Director of Product Development

Job Title:

Product Development Director

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 (Distribution Center will be relocating to Palm Coast, FL). Must be currently living in the local area to be considered.

Overview

Are you the best at what you do and want to love where you work? Are you a true flavor enthusiast with a zest for adventure? Want to work with a TEA‑m full of sugary sweet, never salty (unless we sell it) band of characters who take their work seriously but never themselves? If this sounds like you and you too love corny puns, you may be the key ingredient we’re missing.

See what we did there? Apply now, and let your culinary imagination run wild with us!

The Spice & Tea Exchange® is looking for energetic people who have a passion for life and food. Our mission is creating and sharing the experience of a more flavorful life, and our employees strive to make that happen every day for our customers, our franchisees and each other. The employee experience at The Spice & Tea Exchange is unique and rewarding, and if you have this same passion for flavor, we have a seat for you at our table.

Position

Purpose

At The Spice & Tea Exchange®, it is our mission to "Create and share the experience of a more flavorful life". The Product Development Director will serve as the driving force behind The Spice & Tea Exchange’s product vision, leading the full lifecycle of our portfolio across all core categories including, but not limited to, spices, salts, sugars, teas, blends, candles, honeys/syrups and accessories.

This role champions innovation from concept to shelf, overseeing product strategy, sourcing, quality, cost and commercialization with a relentless focus on brand integrity and market relevance.

As a cross‑functional leader, the Director will guide a talented team of Product Category Managers, Project Coordinators, and Analysts while collaborating closely with Corporate Development, Supply Chain, Marketing, Operations, and Franchise stakeholders. Together, this team will bring new ideas to life that delight guests, strengthen our franchise network, and drive sustainable category growth and overall shelf management.

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This role plays a pivotal part in shaping the future of The Spice & Tea Exchange brand, ensuring every product we create is inspired, distinctive, and operationally executable from development through delivery. Essential Job Functions

• Develop and execute product roadmaps across all core categories including, but not limited to, spices, salts, sugars, teas, blends, candles, honeys/syrups and accessories.
• 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 in the market.
• Leverage customer and franchisee feedback to inform the product roadmap and drive data‑driven decisions.
• Partner with franchise owners to pilot new products, collect field insights, and integrate real‑time operational feedback to improve product performance and guest experience across diverse markets.
• 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/or Specialists.
• Ensure each category has 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 re‑formulation opportunities.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Senior Director of Corporate Development to ensure product procurement is aligned with the brand vision and sustained growth plan.
• Supply Chain for sourcing, costing, and supplier relationships.
• Champion sustainable sourcing,…