If you’re interested in a career in the marketing industry, you might be curious as to what is a product development specialist in marketing. This professional, also known as a marketing manager, helps research the need for new products and services and oversees the development of these products. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, product development managers make an average of $115,000 a year, and there are expected to be more than 25,000 new jobs in this career by 2022. Because marketing managers are vital to the success of an organization, they are more likely to be retained even in the event of a recession. Read on to learn more about what a product development specialist does and how to become one.
Where Does a Product Development Specialist Work?
Most product development specialists work on the executive teams of manufacturing companies and other businesses and interface closely with art directors, sales teams, and finance professionals. Typically, professionals in this role specialize in a particular type of product, such as cosmetics, electronics, or sports equipment, and spend several years working closely with those types of products before becoming a specialist. Nineteen percent of professionals in this role work in the technical or scientific industry, 16 percent in management, and 12 percent in manufacturing.
What Does a Product Development Specialist Do?
In addition to researching the need for a new product, product development specialists oversee all parts of the production process, providing support to the design and engineering teams while a prototype is created and making sure that quality control is maintained during manufacturing.
What Type of Schooling Does a Product Development Specialist Need?
Product development managers usually have a bachelor’s degree in marketing or a related field, along with work experience in the realm of product development. Business and finance classes are helpful for a student who is interested in this career path, as well as courses in economics and statistics. After receiving a degree, years of training and experience is required in order to become intimately familiar with the products you’ll be developing.
Related Resource: Marketing and Operations Management Concentration
What Qualities Are Important for a Product Development Specialist?
Professionals in this role must be incredibly adept at analyzing industry trends and keeping up with new ideas in the field in which they specialize. Communications skills are also vital, since product development specialists typically interface with every department in a company, from top executives to manufacturing teams. Creativity, decision making skills, and organization also play roles in success for those in this position.
Internships are a good way to get your foot in the door and can often translate to an entry level job in the field. The American Marketing Association is a great resource for students interested in the marketing field; visit their website for job descriptions, teaching modules, and more. To learn more what is a product development specialist in marketing, consider shadowing a person in this role while you get your education to determine whether this is a career path you’d like to follow.
