Director of Product Development

We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and innovative Director of Product Development to lead our product development organization across multiple housewares categories, including Food Prep, Cookware, Bakeware, Gadgets, Storage, and Textiles.

This leadership role is responsible for driving product strategy, category growth, innovation, sourcing, and profitability while managing and developing a high-performing team. The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader with exceptional interpersonal skills who can effectively influence stakeholders across the organization, build strong supplier partnerships, and inspire teams to bring market-leading products to life.

The Director of Product Development will work closely with Sales, Design, Sourcing, Production, and Executive Leadership to identify market opportunities, develop category strategies, and deliver innovative products that meet the needs of our retail partners while achieving company growth objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Product Development team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear goals, priorities, and performance expectations while supporting professional growth and career development.
• Serve as a key cross-functional leader, building strong relationships and alignment across Sales, Design, Sourcing, Production, Quality Assurance, and Operations teams.
• Champion effective communication and collaboration throughout the product lifecycle.

Product Strategy & Category Management

• Develop and execute category strategies across Food Prep, Cookware, Bakeware, Gadgets, Storage, and Textiles to support company growth and profitability objectives.
• Identify emerging consumer trends, market opportunities, competitive threats, and retail needs to drive innovation and product differentiation.
• Utilize market research, trend analysis, customer feedback, and sales performance data to guide product decisions and category investments.
• Partner with executive leadership to establish long-term product roadmaps and business objectives.

Product Development & Sourcing

• Oversee the end-to-end product development process from concept through commercialization.
• Collaborate with suppliers and factory partners to ensure product specifications, material selections, packaging requirements, quality standards, compliance requirements, and target costs are achieved.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships while identifying opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and cost optimization.
• Lead product reviews and decision-making processes to ensure products align with customer expectations, brand positioning, and financial goals.

Sales & Retail Partnership Support

• Partner closely with Sales teams and retail buyers to develop seasonal assortments, retailer-specific programs, and core product offerings.
• Act as a senior liaison between internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure successful execution of custom and private label programs.
• Present product strategies, category updates, and innovation initiatives to internal teams and key retail partners.
• Equip Sales teams with compelling product stories, presentations, and selling tools to drive customer engagement and growth.

Financial & Business Management

• Own category performance and profitability through ongoing analysis of sales trends, product margins, material costs, freight expenses, and market conditions.
• Drive informed decision-making through data analysis and business insights.
• Monitor competitive pricing and market positioning through regular market and retail analysis.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiencies, reduce costs, and maximize return on investment across product categories.

Market Intelligence & Travel

• Conduct regular market reviews and competitive shopping to maintain a deep understanding of industry trends, consumer preferences, and retail dynamics.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed, including supplier and factory visits throughout Asia, trade shows, and customer meetings.
• Represent the company professionally with suppliers, customers, and industry partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Product Development, Merchandising, or a related field preferred.
• 7-10 years of progressive experience in product development, sourcing, merchandising, or category management within housewares, tabletop, kitchenware, consumer products, or related industries.
• 5 years of leadership experience managing and developing teams.
• Demonstrated success leading multiple product categories from concept through commercialization.
• Strong understanding of global sourcing, manufacturing processes, product costing, and retail market dynamics.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint with the ability to analyze data and deliver impactful presentations.
• Walmart Experience preferred but not required.