Top Product Development Executive jobs in Illinois

Who We Are

As one of the fastest-growing on-the-go drinkware companies in America, we’ve got a reputation for doing great things. Our vision is simple - bring delight to eating and drinking.

Delight is different to everyone. Whether it’s the perfect cup of coffee, or a water bottle that helps you crush your workout, our mission is to make it look great, function perfectly and cost less than you’d expect.

Delivering on this promise takes extraordinary efforts and exceptional people. Through our teams’ ingenuity and grit, we’ve created a place where the best ideas win, and they can come from anyone. Our culture combines the scrappy spirit of a startup with the perks of a market leader.

We believe the right way to design products starts and ends with two key ingredients: process people. Process is the path that takes us from ideas to products that are on brand, on time and on budget. People are the secret sauce that adds ingenuity every step of the way. 

Together, we navigate each day with optimism, curiosity, a healthy sense of humor and a strong allergy to the word “no.” This desire for better, coupled with a deep understanding of consumers’ daily lives, gets us to meaningful delight.

About the Role

Reporting to the Manager, Retail Marketing, the Senior Retail Marketing Specialist will collaborate with marketing, sales, and design teams to analyze data, develop merchandising strategies, and ensure brand messaging consistency across retail channels. They are responsible for creating compelling presentations to communicate strategies to internal stakeholders and retailers, manage customer sales decks and digital assets, and conduct retail audits to identify trends for future product development. Through cross-functional collaboration and market research, they will contribute to strategic decision-making and better understanding consumer preferences and competitive landscapes.

What You’ll Do

• Collaborate with the marketing and sales teams to provide insights and analysis for the development of merchandising and assortment strategies for key accounts, leveraging category analysis and retailer insights.
• Ensure alignment with brand messaging and positioning across retail channels by providing feedback on marketing materials, collateral, and promotional campaigns.
• Create clear and compelling presentations to communicate strategies and plans to internal stakeholders and retailers.
• Work closely with Sales and Design to create external customer presentations that showcase new products, merchandising recommendations and off-shelf opportunities.
• Manage the execution of customer sales decks and other digital assets.
• Conduct retail audits to seek out new trends, functionality, color, material, and finish ideas to enhance future new product development initiatives.
• Actively participate in product development cross-training and ideation sessions with various teams including Product Marketing, Design, and Engineering.
• Work closely with the Design team to design and create high level, visually impactful presentations to showcase new products and special buy programs.
• Scope, conduct and apply market and trend research to better understand consumer preferences, needs, wants and competitive retail environments so as to support critical business decision making.
• Create packaging strategy and write packaging briefs for Graphic Design team to execute 

Who You Are

• 3 years of experience in retail marketing, merchandising, or sales with at least 1 years experience in the consumer goods space
• 1 years experience working with major national retailers preferred
• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. 
• Strong project and time-management skills, with the ability to multitask effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with individuals and teams at all levels of the organization, including international teams.
• Keen attention to detail, accuracy, and efficiency.
• Enthusiasm for learning and professional growth within a dynamic environment.
• Ability to embrace transparency and adapt to shifting priorities, while learning from each decision and maintaining focus on progress.

Benefits at Leapfrog

• 15 days Paid Time Off your first year, and an additional day each year thereafter (up to 25 days), as well as company paid sick days, holidays and parental leave options
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as commuter benefits and additional voluntary benefits
• Annual bonus payouts and up to a 5% 401k match for all eligible employees
• Summer Fridays - from Memorial Day to Labor Day enjoy half days every Friday

Note: Leapfrog is currently operating under a hybrid work model, and this position will report on site to our Lincoln Park office at least 2 days per week. Additional ad-hoc in office days may be required based on business needs. Please do not apply if you are not comfortable with a hybrid work model. 

Leapfrog Brands is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We are committed to recruiting, hiring, training and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds, and make all employment decisions without regard to any protected status. Please note, we are unable to offer sponsorship or relocation for this position, and all new hires will be required to verify their employment eligibility through the DHS E-Verify program.