Director, Product Development

Overview

We are seeking a Director, Product Development to join our team based in our Wilton, CT headquarters on a hybrid schedule and report to the VP, Product Development. The Director, Product Development is responsible for managing the end-to-end product development process from early concepting through design, preliminary engineering, costing, and final delivery, while ensuring products meet brand, quality and timeline expectations.

This is a people leadership role with direct management responsibilities.

• Ensure product timelines are adhered to through management of the milestone tracking process
• Drive alignment across Marketing, Design, Packaging, and Engineering to ensure adherence to development milestones and product launch schedules
• Partner with the Brand team to address issues impacting development timelines and escalating as appropriate
• Manage cross-functional team to ensure timely and accurate turnovers
• Work with cross-functional teams (Design, Engineering, Packaging, QA/Compliance and Sourcing offices) to resolve product development issues that impact timelines and intended product functionality and design
• Oversee timely communications on project status throughout the organization
• Lead product costing preliminary engineering initiatives to improve productivity and efficiency in the early design and engineering process
• Help streamline the development and quality of turnover packages to the Far East office. Ensure turnover packages are timely and complete
• Work with Marketing and Design to optimize content and features of the products. Review proposed materials and functional designs against marketing requirements and ensure preliminary design turnovers maximize the best design solutions given the constraints of selling price, target cost and margins
• Review utilization of materials, methods and processes to help meet cost objectives and quality specifications
• Assist Far East teams in trouble shooting products both before and after turnover to the Far East office
• Oversee product costing to maximize cost and value and integrate budget considerations into all evaluations
• Participate in business and product strategy development
• Participate in the Stage Gate process to ensure product concepts advance through each phase with the appropriate technical, design and cost requirements

• Toy and/or CPG experience is preferred but not required
• Demonstrated retail experience including knowledge of developing retail exclusive product development across key accounts such as Amazon, Walmart, Target and mid-tier eCommerce partners

• Willing to share a portfolio and representative body of work
• Systems knowledge with SAP, Smartsheet and Wrike software systems experience a plus
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, up to 2-3X per year
• Flexibility to adjust working hours, as needed, for evening or early-morning calls with China based teams on an as-needed basis
• 4 days on-site as part of a hybrid schedule

The anticipated pay range for candidates who will work in CT is $175,000 to $200,000 per annum. The offered pay to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to years of experience within the job, years of experience within the required industry, education, etc. Spin Master Inc. is a multi-state employer, and this salary range may not reflect positions that work only in other states.

This job posting is tied to an open vacancy.

• Growth and Career Opportunities
• Flexible Work Hours
• Innovation, Collaboration and Fun
• Comprehensive Benefits
• Other fun Perks!

Spin Master is a fast-paced, hands-on organization that provides many great opportunities for impactful decision-making; though our challenging start-up atmosphere isn’t for everyone, we have a proven record of opportunities for future advancement and internal transfers for our passionate and results driven team. Everyone is welcome in our sandbox and we are committed to an accessible and inclusive hiring process that provides reasonable accommodation to all applicants.

Spin Master strives to create an accessible and inclusive application and selection process and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to job applicants who may require provisions to participate in the recruitment, selection and/or assessment processes. Should you require an accommodation, please contact our Talent Acquisition team, by email at  or by phone at  and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @Spin Master to stay up to date on Spin Master career opportunities. We do appreciate all interest; however only those selected for interview will be contacted.