As VP of Product Development, you’ll lead a team of designers, sourcing professionals, and engineers to identify new opportunities in outdoor living and partner with our ninjutsu team of marketing, digital, operations and finance to translate those opportunities into product requirements that expand Company’s growing portfolio of eco-friendly products that support our mission of getting people outside. You’ll then lead your team to develop best-in-class products that are the perfect solution to meet those requirements, ultimately bringing to market outdoor lifestyle products that delight customers and propel Company along its path to be the number one brand in outdoor lifestyle.
This position can be located in the Bay Area, or Los Angeles.
WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING
- In collaboration with Company’s Chief Design Officer, you will lead the creation and oversight of Company’s product development strategy, ensuring the portfolio of new products meets customer needs as well as the strategic objectives for the business.
- You will manage the merchandising and business planning of products from kick-off through introduction into the market, creating product briefs for major introductions that are grounded in an understanding of consumer behavior and insights, competitive offerings, and market trends.
- This is a high visibility role that will afford you the opportunity to work closely with our executive team to define our product strategy and vision. As a smaller company that is entering a period of hyper-growth, the potential for impact is considerable.
- Your primary KPI’s will be on developing the appropriate quantity and quality of innovative and sellable ideas that align with Company’s overall design philosophy and business strategy
EXPECTED RESULTS
- Annual catalogs of new products that align with Company’s overall design philosophyBuy in from leadership and other key stakeholders on quarterly and annual strategic plansHigh performance from all individuals within the product development organization
- Tightly managed budgets and timelines to ensure seasonal launch objectives are metDevelopment of talent that can continue to grow the organization and create ever more valuable and innovative products
- Growth in market share and key financial metrics due to high demand for new products
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- 10+ years of experience in product development, management consulting and merchandising with success stories and a few hard learnings to share; startup experience is a plus
- Leadership of multiple commercially successful product developments
- Four-year degree, preferably in design, engineering, or marketing
- Left brain/right brain approach to product development and extensive experience in design, merchandising, program management, customer research and manufacturing across DTC and B2B markets.
- Direct-to-consumer experience is a plus
SKILLS, REQUIREMENTS & ABILITIES
- An intentional approach to product development. You aren’t satisfied simply creating an item–you want to understand ‘What to createWhy should we create itHow do we actually do it’
- Proven ability to manage competing demands, while maintaining focus and meeting deadlines and objectives within product merchandising, marketing and operations
- Track record of successfully building, leading, and developing teams at a Director or executive level, with the ability to navigate an organization and manage cross-functional stakeholders.
- Ability to develop a strategy and lead an organization in to achieving key objectives