Product Development Project Manager

DedCool is looking for a Product Development Project Manager to own execution of our new product launch pipeline — from ideation through production handoff and in-market launch. You'll be the connective tissue between marketing, formulation, packaging, sourcing, regulatory, and quality, keeping a growing volume of launches moving on time, on spec, and on cost.

The Role

This role is more than a keeper of dates. You are the owner and enforcer of our stage gate process — holding the cross-functional team accountable to the lead times each launch type requires, confirming that briefs are approved before development work begins, and maintaining one reliable source of truth for where every project stands.

It's a highly cross-functional, detail-driven role for someone who thrives on structure, can manage many concurrent timelines without losing the thread, and knows how to flag risk early rather than let it surface at the worst possible moment.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Own and administer DedCool's stage gate process end to end — ideation, brief approval, concept, formula lock, packaging lock, production handoff, and launch — acting as the process authority on what “complete” looks like at each gate

• Escalate to leadership when a gate decision requires a trade-off on timeline, scope, cost, or quality — with options, not just a problem

• Continuously improve the framework using project data: where gates slip, why, and what structural fix prevents recurrence

• Build and maintain every launch timeline in Asana, working backward from the in-market date through all formulation, testing, packaging, component, regulatory, and production milestones

• Maintain the master launch calendar and NPD status tracker as the single, reliable source of truth for launch status across the active portfolio

• Confirm that Marketing has presented the brief and received leadership approval before any project is kicked off, then run a formal kickoff meeting to align the full cross-functional team on scope, milestones, owners, and known risks

• Run a weekly cross-functional meeting that keeps every function current on status, decisions required, and upcoming deadlines

• Identify and resolve bottlenecks proactively, escalating to leadership when a timeline or scope decision is needed

• Own sample tracking across every round — lab submissions, packaging and decoration samples, pre-production and production samples — including logging, distribution, and turnaround of consolidated feedback

• Prepare and present active projects in the weekly Product Approvals meeting, ensuring each sample leaves with a documented decision and clear next steps