Head of Product Management & Marketing

About the job

Our client is a leading Swiss wholesaler and importer of high-quality household and professional-use products. With over 50 internationally renowned brands, they supply more than 1,500 customers across Switzerland from their own logistics centre.

In addition to a broad product range, high availability, and competent advice, our client offers various value-added services that are highly appreciated by customers.

Dynamic entrepreneurship, a strong willingness to invest, and swift decisions characterise this owner-managed company.

For the next growth phase, we are seeking an individual who will report directly to the Managing Director as part of the management team and successfully further develop the Product Management and Marketing function.

The Situation

The company has grown successfully over the years, driven by market intuition and close customer and supplier relationships. Along with growth, there have been organic developments in the product portfolio, processes, and inventory.

For the next development phase, a strong focus on optimisation and systematisation will be added, such as defining assortment strategies through analyses and reporting, building efficient, automated processes, and enhanced quality management. Team development is also given high importance.

Your Responsibilities

Portfolio Management — You will economically understand the brand portfolio, recognise patterns in sales, margin, and assortment development, and derive decisions for assortment design. You monitor the market and market trends and identify new potentials and brand partnerships.

Supplier Management — You are responsible for the entire operational business of supplier management: from product registration and changes through ordering and procurement to returns and complaints. You increase the efficiency of master data capture and database connections in Product Information Management. Together with sales, you select suppliers, conduct strategic negotiations with international brand manufacturers, and actively maintain relationships through planning and organising visits, regular presentations, and professional communication. You personally manage several suppliers to observe daily operations and identify challenges.

Marketing — You plan and implement the suppliers’ brand strategies, including social media and PR. You further develop the online shop, manage assortment catalogues, and organise trade fair appearances.

Quality Management — You ensure the quality of product master data. You are responsible for product compliance with relevant legislation, including documentation and control. You conduct regular compliance training for employees and represent the company in meetings with authorities.

Reporting & Controlling — You develop reporting and controlling further and derive essential insights for portfolio management.

Leadership — You lead a team of eleven people in Product Management and Marketing, define clear expectations, develop your employees purposefully, and act as a role model in implementation.

Your Profile

Specific skills are necessary for this demanding role:

Analytical Sharpness — You recognise patterns in large data sets, can distinguish underlying causes from superficial symptoms, and have the ability to present complex matters simply.

Conceptual Skills & Implementation Strength — You can propose new solutions and bring them from idea to finished solution.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management — Cross-departmental collaboration, especially with sales and logistics, as well as maintaining internal and external stakeholders, comes easily to you.

Verbal & Written Communication — You can express yourself very well and make your points clearly. Good English is essential in the international environment.

Processes & Operations — You define processes, standards, and responsibilities, give structure to workflows, and thus create capacity for value-adding work.

Organisational & Employee Development — You recognise the development needs and potential of the team and ensure high performance.

What is Required

Completed higher education, for example in business administration, purchasing, or a comparable field

Several years of operational experience in purchasing, product management, or comparable positions, e.g. management consulting or other analytically oriented functions

Leadership experience with a team of at least five people over several years – whether disciplinary or in technical management

Experience in preparing decisions at management level and representing them there

What to Expect

A position with great scope for design, short decision-making paths, and direct influence on company success. High autonomy in your own working methods and decision-making.

A position characterised by operational challenges with high complexity, which you actively master with your management skills.

Contact with international partners and regular, mostly short business trips.

The remuneration is aligned with the responsibility of this position, performance-oriented, and complemented by attractive fringe benefits and modern employment conditions.

Experienced colleagues in the management team who care about the company’s success.

The Selection Process

Short interview with our client

Assessment by Talent & Leadership Solutions regarding experience, motivation, as well as social and cognitive skills

In-depth interview with our client Real case study with presentation to the management team

Expect four to six weeks from initial contact to decision.

Applications from recruitment agencies will not be considered.