Director of Product Development

Client Location: Hybrid in LA (Century City area), NY or ATL

$130K-$150K with bonus potential

Hours: Full-time

The Director of Product Development is a senior leadership position responsible for advancing and executing the organizational product strategy for major global B2B partners. This role oversees high-level, cross-functional execution and drives strategic customer growth by delivering best‑in‑class product solutions and innovation.

As a key strategic leader, you will partner closely with Sales, Design, and Manufacturing to guide high-stakes product decisions, enhance global customer partnerships, and ensure development initiatives deliver measurable business impact. You will manage a high-performing team, strengthen internal development capabilities, and foster a culture of innovation, operational rigor, and customer-centric excellence.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Product Direction & Strategic Planning

• Define and manage long‑range product development roadmaps across key accounts, ensuring alignment with corporate growth priorities and manufacturing capabilities.
• Identify emerging category opportunities, market whitespace, and innovation pathways to elevate the company's competitive position.
• Represent the Product Development function in high‑level client meetings, quarterly business reviews, and executive decision-making forums.

Product Development Excellence

• Oversee the end-to-end development lifecycle—from strategic brief and conceptualization to design refinement, sampling, costing, and final approval.
• Ensure all product concepts meet rigorous client expectations, trend direction, technical feasibility, margin targets, and sustainability initiatives.
• Drive continuous process improvement to ensure speed-to-market, quality control, and high conversion rates from concept to launch.

Supply Chain & Manufacturing Integration

• Partner with Supply Chain Management (SCM) to assess supplier capabilities, factory capacity, and material feasibility early in the design phase.
• Evaluate and mitigate supply chain risks, including capacity constraints, MOQ restrictions, component sourcing, and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate on cost engineering, margin optimization, and long-term supply planning strategies.
• Integrate sustainability goals into sourcing and production decisions, including responsible material alternatives and production efficiency.
• Ensure all supply chain assumptions (lead times, costs, risks) are embedded into customer proposals and forecast planning.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as the senior liaison between domestic corporate offices and international manufacturing/engineering teams.
• Oversee cross-functional workstreams to resolve complex development challenges and align departmental priorities.
• Communicate program strategies, technical risks, and executive decisions to stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

Business Performance & KPIs

• Establish and track KPIs for development efficiency, customer conversion rates, portfolio performance, and innovation velocity.
• Analyze product performance data and competitive benchmarks to guide future development cycles.
• Present quarterly strategic analysis and recommendations to Sales, Product, and Executive Leadership.

People Management & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and grow a professional product development team.
• Build a culture rooted in creativity, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Strengthen internal knowledge-sharing, process governance, and cross-functional communication frameworks.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Product Development, Business, Industrial Design, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Experience: 10 years of progressive leadership in product development within Beauty, Luxury Goods, Fashion, CPG, or related manufacturing industries.
• Account Management: Demonstrated success driving strategic product development for major global B2B or retail partners.
• Lifecycle Expertise: Deep technical understanding of the full product lifecycle, from initial concept to global commercialization.
• Leadership: Proven experience managing and developing high-performing, globally connected teams.
• Business Acumen: Strong ability to translate complex customer needs and market data into strategic product direction.
• Software Proficiency: Expert in Microsoft Office; familiarity with Salesforce, NetSuite, and Project Management tools (Monday.com) is preferred.
• Travel: Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed to support manufacturing and client relations.

CULTURE & BENEFITS

• Influence the long-term product strategy for iconic global consumer brands.
• Lead a talented, globally connected team at the intersection of design and manufacturing.
• Hybrid in-office work model that values collaboration and flexibility.
• Competitive benefits package