Product Manager

RKW is actively hiring into the Product Management team which now sits as a key part of our Marketing Division.

Role 1

• Floorcare and Heating & Cooling (including both air and water systems)

Role 2

• Personal Care, Audio and Linen Care (Irons, Steamers)

Established in 1989, RKW is one of Europe's leading distributors and wholesalers of small domestic appliances and housewares. Headquartered in Stoke-on-Trent, we, supply major retailers including Tesco, Dunelm, Asda, Argos, John Lewis, Robert Dyas, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and B&M, as well as operating via our own retail websites and 3rd party e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Very etc.

Our portfolio of In-House ranges covers legacy brands such as Tower, Swan and Carmen – with a diverse offering of styles and specifications to meet all needs – from Air Fryers to Hair Dryers.

Role Purpose

The Product Manager is responsible for managing products throughout their lifecycle, from initial product validation and development through launch and ongoing Product Health management.

The role combines product management, NPI project management and product ownership, acting as a central link between Category, Buying, Quality, Design, Marketing, Content, Sales and other relevant functions.

The Product Manager ensures products are well defined, effectively delivered, ready for market and supported by ongoing customer and product insight once launched.

Key Responsibilities

1. Product & Proposition Development

Develop a strong understanding of customers, competitors and market trends to support the development of compelling and differentiated products.

Responsibilities

• Conduct product, market and competitor analysis
• Identify product and range opportunities and gaps
• Undertake Product Experience Testing and competitor benchmarking
• Contribute product and market insight to product specification and CMF development
• Provide Product insight and recommendations to support Category decision-making
• Maintain Product Roadmaps in line with agreed category strategy

2. NPI & Project Management

Coordinate products through the NPI process from initial project setup through to formal Post Launch Review.

Responsibilities

• Manage NPIs through the Stage & Gate process
• Maintain project plans, critical paths and project status through Asana
• Facilitate key NPI meetings and maintain actions and decisions
• Identify project risks, dependencies and delays and escalate where required
• Develop and maintain the NPI Brief
• Ensure projects remain aligned to the intended launch timing

3. NPI Retail Readiness & Launch

Creates, manages and coordinates Retail Readiness plans for product launches, ensuring agreed customer-facing requirements are in place.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain Retail Readiness plans for priority launches
• Define product content and brand-asset requirements
• Review and approve relevant brand-owned assets
• Coordinate visibility of channel, aftercare, advocacy and other agreed launch requirements

4. Product Health & Lifecycle Management

Maintain visibility of Product Health following launch and use customer and product insight to identify issues and future opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Monitor ratings, reviews, returns and other relevant Product Health indicators
• Investigate material product and customer-experience issues
• Coordinate Post Launch Reviews and capture relevant learning
• Undertake structured Category / Range Health Reviews for agreed priority areas
• Feed Product Health insight into future Product Roadmaps and NPI development

5. Wider Product Support & Business Requirements

Provide Product expertise, coordination and support for wider business activities and requirements that fall outside the standard Product lifecycle processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide Product input, review and approval of product-related communications and materials, including marketing copy, trade editorials, press releases and exhibition assets.
• Support exceptional or expedited NPI requirements, adapting project coordination and governance to meet business priorities.
• Provide Product expertise and support for other business initiatives and requirements as agreed with the Head of Product.

Stakeholder Management

Build strong cross-functional relationships to ensure effective product development, launch and lifecycle management.

Key relationships include

• Category
• Buying
• Quality & Compliance
• Design Studio
• Marketing Communications
• Content / eCommerce
• Sales
• Customer Care
• Supply Chain / Purchasing

The Product Manager acts as a central point of Product management, ensuring relevant information, actions, risks and decisions remain visible throughout the product lifecycle.

Key Outputs

• Product Propositions and supporting Product insight
• NPI plans and critical paths
• NPI Briefs
• Product Experience Testing & competitor benchmarking
• Retail Readiness plans
• Post Launch Reviews
• Product Health and Category / Range insight
• Product Roadmaps

Success Measures

• NPIs launched on time against agreed critical paths
• NPI sales performance against Gate 2 approved expectations
• Quality and accuracy of Product Propositions and NPI Briefs
• Effective Retail Readiness of priority launches
• Early identification and resolution of Product Health issues
• Quality and timeliness of Post Launch Reviews
• Effective cross-functional project coordination
• Quality of Product insight supporting future category and NPI decisions

Company Benefits

• 25 days' annual leave (Plus Bank Holidays)
• Annual company bonus scheme based on company / category / individual performance
• 6x Life Insurance
• Enhanced Pension
• Hybrid working
• Free parking on all sites
• Staff discount on all our products
• Employee Assistance Program
• Refer a Friend Scheme
• Training and development
• Eye care allowance
• Long service incentives and rewards

Come and join us to celebrate 35 years of business –

If you feel you have the right background and experience to carry out this busy role, we look forward to hearing from you, please apply now via this advert or send a cv and covering email directly to Sign in to view email

Notice to agencies. R K Wholesale Limited (the Company) will not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies, search firms, or independent agents for this available role. Resumes submitted without specific agency authorisation and valid signed agreement in place will become the sole property of the Company. Therefore, no fee will be payable should a candidate be hired as a result of an unsolicited agency, search firm or independent agent's referral.