Director of Product Development (mooncaat)

about MOONCAT

"the internet's favorite new nail brand" – vogue

MOONCAT was made for the others–the misfits, the dreamers, the outcasts, the wanderers. the ones who know darkness is beauty, mystique is power, and the universe isn't meant to make sense.

mooncat creates long-lasting, special-effect lacquers for easy salon-quality nails at home. we see our products as wearable art, with the ability to tell a story, evoke emotion, or transport you to another time, another place. our lacquers are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and crafted with magic in the us.

check us out on mooncat.com or @mooncat on insta.

about the role

our products are the foundation to our customer's creative expression. We are looking for a director of product development to lead the development of unique, high quality nail polish that will delight and excite our customers.

key attributes

• creative and artistic mindset - you view product as a creative expression and a form of art. You want to drive the development of innovative products, creatively solve challenges and give customers the best product experience possible
• self starter/entrepreneurial - you thrive working in an environment with a high degree of autonomy and care deeply about driving results
• detail-oriented and quality-obsessed — you love deep diving into the smallest details, knowing that a successful product is the sum of all its parts. You leave no stone unturned. you're a passionate consumer and put yourself in the seat of the end user to ensure they have a quality experience with our products
• excellent communicator — both verbal and written. You make clear asks and hold everyone accountable while maintaining strong relationships across teams and vendors
• highly organized - comfortable creating timelines and briefs, while maintaining flexibility

you will

• oversee and lead product design, development, R&D and pigment sourcing as well as drive product expansion in nail care and into new categories
• ensure product design and quality is preserved and prioritized throughout the development process
• assess vendor mix for strengths and weaknesses, identifying supplier opportunities for new innovations and categories
• collaborate closely with marketing partners to plan product roadmap and launch schedule with flexibility in mind
• establish strong partnerships with the internal cross functional team and suppliers to ensure products are brought to market on-time and on-budget. collaborate with supply chain to identify attractive product/marketing opportunities
• develop efficiencies within the product development process for speed to market product launches and improved quality checks
• lead vendor relationships to improve technical and ingredient information for marketing materials, foster strong partnerships for first to market capabilities, and encourage consistent quality in product standards
• ensure quality at every stage of development and create product standards to be used in quality assurance checks
• possess basic knowledge of cosmetic ingredients and chemical components, to speak knowledgeably during development challenges
• ensure all formulas and raw materials used are compliant with product standards and claims
• review and collaborate with regulatory and compliance to approve ingredient lists and relevant artwork for our product labels, website and other marketing materials
• perform market research, competitive benchmarking and stay abreast of industry trends to drive new ideas for development
• manage formula cost of products, working closely with supply chain and finance on product margins
• possess strong leadership skills, notably in coaching and mentoring

you have

• bachelor's degree
• minimum 5-7 years of product development experience, preferably in color cosmetics or beauty
• exceptional communication with experience working with suppliers and cross functional teams
• knowledge and experience in supply chain, chemistry, and marketing are a plus
• strong passion for nail polish and cosmetics

galactic perks

• medical, dental and vision benefits covered 75%
• unlimited vacation / paid time off with minimum use requirements
• 12 weeks paid parental leave additional 4 weeks flex return to work program
• 401k with 4% company match
• home office expense reimbursement
• generous employee discount

work environment

• this role is required to be onsite at our Passaic, NJ warehouse 3-4 days a week

culture

• kindness
• adaptability & flexibility–comfort with fast paced, rapid change
• creative–we value ingenuity & originality

mooncat is an equal opportunity employer — we believe being successful is directly tied to creating a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive environment.