Associate Director of Product Management

Summary of the Position: 

The Associate Director of Product Management is responsible for leading a portfolio of products with the objective of driving profitable growth, market share expansion, and long-term portfolio sustainability. This role oversees the development and execution of multi-year product strategies aligned with customer needs, competitive dynamics, operational capabilities, and overall business objectives. 

In addition to leading product strategy, this position plays a key role in supporting contract manufacturing partnerships and ensuring strong alignment between product management, supply chain, and manufacturing operations. The Associate Director partners closely with R&D, operations, supply chain, quality, finance, marketing, sales, and external manufacturing partners to ensure successful product development, launch, and lifecycle execution. 

The ideal candidate combines strong strategic thinking with hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment and supply chain operations. They are a collaborative leader who drives cross-functional execution, innovation, operational excellence, and commercial performance.

Roles and Responsibilities

· Lead and mentor a team of product managers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

· Responsible for product P&L management ensuring financial performance aligns with business goals.

· Oversee strategic product plans developing multi-year product roadmaps to align cross-functional teams.

· Develop and manage lifecycle strategies including launch, growth, access, modification, and rationalization.

· Manage new product development projects from Business Case through Audit stages working in collaboration with internal partners such as innovation, operations, supply chain, finance, sales, and marking.

· Serve as the bridge between innovation (R&D), manufacturing, supply chain, quality, marketing, and sales to ensure alignment from development through commercialization.

· Assist in contract manufacturing management, including coordination with external manufacturing partners to support product launches, capacity planning, quality standards, and cost control.

· Identify operational risks and proactively develop mitigation strategies related to supply, production, and regulatory considerations.

· Maintain a portfolio of product initiatives balancing resources, timing of returns, and risk exposure.

· Design strategic launch plans to test product positioning, claims, and market acceptance. 

· Monitor the performance of innovation initiatives using key metrics, such as product vitality, to evaluate impact and refine strategies as necessary.

· Work with channel management to execute product strategy and meet topline revenue objectives. 

· Partner with marketing management on product campaign development. 

· Develop and implement product strategies to manage and mitigate channel conflicts and maximize reach. 

· Collaborate with professional service veterinarians to identify and engage key opinion leaders (KOL) to enhance product credibility and awareness.

· Develop and manage budgets ensuring optional resource allocation and effectiveness of marketing activities.  

· Regular attendance required

· Perform other assigned duties as they may be required in meeting company objectives.

· Communicate effectively with other departments within the organization and function within a team environment.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements:
· Strong strategic thinking and with the ability to translate market insights into actionable plans.
· Creative marketer with the ability to craft product experiences that deeply resonate with target audiences.
· Experience supporting or partnering in contract manufacturing management, including external supplier coordination and performance oversight.
· Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver complex product initiatives from concept through commercialization.
· Strong financial acumen, including P&L management and margin optimization.
· Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.
· Results-oriented mindset with a passion for driving innovation and achieving business growth.
· Self-motivated, adaptable, and able to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
· Mix of technical product and commercial experience.

Experience and Skills
· Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field. MBA or advanced degree preferred.
· 7 years of marketing or sales experience with 3 years of product management or related experience