Product Manager | Retail Manufacturing
Job Description
- We are looking for a strategic Product Manager to lead innovation and drive product strategy across a broad portfolio. This position focuses on leveraging data, insights, and competitive analysis to influence internal product decisions that impact the entire customer base, rather than simply fulfilling individual customer requests.
The ideal candidate has experience in retail manufacturing environments with exposure to multiple products, preferably in durable, rugged, or industrial-style product categories. This role will be part of a small team of three hires with staggered start dates.
- Lead product innovation initiatives through competitive research and gap analysis
- Analyze competitor offerings and recommend enhancements or adjustments
- Own and interpret product data and insights to guide strategic decisions
- Drive internal product strategy and decisions, ensuring scalability across the customer base
- Collaborate cross-functionally to align product direction with business goals
- Support continuous improvement efforts across a diverse product portfolio
Qualifications:
- 4+ years of Product Management experience with a focus on innovation, gap analysis, and competitive research
- Proven ability to lead internal product strategy rather than executing solely customer-driven requests
- Background in retail manufacturing with experience managing multiple products
- Strong analytical skills and a data-driven mindset
- Career stability with demonstrated long-term commitments
- Excellent communication skills and comfort working collaboratively across teams
Meet Your Recruiter
Alicia Alexander
Technical Recruiter & Team Mentor
Alicia Alexander is a Technical Recruiter and Team Mentor at Sterling Engineering with four years of recruiting experience and nearly three years with Sterling. She specializes in engineering, manufacturing, and technical recruiting, supporting roles across maintenance, reliability, operations, engineering, and industrial environments, including food and life sciences.
Alicia is passionate about helping people find careers where they feel genuinely happy, supported, and positioned for long-term growth. She enjoys building meaningful relationships with candidates, helping them take the next step in their careers, and supporting companies as they build strong, high-performing teams.
With a background in psychology and human resources from North Central College, Alicia brings a people-focused approach to recruiting. Her understanding of relationship building, communication, and candidate motivation helps her create successful matches between talent and opportunity.
Alicia is known for developing strong partnerships with both candidates and hiring managers, with a focus on creating long-term placements that benefit both the individual and the organization.