Product Development Manager

Product Development Manager

The Product Development Manager drives the development of new products and packaging from concept through launch, partnering closely with buying, sourcing, compliance, and the Product Development Coordinator to deliver quality, cost-effective products on schedule. In addition, this role oversees the Company’s graphics and package design function, managing the Graphics Supervisor and ensuring the quality, consistency, and on-time delivery of all packaging artwork, product graphics, and brand assets. The Product Development Manager ensures that product, packaging, and design work together to deliver a consistent brand and an excellent end-user experience.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage the development of new products and packaging throughout the entire life cycle

• Manage, coach, and develop the Graphics Supervisor and graphics team, including setting goals, conducting performance review of the supervisor, and supporting hiring and training

• Assist in the planning of graphics team workload to meet product launch timelines and business priorities

• Establish and improve graphics team workflows, templates, and artwork file management processes

• Collaborate on creative direction and standards for packaging, product graphics, and brand assets to ensure brand consistency across all programs

• Schedule and execute the artwork approval process

• Review packaging artwork for accuracy prior to submission to US buying team. Manage revision process with graphics team

• Provide design project briefs for new branding and brand refreshes

• Assist with brand consistency and private-label, customer-specific programs

• Manage printing of internal and external showroom signage

• Partner with the Product Development Coordinator, on product, sourcing, and tariff project timelines, to align artwork schedules with development milestones

• Collaborate with internal and external partners to create and maintain product specifications

• Collaborate on quote comparisons and sample evaluations, assessing specifications, materials, packaging, cost, and product quality; recommend options for buyers’ approval and drive product improvements

• Attend all in-person sample reviews held at the corporate office

• Develop and improve the process for product features, benefits, item clarity and instructions on FOP and BOP

• Partner with PD team members on the development and execution of timelines

• Participate in weekly product and packaging meetings with buyers and product development

• Drive the exploration and implementation of sustainable packaging initiatives

• Manage the packaging consultant How 2 Recycle

• Monitor packaging and design trends and share recommendations with the buying and PD teams

• Complete special projects and other duties as assigned by manager

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Technical aptitude, exceptional organizational skills, and meticulous attention to detail.

• Strong critical and creative thinking, problem analysis and solving abilities.

• Proven experience leading and developing a graphics, design, or creative team

• Self-motivated with critical attention to detail and deadline

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

• Adept at building effective business relationships

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to deliver excellent customer experience supporting various culture and locale differences

• Experience working with various levels of an organization

• Strong at multi-tasking and project management skills with a team player mentality.

• End-user obsessed with an innate curiosity and desire to always improve experience of product and packaging.

• Exhibit a strong sense of ownership, ability to work independently, be attentive to detail and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.

• Basic knowledge of manufacturing timelines and product lifecycle

• Strong working knowledge of package design, print production, product manufacturing process and prepress processes

Experience and Credentials

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience within hardlines, consumer products related industries (retail, wholesale, and/or grocery channel

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience supervising or managing creative or design staff

• Proficiency with Mandarin Chinese language for communication with overseas team a plus

• Experience working with and guiding designers through artwork creation process.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Creative/Graphic Design, or relevant field or equivalent work experience

• Experience and proficiency in computer skills, Adobe Professional (Creative Cloud – Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), Microsoft365 including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Ability to travel occasionally for meetings, training sessions, customer engagements or industry trade shows.

• Must be able to communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and via digital platforms.