Product Development Manager

Product Development Manager

The Product Development Manager leads the Company’s graphics and package design function and manages the Graphics Supervisor. This role is responsible for the creative direction, quality, and on-time delivery of all packaging artwork, product graphics, and brand assets. The Product Development Manager partners closely with buying, sourcing, compliance, and the Product Development Coordinator to ensure packaging, product and design deliver consistent brand and an excellent end-user experience.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage, coach, and develop the Graphics Supervisor and graphics team, including setting goals, conducting performance reviews, and supporting hiring and training
• Set creative direction and standards for packaging, product graphics, and brand assets to ensure brand consistency across all programs
• Prioritize and allocate graphics team workload to meet product launch timelines and business priorities
• Review artwork prior to buying team, she provides feedback to graphics team.
• Develop and improve the process for product features, benefits, item clarity and instructions on FOP and BOP.
• Review packaging artwork for accuracy prior to submission to US buying team. Manage revision process with graphics team.
• Partner with the Product Development Coordinator, who manages product, sourcing, and tariff project timelines, to align artwork schedules with development milestones
• Establish and improve graphics team workflows, templates, and artwork file management processes
• Lead the coordination and development of new products and packaging throughout the entire life cycle
• Manage the packaging consultant How 2 Recycle
• Lead the exploration and implementation of sustainable packaging initiative
• Responsible for scheduling and executing the artwork approval process
• Participate in weekly sample and packaging meetings with buyers and product development
• Prepare workflow for package designers, guide them through the creation of the packaging artwork.
• Manage printing of internal and external showroom signage
• Assist with brand consistency and private label customer specific programs
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to create and maintain product specifications
• Partner with PD team members on the development and execution of timelines
• 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 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, 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, or customer engagements.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and via digital platforms.