Meet Us: King Arthur Baking Company is an award-winning, audience-leading baking company with a strategic vision to be the resource for baking education and inspiration. Through traditional and new media, in-person and virtual education, we strive to be a leader in helping novice and expert bakers alike. We're not going anywhere - we've been part of the family since 1790. We work to build stronger communities and increase access and the connection to real foods. We take pride in our responsible sourcing and our "never bleached" guarantee. And we work closely with farmers, millers, and suppliers in a continued commitment toward sustainability. Our wheat flour is grown and milled right here in the United States. Flour this good uses only the purest ingredients, free from GMOs. As a founding B Corporation, we are committed to using the power of business as a force for social and environmental good. We believe every employee's contributions make our company what it is: vibrant, successful, and committed to spreading the joy of baking. We are a welcoming and inclusive 100% employee-owned company.
The Position: The
Associate Product Manager, Merchandising supports the end-to-end product development process, from concept to launch-by assessing product viability and tracking key trends. Partnering with the Product Manager, this role uses sales data, customer insights, and baking trends to curate new products across King Arthur branded and third-party lines. The APM collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure strong product presentation across channels and manages vendor communication, product sample testing, and updates to product specifications, pricing, and margin databases.
The Benefits: Yes, we have the regular "stuff" - medical, dental, vision, company paid short- and long-term disability, life insurance, paid parental leave, paid time off to rest, paid holidays to have fun, a 401(K) with a company match. But here's what makes us different: 40 paid volunteer hours a year, profit sharing , participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and knowing that those working with you are dedicated and engaged co-employee owners that believe in you and your extraordinary abilities to move us all forward.
The Location: Hybrid combining working from home, and onsite in White River Junction VT roughly 2 days per week. Ideal candidates will be located within a 1-hour drive of our offices.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Support the product development and innovation process, from concept to commercialization, providing initial product review and a product viability assessment
- Partner with Product Manager and leverage sales performance data, customer insights, and baking trends to curate and source new products across King Arthur branded items and 3rd party vendors.
- Track and communicate baking related product trends and competitive landscape including product assortment, pricing, and key sell strategies
- Deliver regular and ad hoc reporting on sales performance across channels to inform product assortment and sell strategy
- Partner with Ecomm merchandising, copy writer, and creative teams to ensure execution of optimal product presentation including key points of differentiation across catalogue, web, retail and on packaging
- Lead communication and follow up with our vendors, internal supply chain and master data teams in support of new seasonal product opportunities, changes to product information and general vendor inquiries.
- Oversee the sourcing, organization, and testing of samples on a rolling basis
- Create and maintain multiple product databases to track product specifications, negotiated costs, prices, gross margins, and other essential product information
- Lead engaging digital product presentations and companywide PowerPoint share-outs, effectively communicating key insights and updates. Use data storytelling techniques to convey complex information in a clear, compelling, and strategic manner to diverse audiences.
Experience and Education
- 3+ years' relevant work experience in merchandising/product management; (in food or durable consumer goods industry)
- Proven ability to analyze sales performance, consumer insights, and market trends to inform product curation, assortment, and pricing strategies
- Experience working closely with teams such as e-commerce, creative, supply chain, and external vendors to bring products to market and ensure consistent brand presentation
- Strong background in managing vendor relationships, coordinating with supply chain teams, and overseeing product and packaging updates
- Proficiency in maintaining detailed product records, including product specifications, costs, and margins, across systems or databases.
- Experience communicating digital product insights through visually engaging presentations, including with a demonstrated ability to use data storytelling to influence stakeholders and support.
- We value those who can demonstrate capability and articulate how prior experiences will help them transition into this role
Competencies
- Analytical skills. Ability to observe, research, and interpret sales and product data and identify trends to develop actionable plans.
- Highly organized, motivated and detail oriented. Has, or can create a system for keeping tasks on point and on time. Able to juggle competing demands and prioritize without sacrificing quality. Plans ahead to make deadlines.
- Communication and collaboration. Facilitate cross-functional collaboration by effectively communicating product vision, priorities, and updates to stakeholders, ensuring alignment across teams
- Presentation Skills: Effectively communicates digital product insights and data through clear, concise, and visually engaging presentations. Capable of creating and delivering companywide PowerPoint share-outs that inform and align cross-functional teams. Demonstrates a developing ability to use data storytelling to support recommendations, influence stakeholders, and contribute to strategic initiatives.
- Project Management. Assist in managing product development timelines, coordinating cross functional teams to ensure on-time delivery of key milestones."
- Problem solving and execution. Proactively identify potential executional obstacles and risks, developing solutions to mitigate delays and minimize business impact."
Success Factors
- Genuine enthusiasm for the King Arthur's mission and products and a commitment to living our values
- Is community minded gets involved, volunteers
Physical Requirements/Work Environment/Safety - update as needed per role
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical requirements
- This role consistently uses standard office equipment such as computers and phones.
- Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time.
Work environment
- Indoors, a normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, or temperature changes.
- This role operates in a professional office environment where most work is performed at a desk.
- Remote work environment that meets KAB standards for work.
Safety
- Understands that safety is the responsibility of everyone at the organization and is responsible for adhering to/providing work in a safe and ergonomic manner, identifying unsafe conditions and correcting conditions immediately or reporting them promptly.
- Participates in safety and compliance training and safety and health programs.
Supervision
Travel
- Up to 3-4 trade shows and/or vendor visits, annually
Other Duties
- Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice
It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive and safe work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co-workers, customers, and vendors. As a proud Benefit Corporation, King Arthur Baking expects our employees to adhere to company-wide green norms and remain educated on company impact campaigns.
There's room at our table for you. Apply today.
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors protected by law. King Arthur Baking provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities to allow them to participate in both the application process and during employment. Such individuals are encouraged to seek accommodations to allow them to apply for a position, participate in the application process, and meet the essential functions and requirements of the position.
Amounts vary based on achievement of financial targets. Participation based on hire date and program entry date.