Product Development Manager/ Demand Planner
Product development managers and demand planners plan, develop, deliver and report on new products that help to drive growth for businesses. They assess the profitability of potential new products by performing market research and determining where their company’s products could fit in the market compared to the competition. They are involved in every aspect of the product development from ideation to launch.
Future Job Market
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Fair
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Good
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Excellent
Typical Employers:
Product development managers work for medium- to large-scale agricultural companies and organizations and some governmental agencies.
Suggested Professional Organizations and Associations:
- Product Development and Management Association
- National Society of Professional Engineers
- Institute of Food Technology
- American Society of Plant Biology
- Industry associations specific to the product being developed
Salary:
$123,000?
SAE Connections:
What Responsibilities Will I Have?
- Provide leadership in the development and scaling of company products
- Identify and develop new technology and products that will add value to the company
- Assess the profitability of new products through market research
- Work closely with other business units to trial products
- Assist in marketing and selling new market products
- Collaborate with sales and operation to provide technical support, clarify product requirements and support product launch
- Track project costs that adhere to company budgets
- Create presentations to share with vendors
- Identify and maintain vendors that meet the needs of assigned categories
- Negotiate product costs with all vendors, ensuring target price and margin are achieved
- Monitor and ensure on-time delivery of products from all sources
- Facilitate consistent production update meetings to ensure all relevant partners are aware of production status
- Assist in the development of prototypes and samples of new products
- Manage global development programs
- Develop label use recommendations
- Manage relationships with production personnel
- Assist with customer service calls as necessary
Recommended High School Courses:
- agricultural education
- focus on sciences
- computer skills
- business
- mathematics
Education/Training Required:
In agriculture, a master’s or a doctorate degree in the desired field is typically required. For example, a degree in plant pathology may be needed to work as a product development manager for a seed or crop services company.
