Director of Product Development

Job Details

• Job Title: Director of Product Development
• Department: Product Marketing, Strategy & Innovation
• Position
  
  Reports To:
  
  Senior Director of Corporate Development
• Employment: W2, Full‑Time, Salary, Exempt
• Location: St. Augustine, FL (Distribution Center relocating to Palm Coast, FL). Non‑local residents must be willing to travel.

The Spice & Tea Exchange® is a premium retailer committed to “Create and share the experience of a more flavorful life.” The Director of Product Development leads the product vision across spices, salts, sugars, teas, blends, candles, honeys/syrups and accessories, championing innovation from concept to shelf with focus on brand integrity and market relevance.

Serve as the driving force behind the product portfolio, overseeing product strategy, sourcing, quality, cost and commercialization to deliver distinctive products that delight guests and support franchise network growth.

• Product Strategy & Innovation
  • Develop and execute product roadmaps across all core categories.
  • Identify market trends, consumer insights and franchise needs to drive new product concepts.
  • Lead ideation and cross‑functional collaboration to bring new SKUs and seasonal programs to market.
  • Conduct in‑depth market research and competitive analysis to identify new trends, consumer preferences and gaps.
• Market Research & Analysis
  • Leverage customer and franchisee feedback to inform the product roadmap.
  • Partner with franchise owners to pilot new products and integrate real‑time operational feedback.
  • Analyze product performance data post‑launch to inform future development cycles and measure success against KPIs.
• Category Leadership
  • Manage and mentor a team of Product Category Managers, Coordinators and Specialists.
  • Ensure each category has a clear strategy, timelines and performance goals.
  • Oversee product lifecycle from concept to launch to retirement.
  • Own category dashboards and lifecycle analytics, leveraging POS, e‑commerce and supply‑chain data to optimize SKU mix, forecast demand and identify discontinuation or reformulation opportunities.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
  • Partner closely with:
    • Senior Director of Corporate Development to align procurement with brand vision.
    • Supply Chain for sourcing, costing and supplier relationships, championing sustainable sourcing and packaging innovation.
    • Marketing to align branding, packaging, positioning, naming and launch campaigns.
    • Franchise Operations for owner input and sell‑in support.
    • QA & Regulatory to ensure ingredient accuracy, certifications and compliance.
• Commercialization & Execution
  • Oversee timelines, costing and margin targets for every product initiative.
  • Drive SKU launches for retail, wholesale, e‑commerce and seasonal programs.
  • Align product pipeline with production, distribution and operational capacity.
• Quality & Brand Standards
  • Ensure products meet brand expectations for flavor, consistency, packaging and guest experience.
  • Collaborate with QA on labeling, certifications (organic, kosher, etc.) and ingredient integrity.
• Project & Performance Management
  • Set goals, track KPIs and report progress to the Senior Director of Corporate Development.
  • Oversee project timelines, P&Ls and profitability targets by category.

• A bachelor's degree in Food Science, Business Administration, Marketing or related field.
• 7+ years of product development, category management or CPG experience (preferably in food, beverage or specialty consumables) with at least 4 years in a managerial role.
• Proven leadership in managing product teams or category leads.
• Strong understanding of consumer trends, sourcing, product lifecycle and commercialization.
• Experience collaborating cross‑functionally with marketing, supply chain and operations.
• Excellent organizational, communication and project management skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to balance creativity and execution.
• Highly organized with meticulous attention to detail.
• Adaptable and resourceful in a fast‑paced, evolving retail and franchise environment.
• Background in gourmet foods, teas, spices or specialty retail (preferred).
• Experience working with franchise networks…