Director, Product Management, Private Brands

Job Description

Description

About Guitar Center

Guitar Center embodies the world of creativity and music by encouraging our teammates to find their own individual sound. We strive to craft lifelong musicians and make a difference in the world by enabling musicians and non-musicians alike to experience the almost indescribable happiness that comes from playing an instrument. We believe in putting our customers first, engaging with respect and integrity and fulfilling our mission with passion.

The Guitar Center Company operates through several business divisions. Guitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards, recording, live sound, DJ, and lighting equipment, with more than 290 stores across the United States. 2014 marked the milestone 50th anniversary of the Guitar Center Company as the organization continues to help people make music from coast to coast.

The Musician's Friend business offers online sales of a broad selection of music products under the Musician's Friend and Music 123 brand names. The Music & Arts division operates more than 220 stores specializing in band & orchestral instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors, and students since 1952. AVDG and GCPro headline the enterprise audio-visual integration business, delivering a best-in-class commercial and residential customer experience.

Job Description

The Director of Product Management is the business and operations owner of an assigned portfolio of private label brands and product categories. This person is responsible for driving the successful, sustainable business and owns full responsibility for Brand Strategy, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), and Operational efficiencies from product ideation through end-of-life.

Specifically, the role leads a cross-functional Product Management team to create and maintain brand strategies, product roadmaps, execute NPD (New Product Development) projects and transition new products to operational teams at launch. The Director will provide Project Governance for the portfolio, setting priorities for NPD Projects and Key Initiatives. The Director will manage supply chain strategies and establish R&D partnerships needed to support Product Roadmaps. The Director will collaborate with enterprise Merchandising and Inventory teams to ensure Brand Strategies, Product Roadmaps and Business Development initiatives support enterprise objectives.

Responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to the following:

• Accountable for achieving business goals including target sales, margin and category penetration for products within assigned portfolios
• Develop owned brand plans that that include brand strategy, product roadmaps, financial projections and the required capabilities for execution
• Manage their assigned team to determine long term supply chain capabilities, technology needs, product platforms and quality assurance standards required to execute product roadmaps
• Conduct regular brand reviews, roadmap reviews and portfolio optimization reviews that drive the Private Brands multi-year plan
• Ensure Guitar Center private label brand and product plans are driven by validated, prioritized customer needs, insights about buying behavior and are aligned with top line department goals
• Lead NPD (New Product Development) projects through Concept, Feasibility, Definition, Development and Launch phases.
• Drives the completion of all project artifacts including product and marketing requirements, competitive analysis and pricing models, customer-facing messaging and development plans
• Collaborate with Merchant and Inventory teams to ensure Private Label products are sufficiently assorted, promoted and purchased in effort to achieve target sales and penetration goals.
• Additional duties as assigned.

To join our band, you'll need the following experience:

• Bachelor's Degree is required, preferably in Business, Marketing, Design, Technology or similar or 4 years of relevant work experience
• 13 years of relevant work experience (in addition to degree or years of previous experience).
• 6 years of experience leading teams.
• Advanced understanding/knowledge in one or more product categories in musical instruments or consumer electronics.
• Advanced project management skills
• Advanced proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Power Point and familiarity with MS Access, other database and ERP systems

Why Guitar Center? Here’s just some of the rewards:

For our employees who are musicians we offer the unique opportunity of gig leave—take time off to share your music with the world and return to your job after your tour! Guitar Center offers robust benefits and perks, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K plus company match, mental health support, paid sick/holiday/vacation time, employee discount program, and tuition reimbursement options.

Pay Rate: $130,200- $162,700 depending on background and experience. 

This position is eligible to participate in the Guitar Center Company bonus program based on Company performance. The job posting is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee, which is always dependent on actual experience, education, and other factors. The pay range(s) listed are provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different in other locations

Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides fair and equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job‐related requirements.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening. You can request reasonable accommodation by calling 1‐818-735-8800 ext. 2862 or by sending an email to [email protected].

Why join us?

With a career at Guitar Center, you become part of the world's largest multichannel musical instrument retailer. Whether at our Stores, Contact Centers, Distribution Centers, or Support Center, Guitar Center employees have a common goal: to help people find their sound and fill the world with more music.

Love this gig and want to apply?

Send your resume and cover letter today along with salary expectations!

Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides fair and equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job‐related requirements.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening. You can request reasonable accommodation by sending an email to [email protected].