About Us We are launching a premium food brand designed to bring exciting new flavors and experiences to the U.S. market through a Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) model. As we prepare for launch, we are seeking a Contract Product Manager with proven experience in Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), ideally in food, and Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) e-commerce to help deliver the physical product and execute our go-to-market strategy. About This Role This is a hands-on role where you will be responsible for driving the product launch, project management, and D2C growth initiatives over the next 4–5 months. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of managing physical product development (ideally food CPG) and experience launching and scaling successful D2C businesses. Key Responsibilities Product & Brand Launch • Manage product development from manufacturing through delivery, ensuring timelines are met with key business partners. D2C Business Strategy & Pre-Launch Planning • Support the development of a scalable business model through competitor and market analysis. • Execute pre-launch plans including consumer testing, delivery testing, and marketing events. Operations Planning • Build an operational and logistics model spanning from manufacturing to last-mile delivery to ensure a cost-efficient and high-quality consumer experience Soft Launch Planning • Develop the overall marketing strategy for the soft launch with clear execution plans. Qualifications • 5+ years of product management experience, ideally within food, beverage, or snack CPG brands. • Demonstrated success in running D2C brands, with strong understanding of e-commerce best practices. • Hands-on experience with Shopify and familiarity with e-commerce models. • Strong knowledge of U.S. consumer trends in food & wellness. • Excellent project management skills; comfortable managing multiple workstreams and external partners. • Entrepreneurial, resourceful, and able to thrive in a fast-moving, startup environment. • Japanese language skills are a plus. Contract Details • Duration: Until December • Commitment: ~20 hours/week • Compensation: Competitive monthly rate (DOE) • Location: NY