The Role
The Product Manager creates strategies for product assortments to boost sales and profits, analyzing trends, coordinating cross-functional teams, and overseeing product development and financial planning.
Summary Generated by Built In
Blue Bottle Coffee is a passionate and growing team of hundreds around the world, united by the simple purpose of getting great coffee (and food) to everyone who asks for it. We roast on three coasts, make delicious drinks, clean up after ourselves, bake cookies, get change at the bank, and say please and thank you. We’re an impossibly eclectic group of coffee experts, artists, writers, sensory scientists, bakers, designers, and all-around dreamers, who also happen to be some of the most hard working and talented in the business. Join us.
The Product Manager, US. creates and develops business strategies and seasonal beverage and merchandise assortment plans to deliver sales and profits for both the cafe and Ecomm channels in line with strategies set by the Global Merchandise Director and Global Head of Beverage. Reporting to the US Brand Marketing Director, you will analyze the business to identify category opportunities across beverage and merchandise and develop new products or concepts for the brand. Key to the role is coordinating information across functions working closely with Inventory Management, Sourcing & Supply Chain, Creative, Ecommerce and Cafes, as well as outside vendors to ensure the process is followed and timelines are met.
This role supports the development and coordination of coffee, beverage, and merchandise launches, not digital products, ensuring alignment with brand standards and U.S. market needs.
You will:
- Business Analysis & Strategy:
- Analyze, present, and recap sales trends to leadership teams.
- Identify risks and opportunities in the product portfolio.
- Communicate product strategies focused on core businesses and innovation.
- Execute competitive market analysis.
- Lead product meetings and provide critical feedback on program viability.
- Product Development:
- Capable of managing through ambiguity and solutions-oriented.
- Attend trade shows to identify trends and build vendor relationships.
- Work with vendor partners on product development, ensuring timeline adherence.
- Execute seasonal and core product assortment planning.
- Collaborate on new product launches across channels.
- Financial Planning & Inventory Management:
- Collaborate with Inventory Management and Finance to develop annual and seasonal financial.
- Work with Sourcing on assortment, purchase quantities, and exit strategies.
- Establish profitable pricing strategies based on market trends.
- Support inventory and supply chain management processes.
- Manage product PnL through innovation process and review profitability of all items quarterly.
- Brand & Creative:
- Communicate key product priorities to inform go-to-market process.
- Influence marketing efforts based on sales demand and inventory levels.
- Partner with Creative on product packaging development.
- Write product briefs and manage briefs through our I2L process, including collaborating with marketing on content and messaging, influence and partner with US GMs on product forecasting, while ensuring products arrive complete on time.
- Cafes:
- Analyze channel results and recommend updates to cafe assortment.
- Provide information to the field on cafe promotion strategies.
- Coordinate communication strategies with Cafe Operations, including support on writing one sheets.
- Provide appropriate merchandising and product information for training and resolution of any product issues.
- Visit cafes as needed to review visual merchandising and gain feedback from cafe leaders.
- Misc.
- Operate in PLM and data reporting applications.
- Advanced knowledge of retail math.
- Highly proficient to advanced in Excel and PPT or Google slides and presenting.
- Attend overseas product development calls with Asia.
You are:
- You are equal parts diligent planner, exceptional leader, and entrepreneurial business builder.
- As someone with a high interest and passion for coffee and design, you'll bring your refined taste level and dedication to protect and elevate our brand.
- You excel in the dynamic space between operations, product management and brand, using your strong interpersonal skills to work cross-functionally and break down barriers between teams.
- The ideal candidate thrives in a growing, fast-paced environment, demonstrates exceptional organization, and maintains an upbeat, can-do attitude.
- You have a proven record of successful cross-functional collaboration.
- Most importantly, you deeply understand the Blue Bottle brand and will serve as a relentless advocate for brand-right beverage and merchandise decisions.
- Your passion for coffee is at the heart of everything you do.
You have:
- 5+ years of experience of Buying/Merchandising experience.
- High taste level, with a keen understanding of cultural, design and beverage trends.
- Extensive understanding of merchandise development processes used in retail environments.
- Meticulous attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize work and resources across long- and short-term needs.
- Required to verbally articulate business strategy to Senior Management.
- Independently able to drive a business and thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
- Motivated to identify and implement process improvements that benefit the greater organization.
- Resourceful problem-solving skills with proven ability to think critically, analytically and strategically.
- Proactive and business-minded attitude with strong project management ability.
- Passion for the Blue Bottle Coffee, exquisite hospitality and delicious coffee.
The following is a list of the physical activity requirements and environmental factors related to this role. Blue Bottle is committed to partnering with all candidates and employees to ensure reasonable accommodations are made to meet the following:
- Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
- Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication.
- Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
- Close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal and written documentation.
- Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. This role requires a mix of sedentary work and active on-site engagement in cafe environments. Occasionally, walking, climbing stairs, and standing occur in this role.
- Environment: This role is protected within a building, but may be exposed to mild changes in temperature with heating or air conditioning.
A few benefits we offer:
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage for eligible employees starting on your first day
- Best-in-class coffee training and continuing education
- Free membership into the Specialty Coffee Association of America and discounts on events (including Expos and Championships)
- 401(k) plan
- Paid time off & paid volunteer hours
- 50% discount on all products, both online and in-cafe; this includes food, beverages, whole-bean coffee, and merchandise
- Flexible spending account & commuter benefits
- Employee Assistance Program
- Additional benefits information
Compensation:
- This position has a minimum salary of $84,400. This salary is a good-faith estimate for this position. The final salary offer will be determined after reviewing relevant factors, which include a candidate's qualifications and experience, where appropriate.
At Blue Bottle Coffee, you’ll be a vital part of our guests’ experience and a crucial link in delivering the most delicious coffee we can find to every person who walks through our doors, be it in person or online. If you’re ready to bring beautiful and thoughtfully rendered experiences to life, please apply and join us.
Blue Bottle is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value an open mind, dedication to work, and a collaborative spirit. We hire based on these qualities, a job’s requirements, our business’s needs, and an applicant’s qualifications. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind in the hiring process or in the workplace.
We comply with the ADA and provide reasonable accommodations that allow qualified applicants/employees to perform the essential functions of the job. We also provide reasonable religious accommodations to applicants/employees to allow them to practice their bona fide religious beliefs. To request an accommodation, contact your People Partner.
We may refuse to hire relatives of present employees if doing so could result in actual or potential problems in supervision, security, safety, or morale, or if doing so could create other conflicts of interest.
We will consider employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
We participate in E-Verify. We will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. We will only use E-Verify once an employee has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.
Top Skills
Data Reporting Applications
Excel
Google Slides
Plm
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The Company
What We Do
“Blue Bottle is coffee and people. Not necessarily in that order.”
—James Freeman, Founder
In our eyes, coffee’s main purpose is to be delicious. We go to great lengths to source, roast, taste, and prepare coffee so our guests can enjoy it at peak deliciousness.
We know that good coffee depends on strong community. We work directly with farmers around the world to source our coffees as sustainably and ethically as we can. We hire team members who are dedicated to creating beautiful experiences with coffee.
From the farm to the cafe, our coffee is handled by people who care.
