Assistant Manager - Global Product Marketing - Le Labo

Company Description

Le Labo fragrances was born in Grasse (France), raised in New York (USA) and offers artisanal genderless scented creations (fine perfumery, home fragrance as well as formulas for body, hair, and face). Le Labo stands for "the lab" in French: Each of our boutique’s function like an open laboratory designed as an entertainment park for the senses where people can take the time to smell and touch raw ingredients in order to awaken their olfactory system and trigger emotions. We freshly hand-blend our fragrances on site, to the order and each label is personalized with the date and place of the formulation as well as a message chosen by our client. Creating soulful Beauty with Care through our craft of slow perfumery is the heartbeat of our company. We work with a community of craftspeople who shape our world: the flower harvesters, the local family farms, the candle hand-pourers, the reclaimed wood artisans, the lab technicians etc.

Joining Le Labo means joining a scented Revolution initiated more than 15 years ago as the antidote to mainstream fragrances and conventional marketing approaches. Being able to nurture our "small" roots and artisanal ethos while scaling our actions to become "big" and reach more people is our current balancing act for which we need support. Check out our manifesto online if you are intrigued, and please only engage if you truly connect with it.

Job Summary

We are looking for a highly motivated and detail-oriented Assistant Manager who will focus on Product Marketing within the Global Marketing team with a strong emphasis on operations, project tracking and management, and problem solving. The Assistant Manager will be responsible for executing product solutions as we accelerate growth and for supporting our innovation process with data-driven, strategic decisions. The ideal candidate has a strong analytical background with a strong interest in product and the broader fragrance / lifestyle category.

The Assistant Manager will work closely with key brand functions (e.g., Product Development, Packaging Development, Supply Chain, Artwork, Creative) to ensure our programs are making timely progress and that our markets are informed and educated. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn, take ownership, and have a significant impact on a fast-growing brand. 

This position is based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, reporting to the Global Product Marketing Director.

Overview of Responsibilities

NEW LAUNCHES

• INNOVATION CALENDAR: Maintain and update innovation calendars with latest launch dates and milestones; partner with Trade Marketing to ensure go-to-market calendar is up to date.
• LAUNCH BRIEFS & CODE REQUESTS: Support Director and team in compiling detailed and informed directions for new launch briefs and help present them to development teams. Provide recommendations (e.g., pricing, weight claims, forecast estimates, packaging, formula, distribution, and cost of goods targets) based on product architecture, historical sales performance, and competitive benchmarks. Categorize and submit requests for all new product codes.
• FORECAST OFFERINGS: Create detailed program offerings for markets to guide forecasting for new launches. Ensure alignment with Global teams on cost of goods, SRPs, distribution. Summarize program forecast totals for Finance. Coordinate shipment of forecast and market samples. Communicate any changes (e.g., launch dates) with market teams.
• PRODUCT COPY & ARTWORK: Submit all product copy and final names for leadership review and legal & trademark approval, recommend new product names as needed, and share final copy request forms to Artwork team. Ensure all copy is updated on master copy file. Review final product artwork for accuracy. Cascade all launch information to internal teams in new launch toolkits.
• LAUNCH OVERVIEWS: Create biannual launch overviews to update markets on latest relevant information (e.g., pricing, distribution, product description, product imagery).
• GLOBAL TEAM KICK OFF: Present new launches to larger Marketing team and Creative to ensure clear direction for Creative assets. Facilitate samples for Creative shoots.
• COSTING: Support costing meeting with new launch tracker file to ensure missing costs are provided by teams and to monitor any costs over target.
• MAINTAIN NEW LAUNCH TRACKER: Input all SKU-level information including pricing benchmarks/rules, forecast estimates, feasibility cost of goods, final cost of goods, final market forecasts, final launch values, final gross margins. Ensure tracker is the most up-to-date version, reflecting any changes in pricing strategy, cost of goods, packaging execution, etc. 
• NPL CODE EXTENSIONS: Submit code extension request to Product Data Management team for new launches – including detailed market lists for each new SKU within a new launch program. Ensure accurate and complete market extensions for new SKUs prior to bulletin cascade to markets.

Continued Description

GENERAL PRODUCT MARKETING & ADMIN

• MEETING FACILIATION & NOTES: Help manage and facilitate meetings with partner teams, diligently executing on relevant actionable items and follow ups.
• MASTER SKU LIST: Update with newly added SKUs and categorize marketing fields. Share update on a quarterly basis with markets and global teams. Perform annual SKU analysis for SKU productivity. Communicate discontinuations to markets.
• PRODUCT QUESTIONS FROM MARKETS: Address product questions/issues from markets on (e.g., distribution, sample timing, product codes, etc.) and direct to appropriate team / process as needed.
• PRODUCT PERFORMANCE RECAPS: Assist team in creating and presenting biannual product performance recaps.
• ARTWORK UPDATES: Partner with Artwork, Packaging Development, GBSC, Product Development on changes to packaging artwork. Cascade changes to Global and market teams and track timely updates of assets.
• including ad hoc analysis, sustainability, collateral development and updates, special local initiatives, amenities, etc.

CHAMPION AND STEWARD Le Labo VALUES

• Commit to broader responsibility & accountability for sustainability, diversity & inclusion while staying true to the Le Labo mission

• Demonstrate kindness and respect, empathy, inclusion, and humility, and ensure these are at the core of all interactions
• Embody the values of the manifesto through our actions, and drive accountability for contributing to the growing internal culture of Le Labo
• Create value and positive impact across all elements of our Brand, operations, teams, partners, and the broader world
• Exude passion for Le Labo and deeply appreciate, understand the Brand DNA

Qualifications

• College degree preferred
• 3-4  years of experience (product marketing and fashion merchandising backgrounds a plus)
• Impeccable attention to detail and accuracy
• Highly organized with strong time management, process-oriented, and able to manage multiple, complex projects in a fast-paced environment
• Must have strong PowerPoint and Excel skills, with an eye for formatting and presenting information in a digestible way
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to cultivate close partnership with team members and hold them accountable to milestone deadlines
• Entrepreneurial, with a “roll up your sleeves” attitude. Be a motivated self-starter, with the ability to work quickly, independently, and collaboratively with a team-player mindset
• Excellent ability to analyze and synthesize quantitative data (e.g., product mix of business, running and interpreting competitive analysis, etc.)
• Strong problem-solving skills are a must with proven ability to navigate complex scenarios and propose thorough solutions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, ability to capture the unique tone of voice and visual cues / codes of the Brand
• Exude passion for Le Labo and deeply appreciate and understand the Brand DNA and voice