Position Summary:
The Product Management Specialist supports the Product Manager by managing product development and product change projects, from request to launch. This entry-level role plans project schedules, coordinates cross-functional teams, runs project meetings, follows up on actions, and keeps projects on time.
Key Accountabilities:
- Project Management - plans and manages product development and product change projects from kickoff to launch, including scope, schedules, milestones, risks and cross-functional coordination.
- Product Change Management - coordinates product change requests and their implementation with the Product Manager, and over time takes ownership of them, including the supporting business case and recommendation.
- Compliance Support - supports product compliance initiatives by coordinating actions, timelines and follow-up on product changes.
- Market and Customer Insight - builds relationships with sales teams and customers, captures feedback and product ideas, and gathers input for new product business cases.
Major Responsibilities
- Plan projects with clear scope, schedules, milestones and deliverables within a stage-gate product development process.
- Coordinate cross-functional project teams, and track tasks, dependencies and deadlines.
- Lead project and change review meetings, and share notes with decisions, actions and owners.
- Follow up on every action until it is closed, and flag risks and delays early with a recovery plan.
- Prepare project status updates for the Product Manager and leadership.
- Coordinate launch readiness activities across departments.
- Clarify requirements, impacts and open issues with each department before a project or change moves forward.
- Coordinate product change requests and keep change records current.
- Prepare change requests with scope, cost, impact and a recommendation for approval, and track approved changes through implementation.
- Gather customer and sales feedback, log new product ideas, and collect market, cost and pricing inputs for business cases.
- As the role develops, lead product and colour launches and change management initiatives.
- Complete training in project management and Lean methods.
Qualifications & Education
- Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, or in Mechanical, Manufacturing or a related engineering discipline.
- 0 to 2 years of experience; new graduates with relevant co-op or internship experience are encouraged to apply.
- Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage several projects and deadlines at once.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to run meetings and follow up with senior colleagues.
- Ability to read and interpret technical drawings.
- Strong Excel skills, including basic cost analysis, and proficiency in Microsoft 365.
- Assets: project management training (e.g. CAPM) or Lean training; experience with project management tools or an ERP system; exposure to manufacturing or building products; bilingual in English and French.
Competencies required
· Ability to manage projects and execute on key deliverables
· Ability to multi-task and work in a high volume, fast-paced environment
· Outstanding organizational skills and be process oriented
· Persistent and hardworking: follows up until every action is closed
· Curious and analytical: asks the right questions and challenges assumptions
· Communicates clearly with all levels of the organization
How do we win? We win when we care. Care for our people. Care for our products. Care for our planet. Because when we can count on each other, we can count our collaborations as victories.
Vicwest welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.
