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Product Development Manager


Summary
Living Goods is entering a period of exciting growth.  To support its vision to dramatically increase access to life-changing products, Living Goods is seeking a Product Development Manager to drive our product strategy and develop innovative products that make money for our agents and make a difference in the lives of our customers.  Living Goods is a fast-paced, mission-driven and business-minded organization.  The ideal candidate will bring a blended background of exceptional private and social sector experience that defines our progressive culture. We are looking for candidates with product development, supply chain and consumer insight experience in consumer packaged goods, ideally focused on emerging markets.

About Living Goods
We believe that the poor are not helpless victims; they are resilient entrepreneurs and value conscious consumers.  We empower the poor through our networks of ‘Avon-like’ micro-entrepreneurs who go door-to-door teaching families how to improve their health and wealth while selling affordable, high-impact products like simple treatments for malaria and diarrhea, fortified foods, water filters, clean cookstoves, and solar lights. Living Goods seeks nothing less than a disruptive reinvention of distribution in the developing world, through networks of franchised micro-entrepreneurs who leverage Living Goods’ brand, buying power and mobile marketing tools to deliver vital products at accessible prices to the people who need them most. By combining the best practices from the worlds of micro-enterprise, franchising and public health, Living Goods is creating a fully sustainable system to improve the health, wealth, and productivity of the world’s poor.
Read more about our innovative organization as featured in Fast Company, NPR, and TIMEMagazine at www.livinggoods.org/news-media/news/

Responsibilities
  • Strategy: Oversee product and merchandising strategy with the goal of improving sales and profits while maximizing human impacts.
  • Research and analysis:  Analyze sales and social impact results, conduct consumer research and scour the marketplace for new product ideas.
  • Product Development: Work with suppliers, manufacturers, and partners to design and develop new products that meet our business and impact goals.
  • Sourcing and Inventory Management: In collaboration with our in-country teams, manage purchasing, inventory planning and delivery logistics to achieve low cost of goods, minimize stock outs and maximize inventory turns.
This position is based in San Francisco with up to 40% travel time.  

Qualifications
  • Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in one or more of the following: consumer product design, development, sourcing, and retail merchandising. With background in any of the following product categories: packaged foods, personal care, home care, or nutrition. Preference for candidates with experience in developing and selling products in emerging markets.
  • Strong project management experience.
  • Solid number cruncher and excel master.
  • Experience working with culturally diverse teams in developing countries, preferably in Sub Saharan Africa.
  • Willingness to travel regionally and internationally up to 40% of time.
  • BA required; Masters degree in a relevant field preferred.

Life at Living Goods
Living Goods seeks nothing less than a disruptive reinvention of high-impact product distribution in the developing world. We think big but we operate small and nimble. At Living Goods you will have the chance to work with an extraordinary team of changemakers to conceive and test innovative ideas every day. If you work well in a dynamic, highly collaborative culture, if you set high standards for yourself and your colleagues, if you know how to fail fast and learn fast, and if you meet challenges with calm determination and a sense of humor, you will fit right in at Living Goods. See our guiding principles.


Compensation
A competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with experience including health, vacation, 401k, and bonus opportunity. 

Contact
Please submit a single file with resume/CV and cover letter describing your interest, qualifications, and how you learned of the position to jobs@livinggoods.org. Please type “Product Development Manager – [insert last name]” in the subject line.