Sr. Product & Category Manager
5 days ago
Hemel Hempstead
At Kids2, we help parents win at one of the toughest jobs in the world. We don’t just sell products; we create holistic solutions that make early-stage parenting easier across borders, categories, and channels. No matter our title, our job is to create more tiny wins for parents so they can create bright futures for their little ones. We take the work seriously—and have fun doing it. SUMMARY We are seeking a Sr. Category & Product Manager to build and scale a premium stroller business in Europe, grounded in European design, functionality, and consumer insight. This role is the business owner for the stroller category in Europe—setting the long-term product vision, leading cross-functional teams, and owning the end-to-end category strategy from portfolio and roadmap to financial performance and market execution. You operate as the GM of the stroller category in Europe, owning revenue, margin, and SKU productivity while creating a differentiated, design-led offering that wins with European consumers and retailers. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: • Own the European stroller category P&L (revenue, margin, key investments), setting forecasts, cost targets, margin goals, and managing overall portfolio health., • Define the category vision and 3-year product roadmap, aligned with Kids2’s global strategy, including a clear good/better/best portfolio and premium positioning for Europe., • Leverage European consumer insights, category data, and competitive intelligence (e.g., Bugaboo, Cybex, Uppababy) to identify whitespace and guide long-term product vision and innovation., • Translate European parenting behaviors into clear product briefs and partner with design and engineering to deliver differentiated, design-led strollers with strong price/value and premium materials., • Serve as the internal expert on European parenting, stroller market dynamics, retail landscape (specialty, omni-channel, D2C), and relevant regulatory changes., • Build and maintain strong relationships with key European retailers, distributors, and marketplace partners to inform strategy, shape assortments, and secure support for the portfolio., • Lead and align cross-functional teams (design, engineering, packaging, digital, sales, operations, demand planning) to execute the roadmap, maintain launch timing, and resolve trade-offs., • Own go-to-market execution for stroller launches across Europe, including pricing strategy, margin guardrails, channel segmentation, assortment architecture, and sell-in materials., • Represent the stroller category as the European expert in key retailer meetings, trade shows, and strategic presentations., • Monitor in-market performance and consumer feedback to drive SKU rationalization, lifecycle management, product refreshes, and add/drop recommendations to retail partners. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE • 7+ years in product, category, or brand management—ideally in juvenile products (strollers preferred), consumer durables, or premium lifestyle brands., • Proven experience launching premium products in Europe., • Strong understanding of European design and consumer expectations., • General knowledge of manufacturing materials, product development processes, and costs., • Familiarity with online and brick & mortar retail in Europe., • Strong commercial acumen and P&L ownership mindset., • Deep appreciation for design, brand, and user experience., • Experience working in global supply chains (Asia manufacturing preferred)., • Highly collaborative; able to lead cross-functional teams., • Must be fluent in English. EDUCATION & SKILLS • Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or related field, or equivalent experience., • Able to execute and excel in a fast-paced environment., • Strong prioritization skills amid shifting priorities., • Outstanding oral and presentation communication skills. COMPUTER/TECHNICAL SKILLS • Proficient in PowerPoint, Excel, and Word., • Familiarity with category and retailer data tools (e.g., Circana, Profitero, Scintilla) and POS/shopper data analysis. PHYSICAL DEMANDS • While performing the duties of this job, the team member is regularly required to talk or listen., • The team members frequently are required to sit; have flexible use of hands; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl., • The team members are occasionally required to stand, walk, and taste or smell., • The team member must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 - 50 pounds., • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. WORK ENVIRONMENT • General office environment with regular domestic and international travel (approx.. 15%).
