Assistant Product Manager - Merchandising

Note: This position is part of the Merchandising and Product Development team and focuses on physical product assortment and retail strategy — not digital or IT product management. 

Company Overview: 

Since 1951, Hickory Farms has connected people with savory flavors to share and send. Our specialty cured meats and cheeses are available for purchase online, in catalogs, in leading mass merchants and supermarkets, and in seasonal retail locations in the US and Canada. 

Hickory Farms is a privately held company with nearly 75 years of delivering quality, well-loved food gifts and charcuterie essentials. Every member of our nimble, dynamic team makes an impact every day in a high-energy, results-driven culture. 

Our Values lead the way. They are: The customer is our focus. Integrity and respect. We own it. Everyone has a place at the table. We embrace change. We savor the journey together.

Job Overview

The Assistant Product Manager is responsible for supporting the development and management of the product assortment. The primary responsibility of this role is to manage all product information details for accurate communication to cross-functional teams in Marketing, Supply Chain, Brand, and Planning.  This is a hybrid role.  This is not an IT role!

Key Responsibilities 

• Assists the Manager with the execution of merchandising strategy and creation of line plan.
• Assists with product development for new SKUs; manages all vendor quote sheets, creates Bill of Materials (BOMs), and cost roll-ups.    
• Responsible for item setup and system accuracy. Manages timelines and communicates all system updates to the cross-functional team.
• Physically manages all samples and maintains the workspace and sample library. 
• Maintains Product Information Management database for all product specs and updates as needed. 
• Responsible for submitting projects to Creative for all assets, including packaging, catalogs, and product detail pages. 
• Request and track product samples for photo shoots, pre-production approval, and customers.
• Support the Retail team to develop planograms for all store layouts.
• Responsible for proofing all assets against product specs. 
• Responsible for submitting nutritional information for all new products with the Quality Team. 
• Cultural fit that embodies the company’s core values.

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 1-3 years of experience in a related role; retail industry preferred 
• Highly Proficient in Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Experience with ERP, CMS, PIM systems; Microsoft D365 a plus
• Strong organizational skills; ability to multitask and manage to a deadline
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must be detail-oriented.

Hickory Farms is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business needs. 

Salary: - $55-$60K

Benefits:

•  401(k)
• Health insurance
• Retirement plan
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off
• Employee discount
• Health savings account
• Dental insurance