Product Launch Project Manager
Role Overview
The second position is focused on online product launches and is somewhat different from a traditional IT Project Manager role.
The organization manages a very large product portfolio with 30,000+ products and requires someone who understands how to successfully prepare and launch products through online channels.
The individual should understand how the various pieces of product information come together to make a product successful online, including:
- Pricing
- Weight
- Dimensions
- Shape and size
- Product category
- Product descriptions
- Product photography
- Product attributes
- Product metadata
- Other product-related information
The role is somewhat comparable to a Category/Product Manager function within a large retailer, where the individual understands how product information needs to come together to successfully introduce and merchandise products online.
The organization operates with aggressive product launch timelines and a high-velocity environment, so the individual must be comfortable managing multiple activities, teams, dependencies, and stakeholders simultaneously.
The role will work closely with IT and IT Engineering teams.
Potential Title
Product Launch Project Manager
4 Core Skills
- Product Launch Project Management
- Proven experience managing complex product launches
- Ability to manage aggressive timelines and multiple dependencies
- E-Commerce / Online Product Experience
- Experience launching or managing products through online channels
- Understanding of how products need to be presented digitally
- Product Data & Metadata
- Experience managing product attributes and information
- Pricing, dimensions, categories, imagery, descriptions, metadata, etc.
- Cross-Functional IT / Engineering Coordination
- Ability to coordinate business, product, IT, engineering, and other stakeholders
- Strong project leadership in a high-velocity environment
2 Nice-to-Have Skills
- Retail / Large Product Catalog Experience
- Experience working with retailers or organizations managing thousands of products
- Experience with high-volume product environments
- Category Management / Online Merchandising
- Experience similar to Category/Product Management
- Understanding of online merchandising and how product information impacts the customer experience
Ideal Candidate
A seasoned Product Launch Project Manager with strong e-commerce, product-data, and cross-functional coordination experience.
The candidate should have the maturity to manage ambiguity, aggressive launch schedules, and issues that may extend beyond the defined project scope.
Experience Level
Minimum Requirement
7+ years of relevant professional experience
Preferred
10?15 years of experience
The preference for a more experienced candidate is intentional. The organization is looking for someone who has developed the judgment, maturity, and confidence to handle situations outside the normal boundaries of a project, rather than someone who simply manages tasks against a project plan.
This is not an entry-level or junior Project Manager requirement, nor is it a search for a Business Analyst.