Product Development Manager

Overview

Product Development Manager – DTC Innovation

Industry: Arts & Crafts / Consumer Products / Collectibles

• This is a Remote role!
• Fluent Mandarin required
• Travel to China required

About the Company

Our client is a global leader in the premium arts & crafts space, known for highly differentiated products, best-in-class quality, and a deeply engaged creative community. Our brand collaborates with top-tier entertainment and studio licensors and is recognized for pushing category boundaries through innovation, materials, formats, and elevated unboxing experiences.

We operate with a fast-moving, high-ownership mindset and an uncompromising focus on craftsmanship and customer experience. As we continue to scale internationally, innovation within our core category is a top priority—creating products that inspire creativity, connection, and delight from first impression to final use.

The Role

We are hiring a Product Development Manager to lead the full lifecycle of product creation—from early concept and ideation through prototyping, sampling, testing, packaging development, compliance, mass production, and launch.

This is a hands-on, end-to-end ownership role for someone who combines creative vision with exceptional execution. You will translate ideas into real, physical products that meet exacting quality standards, collaborating closely with internal creative, operations, and licensing teams while working directly with manufacturing partners in China.

Success in this role requires strong technical product knowledge, meticulous attention to detail, outstanding project management skills, and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively across cultures and time zones. You will report directly to senior product and creative leadership and play a meaningful role in shaping the company’s innovation roadmap.

Travel to China for factory onboarding is required, with additional travel possible for sourcing and trade events (e.g., Canton Fair).

What We’re Looking For

• 7+ years of product development experience, ideally including 3–5 years in arts & crafts, toys, collectibles, or consumer products
• Proven experience owning products from concept through mass production
• Strong manufacturing knowledge and experience working with China-based factories
• Fluent Mandarin required for daily factory communication
• Exceptional organizational, project management, and attention-to-detail skills
• Ability to balance creativity with technical feasibility and execution discipline
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally

This person needs to be the rare combination of:

• Very creative + highly innovative (top priority)
• Fluent spoken Mandarin (writing is nice-to-have, not required)
• End-to-end product development ownership with China manufacturing experience
• Extremely organized and detail-obsessed, able to capture ideas, build structure, and execute flawlessly
• Comfortable being the “bridge” between the U.S. team and China—driving clarity, QA, and follow-through
• High-energy, curious, collaborative, and willing to immerse in the customer community (e.g., active engagement with VIP groups / feedback loops)

Other Requirements

• Strong background in arts & crafts, toys, creative consumer products, collectibles, or adjacent categories
• Proven experience bringing physical products from concept to production
• Experience working with China manufacturing and production cycles
• Fluent spoken Mandarin + fluent English (Mandarin writing is a plus, not a must)
• Highly organized, detail-focused, and strong communicator
• Comfortable with remote work and international collaboration; willing to travel to China as needed

What You’ll Do:

Customer & Community Insight

• Develop a deep understanding of the customer: preferences, pain points, quality expectations, and buying behavior
• Analyze customer reviews, feedback, support data, and community conversations to identify unmet needs and opportunities
• Translate insights into clear product requirements, improvements, and new feature concepts
• Evaluate real-world product usage to ensure functionality, ease of use, and a premium experience
• Stay actively engaged with the crafting and creative community to track trends and evolving expectations
• Monitor post-launch performance and quality metrics to inform future product decisions

Product Ideation & Innovation

• Lead product ideation from concept through validation across arts & crafts, DIY, collectibles, stationery, home décor, and adjacent categories
• Research market trends, competitors, and emerging innovations to inspire new formats and enhancements
• Define early-stage concepts including purpose, differentiation, materials, cost targets, and customer value
• Partner with factories to explore new techniques, materials, and manufacturing capabilities
• Attend trade shows and sourcing events to discover new ideas and suppliers
• Guide sampling, prototyping, and iterative testing prior to final approval
• Build and contribute to a long-term product innovation roadmap
• Create and present concept decks, prototypes, feasibility assessments, and recommendations to leadership

Project & Lifecycle Management

• Own the full end-to-end product development process from ideation to launch
• Build and manage detailed development timelines covering sampling, revisions, approvals, production, packaging, and compliance
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to keep projects aligned, on schedule, and clearly communicated
• Manage multiple concurrent projects while balancing scope, timelines, budgets, and resources
• Implement scalable processes, SOPs, and documentation systems to support growth
• Track risks, dependencies, and progress; proactively adjust plans to maintain momentum
• Lead recurring cross-functional and cross-border meetings with U.S. and China teams
• Ensure all products meet applicable global safety and quality standards (e.g., CPSIA, ASTM, EN71)
• Validate product durability, transit readiness, usability, and unboxing experience

Problem Solving & Quality Ownership

• Identify risks early across development, sourcing, and production
• Troubleshoot issues related to materials, manufacturing methods, packaging, cost, printing, or logistics
• Work directly with factories to resolve quality issues, delays, or technical constraints
• Balance creative intent with manufacturability and operational efficiency
• Conduct formal risk assessments across materials, mechanisms, packaging, and assembly
• Champion a zero-defect mindset, maintaining high QC standards from sample review through mass production

China Manufacturing & Vendor Management

• Communicate daily with factory and sourcing teams in Mandarin frequently with China (often evenings U.S. time)
• Identify, vet, and onboard new suppliers with advanced or specialty capabilities
• Work directly with a dedicated factory team in Shenzhen (multiple PD counterparts who support different product areas)
• Drive clarity and accountability: requirements, revisions, version control, and approvals
• Enforce quality: catch issues early, push corrective action, and ensure the factory executes precisely

Why work for the company:

• Competitive salary with annual performance-based bonus
• Premium medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% employer-paid employee premiums
• Flexible, remote-first work environment
• Company-provided laptop
• 401(k) retirement plan (non-matching)
• Life insurance coverage
• Employee Assistance Program, wellness resources, and work/life support services
• Employee discount and savings programs
• Benefits management services to support healthcare and financial decisions
• Optional employee-paid benefits, including:
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Supplemental life insurance options
• Voluntary insurance plans (accidental, critical illness, hospital, legal, whole life)

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