Product Development Lead
hace 26 días
New York
Title: Senior Designer/Product Development Lead Location: New York, NY / hybrid About the Company: Our client, a company that a leading designer & manufacturer of trend-right, scent-driven bath & body products is looking for a Senior Designer/Product Development Lead to join their team. This role is a new addition to the firm. The ideal candidate has 8–12+ years in product development, design, or merchandising for beauty, personal care. Experience in licensed consumer products is also a requirement. Comp: $95k -$150k DOE Role Summary: We’re looking for a dynamic, strategic, and design-savvy Senior Design and Product Development Lead to drive end-to-end creation of bath, body, skincare, beauty, and gifting products. This role will own the vision, execution, and licensor alignment for high-profile launches across both our house brands and licensed collaborations. Key Responsibilities Product Development Strategy • Lead the end-to-end conceptualization of innovative, brand-right bath, body, beauty, skincare, and gifting products—from initial idea to final spec., • Define and execute seasonal and long-term product development roadmaps that align with brand strategy and licensing guidelines., • Identify and develop white space opportunities, leveraging deep insight into global beauty trends, consumer behavior, ingredients, packaging formats, and sensorial experiences., • Conduct trend research and competitive analysis to inform compelling, on-trend product concepts to differentiate from existing in store product offerings., • Collaborate closely with overseas suppliers, manufacturers and fragrances houses to source innovative components, packaging solutions, and formulations that meet cost, quality, and timing targets., • Lead the creation of mood boards, concept decks, and design briefs for licensed collections., • Ensure cohesive storytelling across product, packaging, and marketing assets., • Oversee packaging design development to align with license requirements and brand positioning., • Skilled in creating clear, production-ready artwork and design files that suppliers can accurately execute., • Expert-level proficiency in developing detailed CAD drawings, dielines, and packaging specifications for complex, multi-component beauty and gifting products., • Serve as the primary product development liaison with licensors, ensuring all designs meet approval guidelines., • Interpret and uphold licensor brand guidelines, translating them into clear, actionable products and packaging briefs that maintain authenticity and brand integrity., • Work closely with the Sales Lead to customize licensed assortments and presentations for key retail partners, aligning product plans with both licensor and retailer expectations., • Manage submission timelines and revisions for all licensed properties., • Ensure all licensed products meet legal and contractual requirements, including any mandated quality standards, safety testing, or packaging disclosures., • Partner with sourcing, production, and QA teams to ensure feasibility of formulas, packaging, and manufacturing., • Work closely with sales teams to customize product concepts for retailer pitches and exclusive programs., • Collaborate with owned brand and private label PD team members and designers to, • Supplier Management, • Collaborate with formulation labs and packaging vendors to deliver innovative, cost-effective, and compliant products., • Review and approve pre-production samples, 3D molds, formulation samples, and production samples., • Project Management, • Manage multiple projects simultaneously, meeting all critical milestones and timelines., • Maintain clear documentation of all stages from concept through production., • Team Leadership, • Mentor junior product developers/designers., • Foster a culture of creativity, accountability, and operational excellence. Qualifications • 8–12+ years in product development, design, or merchandising for beauty, personal care, or licensed consumer products., • Proven experience developing bath, body, skincare and beauty gift products from concept to shelf., • Deep understanding of beauty packaging, formulation briefs, and manufacturing processes., • Strong design sensibility with the ability to translate brand/licensor guidelines into compelling, on-trend products., • Excellent project management and organizational skills., • Confident communicator, skilled at presenting concepts to internal teams, licensors, and retail partners., • Experience working with licensed brands and navigating approvals., • Proficient in design and project management software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Monday, Asana, Airtable). Preferred Traits • Passion for beauty and consumer trends., • Creative thinker with strong commercial awareness., • Collaborative team player who thrives in a fast-paced environment., • Detail-oriented without losing sight of the big picture. What We Offer • Opportunity to work on high-profile licensed brands and collaborations, • A creative, entrepreneurial environment with room for your ideas to shine., • Collaborative culture with a shared passion for design, innovation, and quality., • Competitive compensation and benefits.