Assistant Product Manager

Vista Outdoor is a leading global designer, manufacturer and marketer of consumer products in the growing outdoor sports and recreation markets. Our portfolio of over 30 well-recognized brands gives outdoor enthusiasts, hunters, recreational shooters, professional athletes, law enforcement and military professionals a range of performance-driven, high-quality and innovative products.

Vista is seeking to add an Assistant Product Manager to our team in Overland Park, KS—in support of the Blackhawk, Uncle Mike’s, and GunMate brands. This position is responsible for the facilitation of activities necessary to achieve sales and profit objectives for the designated product category, in an effort to ensure growth in volume and profit for Vista Outdoors. This position’s primary role will include assisting the product manager in executing new product development initiatives in accordance with the annual plan, leveraging consumer insights and market research. Other responsibilities include upgrading packaging graphics for products, product revisions, and re-introductions, assisting with the preparation of the annual marketing plan, including gathering data and insights for financial reviews and graphic presentations. Other duties include assisting customers in solving problems, addressing any product complaints, and performing other responsibilities as the need arises.

* Assist Product Manager in achieving Net Sales and Gross Margin metrics for assigned business as per annual plan. * Assist team with conducting market and consumer research and analysis, partnering with the Insights team for front end discovery to identify and validate new product ideas * Write new product concepts and work with Insights team or outside agency to test * Assist team with developing business case for new product launch, as per stage gate process, mitigating risks, and ensuring product meets key consumer and customer needs, and company financial metrics * Coordinate development and testing of new product prototypes with production facilities and validate in market * Lead efforts to commercialize and launch new products * Assist Brand Manager in developing a marketing support plan, providing key data and insights * Assist Product Manager with maintaining a 3 year new product pipeline—ensuring brand remains relevant with consumers. * Work in tandem with base business Product Manager and Brand Manager to ensure new product offerings fit with the evolving go-to-market strategy and brand positioning * Work closely with Vista Outdoor Insights team, key cross-functional groups, and outside agencies to develop new products as per team’s best practices. * Upgrade core products and develop line extensions as needed.

* Bachelor’s degree (business, economics, marketing is preferred) * Tactical nylon/cut-and-sew (packs, bags, soft nylon products) industry experience is preferred * Innovation/new product development experience is a plus * Must possess strong communication/interpersonal; planning/organizational; and strong analytical/problem solving skills * High degree of initiative * Must be proficient in Microsoft, Excel, Access and Power Point * This position reports to a Product Manager, within a marketing role * Travel ranges from 2-4 trips per year