About the role
Product Development Manager / Director
Jersey City, NJ | Onsite
$175,000–$225,000 + Bonus
Overview
We are seeking a hands-on Product Development Manager/Director to lead consumer product sourcing and development while managing the Sourcing, Quality Control, and Logistics teams.
The ideal candidate has strong China sourcing and manufacturing experience, knows how to negotiate with factories, and can solve product and production problems from concept through completion.
This is a working leadership role. Management experience is important, but hands-on product and sourcing experience is essential.
Responsibilities
• Lead sourcing and development of consumer products from concept through production.
• Source and develop relationships with manufacturers, primarily in China.
• Negotiate pricing, MOQs, quality, terms, and production requirements.
• Find creative ways to achieve additional cost savings when standard negotiations have reached their limit.
• Identify new vendors and products through trade shows, market research, Panjiva, AI, and other resources.
• Consolidate company needs and develop sourcing strategies around cost, quality, and availability.
• Solve manufacturing, quality, and production issues with suppliers and internal teams.
• Manage and mentor the Sourcing, Quality Control, and Logistics teams.
• Stay directly involved in sourcing, supplier negotiations, and product development.
• Work closely with ownership to identify opportunities and drive results.
• Build strong, long-term relationships with factories, vendors, employees, and ownership.
Requirements
• Significant consumer products experience.
• Strong China sourcing and factory experience.
• Proven experience negotiating with manufacturers.
• Experience developing a product through production, including solving manufacturing challenges.
• Management or team leadership experience.
• Strong understanding of sourcing, manufacturing, quality control, and logistics.
• Excellent problem-solving and negotiation skills.
• Comfortable working across multiple product categories.
• Strong supplier and relationship-management skills.
• Comfortable using AI, market data, and import/shipment information to research products and manufacturers.
• Willingness to travel to trade shows and supplier meetings.
Who You Are
You are a hands-on operator, not someone who wants to manage from a distance.
