Director of Product Development

Senior Associate at Nelson/Kraft and Associates
Director of Product Development – MDT Sporting Goods

This executive search is conducted by Nelson/Kraft & Associates on behalf of MDT Sporting Goods.

Executive Summary
MDT Sporting Goods is seeking a visionary and results-driven product leader to join their team as Director of Product Development. The Director of Product Development is a senior leadership role responsible for owning the entire product lifecycle, from ideation through production handoff, while driving innovation and speed to market. Reporting to the President, this position will lead the launch of 60+ products annually, including 8+ flagship A-level products, while streamlining development processes and eliminating bottlenecks.

The Director will partner closely with Sales and Marketing to align on market needs and with Operations to ensure seamless production transitions, all while managing R&D budgets and resource allocation. Leading a team of five direct reports, this role will foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, building predictable launch timelines and delivering measurable reductions in cycle time. Success in this role includes accurate launch forecasting, strong cross-functional collaboration and a high-performing team that consistently delivers innovative, market-leading products.

If you are an experienced product development executive with a proven track record of launching physical products at scale and driving process excellence, we would love to hear from you.

WHO WE ARE
MDT was born out of a single purpose: to provide better value and better accuracy for precision rifles. The first MDT chassis was developed from the ground up based on the needs of shooters. Our engineers verified every function and feature based on the input from competitive shooters. The end result was a game-changing product called the TAC
21 that continues to perform at the range, in the field and in competitions around the world. Today, MDT chassis, magazines and accessories are still developed the same way. We collaborate, question and verify our concepts with precision shooters from around the globe to ensure that every MDT product is designed with the same single purpose: to provide our customers with the absolute best product possible.

QUALIFICATIONS
Must Have

15+ years’ experience leading consumer product development

Successful track record launching physical products at volume

Experience scaling product development teams (15+ people)

Strong process improvement and project management skills

Excellent cross-functional collaboration abilities

Preferred

Sporting goods, firearms and/or precision manufacturing experience

Final date to receive applications:  January 16, 2026

Start Date:

TBD

Salary Range:  $175,000 - $225,000

APPLY online at    with your cover letter and resume. You must be eligible to work in Canada.

ABOUT US
Nelson/Kraft & Associates Inc. is an executive consulting firm that specializes in working with not-for-profits and for-profit businesses across Canada, assisting them in the placement of senior executives and directors.

Nelson/Kraft & Associates Inc. welcomes and encourages all interested applicants to apply for this position. Nelson/Kraft & Associates Inc. is committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion in its hiring practices, and will only make distinctions among interested applicants in accordance with the applicable Human Rights legislation.

Nelson/Kraft & Associates Inc. also welcomes and encourages applications from candidates with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in the selection process. If you require disability-related accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact us.

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Business Development, Product Management, and Supply Chain

Industries

Sporting Goods Manufacturing, Machinery Manufacturing, and Manufacturing

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