our Games or Puzzles Divisions. This person will be responsible for a broad range of marketing and product management responsibilities including creating products and developing product strategy, determining marketing programs and sales strategies, and managing product lifecycle. It is truly a general management role.
The right candidate will be a classically trained marketer with a proven track record of developing and launching new products; creating, executing and managing marketing campaigns; experience in preparing major retailer presentations; and use of data analytics to drive decisions. Additionally, marketing experience in a small company environment is also valuable.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities
Develop and execute a Marketing Strategy and Marketing Plan that is based upon a thorough understanding of the product line, the market, competitive landscape and consumer needs.
Develop and execute new product rollout plans including product/concept refinement, market research, positioning, packaging design, vendor negotiations, volume and financial forecasting, trade and consumer promotion planning, and marketing program development.
Hands-on leadership, “roll up your sleeves” efforts with the team to develop marketing programs, promotions, public relations, trade shows, advertising, packaging updates, new packaging, and collateral development.
Develop long-range product strategies, determining new product opportunities through analysis of the external marketplace, customers and competitors to meet profitability targets.
Drive rigorous category and consumer evaluation process including review and analysis of: consumer/trends, category competition, global competition, and key play patterns.• Work with the Company’s external marketing and product partners: media agency, licensors, ad agency, public relations, social media, etc.
Monitor business activity (sell through data, promotions, competitive activity, budget, etc.) using both internal sales data and observations techniques in order to make recommendations and optimize the effectiveness of the tactical plan.
Closely coordinate with the sales team regarding sales initiatives and promotions, new items, broker requirements, demos, trade shows, and other initiatives as necessary.
Own all aspects of product creation from concept to finished product including initial product briefs and specifications, design and development management, sourcing and vendor negotiations and managing production schedules.
Monitor and update the “open-to-buy” and overall purchase plan in collaboration with the Controller and Purchasing Manager. Work with Finance and Sales to improve data analytics to enhance major account retention, customer community-building programs and to identify new revenue opportunities across product lines and the customer base in different segments.
Lifecycle management of product portfolio; manage the merchandising of existing products.
Desired Skills & Experience
Personal Attribute
Self-starter who can work independently but knows when to appropriately bring CEO and/or the rest of the senior management team into the decision-making process
Team player, collaborative, approachable, people-oriented, diplomatic, professional, tactful, great communicator
Comfortable in a dynamic, entrepreneurial, environment with tight deadlines
Ability to think both strategically and execute at the ground level, individual contributor
Ability and eagerness to learn a new industry and its players quickly
Passion for product and eagerness to research emerging trends at retail and innovate• Resourceful
High energy with a sense of urgency with ability to remain positive and calm under pressure and tight timelines
Loves products and is energized by the retail environment (visits retailers regularly)
Skills
Exceptional strategic planning skills
Excellent project management and prioritization skills
Strong analytical, quantitative and forecasting skill
Innovative and highly resourceful; an outside-of-the box thinker
Sound critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Ability and desire to research and collect relevant information to debate ideas that move the business forward
Ability to write a sell sheet, art direct a project or go on an emergency sales trip to meet major customers on short notice
Data driven; accustomed to setting goals and measuring success of various programs (sales, products, promotions, marketing)
Experience
Approximately 5-10 years of relevant consumer brand marketing or product management experience• MBA preferred
Loves to play games and brainteasers and understands game mechanics
Toy/Games Industry or Consumer Packaged Goods experience strongly desired
Deep experience developing and executing Marketing/Product Strategy, Marketing Plan, Production Plans and related budgets
Strong cross-functional experience liaising with Sales, Operations, Finance, Creative, Customer Service, etc.
Strong new product development experience (due diligence, brand development and positioning, launch management, etc.)
Job Qualifications:
Approximately 5-10 years of relevant consumer brand marketing or product management experience
MBA preferred
Loves to play games and brainteasers and understands game mechanics
Toy/Games Industry or Consumer Packaged Goods experience strongly desired
Deep experience developing and executing Marketing/Product Strategy, Marketing Plan, Production Plans and related budgets
Strong cross-functional experience liaising with Sales, Operations, Finance, Creative, Customer Service, etc.
Strong new product development experience (due diligence, brand development and positioning, launch management, etc.)
About the Company
Founded in 1985 to meet an emerging need for leisure time social interaction and learning for adults and children, University Games has developed and manufactured hundreds of games, puzzles and toys. They continue to be a leader in creating games to encourage social interaction and imagination through game play so much so that they now distribute and market products in more than 30 countries globally–more than any other privately-held game company.
Our corporate emphasis is to keep products contemporary through product design and licenses that inform, educate and entertain consumers. Today, the Company has four US divisions; University Games/Briarpatch/Forbidden Games (board games), BePuzzled (puzzles), Great Explorations (science and learning/novelties/Glow-in-the-Dark products), and Front Porch Classics/Maranda (high end table-top games/outdoor games).
Learn more about UG and the games industry through UG Studios at youtube.com/ugstudios