We are seeking a highly strategic and technically skilled Sr. Manager, Product Development to lead the transformation of product concepts into scalable, production-ready solutions within our personalization ecosystem. This role serves as the critical link between Merchandising, Design, Sourcing, and Operations, ensuring products are developed with manufacturability, quality, efficiency, and profitability in mind.

As a key leader in a vendor-led development environment, you will oversee product feasibility, technical validation, specification development, vendor collaboration, and production readiness. The ideal candidate combines strong product development expertise with a deep understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and personalization techniques to bring innovative products to market successfully. NOTE: This is a “physical” product development role (i.e., mugs, keepsakes, accessories), NOT digital/software.

What You'll Do

Product Feasibility & Technical Validation

• Evaluate product concepts for manufacturability, scalability, and margin potential.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to materials, construction methods, and personalization techniques.
• Serve as the technical gatekeeper, ensuring products meet business and operational requirements before production.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to balance customer experience, design intent, and production realities.

Product Specifications & Technical Documentation

• Translate design concepts into comprehensive production-ready specifications.
• Develop and maintain:
  
  • Technical packs (Tech Packs)
  • Material and component specifications
  • Personalization standards and rules
  • Artwork and file setup guidelines
• Ensure all product documentation is accurate, organized, and consistently maintained.

Vendor Development & Collaboration

• Partner closely with Sourcing to assess and select vendor capabilities.
• Review prototypes, samples, and product development milestones.
• Provide technical feedback and lead product iteration cycles.
• Validate vendor readiness to consistently execute personalization requirements and quality standards.

Sample & Prototype Management

• Oversee the sample development, review, and approval process.
• Drive timely issue resolution throughout product development.
• Evaluate prototypes for quality, functionality, and production readiness.
• Ensure products meet brand standards before commercialization.

Production Readiness & Quality Assurance

• Ensure all products are fully production-ready prior to launch.
• Establish and maintain quality assurance standards across product categories.
• Monitor post-launch product performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, cost efficiency, and operational excellence.