Hybrid Director of Product Development

at twelveNYC

• Job title: Director of Product Development
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Lead
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, London, United Kingdom

About the role

• Director of Product Development at Twelve, leading product innovation across beauty, wellness, and lifestyle categories. Overseeing the execution of branded merchandise from concept to delivery with a focus on sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Lead and scale a high-performing team of product developers, promoting innovation and operating excellence.
• Define product development vision and roadmap; align with client goals and Twelve’s sustainability ethos.
• Serve as senior product development liaison for clients, translating brand direction into tangible, deliverable solutions.
• Build long-term relationships with client partners by offering expert guidance on materials, feasibility, and brand alignment.
• Approve technical spec sheets, prototypes, and mockups, ensuring adherence to standards for design, quality, and manufacturability.
• Monitor all sampling and prototyping efforts, ensuring they reflect creative intent before moving into production.
• Manage a team of skilled product developers—providing coaching, professional growth opportunities, and performance feedback.
• Foster a culture of detail-orientation, accountability, and efficiency within the development team.
• Lead procurement efforts with international vendors, negotiating favorable terms on pricing, quality, and lead time.
• Evaluate supplier performance, maintain rationalized vendor relations, and protect margin targets through cost analysis.
• Oversee development calendars and ensure milestones are met from ideation to delivery.
• Identify and manage project risks proactively—creating contingency plans to uphold timelines and budgets.

Requirements

• 8+ years of product development experience in beauty, lifestyle, or premium promotional merchandise.
• 3+ years in a leadership role managing teams and scaling operations.
• Deep knowledge of materials, packaging, and manufacturing processes, especially for branded merchandising.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, global sourcing, and vendor selection efforts.
• Strong strategic thinking, organizational skills, and communication abilities—able to influence cross-functional teams and clients.
• Commitment to integrating sustainability and ethical sourcing into product development.
• Comfortable working across time zones, with flexibility for occasional travel and extended hours.

Benefits

• Full-Time Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life)
• Mental Health Mondays: once a month our offices close globally (that's 12 additional days per year)
• Generous Paid Time Off – Including your birthday, personal days, time-off around holidays.
• Paid Parental Leave
• Discretionary bonuses