Associate Director, Product Development

The Associate Director, Product Development leads the end-to-end execution of product development across assigned product lines, ensuring alignment with brand strategy, financial targets, product functionality requirements, and operational excellence. This role drives cross-functional collaboration, oversees global development processes, and ensures products are delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with quality and licensor standards.

What You Will Do: 

• Lead all aspects of the product development lifecycle from concept through commercialization.  
• Oversee and guide Product Managers and Associate Product Managers in execution, prioritization, and delivery of development milestones. 
• Ensure accurate and consistent use of project management tools, maintaining up-to-date documentation and communication across teams. 
• Partner cross-functionally with Design, Brand, Sales, Finance, and Licensing to ensure product alignment with specifications, brand standards, and safety requirements.
• Collaborate with Sales, Brand, and Design teams to develop product concepts aligned with retail opportunities. 
• Provide direction and support to design resources across assigned product lines. 
• Serve as a key liaison with global partners, including Asia Product Managers, vendors, and suppliers, to ensure seamless development and production processes.
• Drive alignment between concept and production phases through close collaboration with international teams.  
• Identify communication gaps and proactively implement solutions to ensure timely issue resolution.
• Oversee delivery and validation of product costs, including 3D model costs, unit costs, and tooling investments.
• Develop and manage product development budgets, ensuring alignment with financial targets. 
• Evaluate and approve development expenditures, ensuring cost efficiency and adherence to budget. 
• Conduct cost and margin analysis to support pricing recommendations across product lines. 
• Partner with vendors to negotiate competitive pricing and optimize cost structures.
• Collaborate with Brand and Licensing teams to manage licensor relationships and approval processes.  
• Ensure all products meet licensor standards, contractual requirements, and design expectations throughout development.
• Partner with Brand teams to develop and maintain a 3–5 year product roadmap.  
• Support the creation and execution of annual product line plans and collections. 
• Conduct competitive analysis and market research to identify growth opportunities and inform product strategy.  
• Incorporate feedback from domestic and international sales teams into product development.
• Participate in key account meetings and support product presentations as needed. 
• Track product performance, sales, and profitability to inform ongoing product decisions. 
• Partner with Sales and Operations to proactively manage inventory, including excess and back orders. 
• Ensure timely escalation of critical issues, including cost overruns, delays, and development risks.
• Own key development tracking tools and processes, ensuring accuracy, accountability, and visibility. 
• Drive adherence to timelines, ensuring all milestones support on-time product launches. 
• Lead planning and execution of product reviews (line reviews, model reviews), ensuring readiness without impacting timelines.
• Oversee sample tracking, approvals, and documentation throughout development phases. 
• Identify risks proactively and implement mitigation plans to meet delivery targets.  
• Support capacity planning, tooling allocation, and resource optimization. 
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing team environment and support the development of team capabilities. 

Supervisor Responsibilities: 

Manages People: Yes

What We Are Looking For: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is a plus. 
• 8+ years of progressive experience in product development, preferably in consumer products or toy industry  
• Proven experience leading cross-functional teams and managing product lifecycles from concept through commercialization 
• Prior experience mana