Director, Product Development

Role Overview

• Lead all fragrance and product development initiatives across fine fragrance, car fragrance, home fragrance, and scent diffusion devices.
• Own the full product development lifecycle from concept, briefing, and benchmarking through evaluation, validation, production readiness, and launch.
• Create clear product and fragrance briefs that translate brand strategy, consumer insights, and white-space opportunities into actionable development direction.
• Drive innovation by identifying market trends, competitive opportunities, and white-space concepts aligned with Drift’s brand positioning, customer needs, and subscription model.
• Lead fragrance submission management, including evaluation, feedback, redirect rounds, and final selection in partnership with internal stakeholders and fragrance suppliers.
• Manage product testing programs, including fragrance panel testing, consumer feedback loops, functionality testing, efficacy testing, and stability testing where applicable.
• Oversee development of fragrance diffusion devices and ensure performance, user experience, safety, reliability, and cost targets are achieved.
• Maintain project timelines, stage gates, and critical milestones to ensure on-time execution across all active development programs.
• Identify project risks early and proactively drive solutions related to formulation, componentry, testing, regulatory, supply chain, timing, and cost.
• Own vendor and partner relationships across fragrance houses, formulation labs, test labs, and consultants through regular business reviews and project check-ins.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Creative, Operations, Supply Chain, and external manufacturing partners to align on product requirements, artwork, claims, launch timing, and commercialization readiness.
• Ensure all product development documentation is complete, accurate, and maintained in internal systems, including formulas, specifications, BOMs where applicable, claims support, test results, and approvals.
• Manage the collection, review, and tracking of fragrance regulatory and technical documentation from suppliers and consultants.
• Support product registration, compliance, and market readiness by coordinating documentation needed for launches, updates, and retailer or market requirements.
• Oversee sample management and organization for all active development programs, including fragrance submissions, component samples, prototypes, standards, and retain samples.
• Partner with packaging and creative teams to develop copy, artwork input, and product details that accurately reflect formula, claims, and regulatory requirements.
• Help define development standards, best practices, and scalable processes that improve speed, organization, and execution quality across the department.
• Mentor and lead product development team members, setting priorities and ensuring strong execution across multiple concurrent launches.
• Directly manage the Senior Manager of R&D and oversee day-to-day R&D prioritization, performance, and development.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in fragrance and/or consumer product development, with significant experience across fragrance-led categories.
• Strong experience developing fragrance diffusion devices; device development experience is required.
• Proven track record managing end-to-end product development from concept through commercialization and launch.
• Deep knowledge of fragrance development, evaluation processes, supplier management, and product testing.
• Experience working with fragrance houses, formulation labs, contract manufacturers, packaging suppliers, and regulatory partners.
• Strong understanding of regulatory documentation and compliance requirements relevant to fragrance and home/car scent categories.
• Ability to balance innovation, speed, quality, cost, and operational feasibility in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines simultaneously.
• Strong communication and cross-functional leadership skills; able to influence internal teams and external partners effectively.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable building process in a growing business.
• Strong creative and strategic instincts, with an ability to translate trends and consumer insights into compelling product concepts.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Passion for fragrance and strong olfactory discernment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Benefits

• Based in the Tri State Area, comfortable with regular travel to partners, suppliers, and warehouse locations.
• Must have access to a personal vehicle.