Manager, Product Management - Zulu

About the Role

Leapfrog is excited to launch a search for a Manager, Product Management to help lead the evolution of our ZULU brand to increased resonance with its target audience! In this role, you’ll own the journey from idea to launch helping to shape, build, and bring new products to market. This role is all about connecting consumer insights to real products, partnering across teams, and making sure what we create resonates. If you like a mix of strategy, execution, and collaboration, we would love to hear from you!

What You’ll Do

• Lead new product development (creation and management) from brainstorm phase through mass production, as well as partner with leadership to define the overarching category direction to our design and engineering teams.
• Define and develop product specifications, marrying consumer wants/needs, white space in the market, and new/flagship product technologies as the primary consumer advocate.
• Develop user-relevant design targets for product performance and user experience and act as the beacon of these targets to the cross-functional team of engineers, industrial designers, and commercial marketers.
• Manage product cost structure, reporting, and cost rationalization exercises and collaborate with supply chain, merchandising, and supply planning teams on product sourcing strategy recommendations.
• Create and maintain P&Ls for all customers/programs to support sales efforts.
• Serve as the voice of the consumer and the market with your cross-functional partners to ensure that product development decisions meet consumer needs.
• Ensure consistency across all consumer touchpoints, including but not limited to paid media, email, retail and social channels.
• Act as the product and/or category expert for cross-functional team member questions and concerns, as well as travel to key customer meetings to pitch new products
• Provide direction and oversight into the creation and execution of go-to-market collateral to support product launch, including instructional material and consumer-facing product specification information.
• Lead category management by analyzing market, consumer and competitive data to uncover insights that drive product positioning, innovation and growth strategies
• Be called upon to take leadership of larger cross-functional breakthroughs that increase executive visibility and accelerate career growth.

Who You Are

• 5+ years of experience in product development, product marketing, brand marketing, or a related field, preferably at a manufacturing or consumer goods company
• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent experience) in Business, Marketing, Management, Engineering or a combination of the above
• Able to target a consumer-first perspective when it comes to introducing new products/processes or improving current products.
• Comfortable with data analysis and storytelling, leveraging inputs from multiple sources to create an actionable brand and innovation strategy
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize effectively, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and stay organized in a fast-paced environment.
• A mindset geared toward building relationships across multi-functional teams, coupled with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Highly-effective communication skills both written (presentation/email) and in-person (ability to host succinct, effective conversations that solve problems and ability to make effective presentations to all levels of management)

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 for all salaried employees, and up to a 5% 401k match with no vesting period
• Summer Fridays - from Memorial Day to Labor Day enjoy half days every Friday

Learn more about life at Leapfrog and our benefits by visiting us at www.leapfrogbrands.com

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. 

Salary Band

$110,000 - 120,000, full-time, salaried, exempt, hybrid

Please note: Most candidates can expect to be positioned within the low to mid-range of the designated compensation band. This approach is designed to set realistic expectations while providing employees with the opportunity for growth and development within their roles. Placement toward the higher end of the band may be considered based on relevant experience, specialized skills, and other qualifications.

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. 

In accordance with the Illinois Human Rights Act as amended effective January 1, 2026, Leapfrog does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen job applicants, evaluate candidate qualifications, or make hiring, promotion, or other employment-related decisions. All recruitment and hiring decisions are made by our human recruiting and hiring teams.