Product Development Manager

Luxury Brand Partners is seeking a dedicated and talented Product Development Manager to develop innovative haircare products for the IGK brand. The role involves collaborating with various teams to manage product development processes, maintain relationships with external partners, and ensure timely delivery of projects.

Responsibilities:

• Manage on-going formula development, and new product innovations in the haircare category
• Build and maintain effective and strong relationships with contract manufacturers and 3rd party vendors
• Partner with Product Marketing / Brand Marketing counterparts to build a 2-year innovation pipeline and strategize on positioning, including ingredients, technologies, and claims
• Lead internal communication with cross-functional partners as it relates to product briefs, formula evaluation, shade selections, copy and claims, artwork, and regulatory deliverables
• Initiate and organize cross-functional LBP briefing processes with Supply Chain, Packaging, Project Management, Regulatory, and Brand Marketing to ensure cost, timing, vendor, and packaging targets are accurate and achievable
• Monitor and maintain on-time delivery of critical project milestones; update and track Product Development timelines
• Daily communication with external partners to manage development and testing, including on-site approvals
• Evaluate formula submissions with brand founder, marketing team, and selected panel artists
• Responsible for creating comprehensive lab briefs and ensuring effective communication with labs and chemists
• Lead collaboration and presentations for new innovations and concepts during quarterly brainstorming meetings with cross-functional teams
• Research new ingredients, textures, products, packaging, and emerging technologies to drive innovation and maintain a competitive advantage
• Organize and coordinate innovation meetings with raw material suppliers, contract manufacturers, and clinical testing partners to support Product Development brainstorming and pipeline initiatives
• Successfully partner with Compliance and Regulatory teams on testing protocols and product approvals, including: Coordinating all testing protocols with vendors, including usage instructions, questionnaires, and study parameters
• Coordinating bulk and sample submissions for all testing, including consumer use studies, claims substantiation, Safety/RIPT, water activity, stability, and compatibility testing
• Collaborating with Regulatory, Brand Management, and Copy teams to finalize product claims and support documentation
• Strategize and partner with Brand Management on internal product testing and feedback; provide support on shade matching and formula development
• Liaise with QA/QC on the distribution of shade and formula standards, range boards, and production reference materials
• Understand the competitive landscape by monitoring industry trends, reviewing social media commentary, evaluating competitive products, and coordinating with Brand Management on sales analysis by category and new product development opportunities
• Partner with Packaging Development counterparts to support component development, testing, and user feedback analysis; research the marketplace to identify competitive packaging and consumer insights
• Track all lab submissions, batch submissions, reformulations, and samples sent to founders, salons, and external partners, ensuring information is organized, accessible, and easy to navigate
• Drive on-time delivery of market samples, retailer presentations, and competitive comparison samples for retail partners
• Organize in-office product testing, including building focus groups, developing questionnaires, and identifying testers across a range of hair types, textures, and concerns to create and maintain a consumer testing database
• Own and manage all Product Development samples, inventory, organization, storage, shipment, and tracking processes
• Leverage expertise in hair types, textures, color services, and styling techniques to evaluate product performance and support innovation, testing, and positioning
• Demonstrate agility and adaptability in a fast-paced environment, effectively managing multiple projects, competing priorities, and changing business needs
• Maintain exceptional attention to detail, organization, and project management skills while overseeing timelines, documentation, testing, and sample management

Requirements:

• 3 - 5+ years of prestige haircare product development experience, including formulation development, testing, commercialization, and product launch execution
• Strong understanding of haircare formulations, ingredient technologies, testing methodologies, manufacturing processes, and salon practices
• Sephora and/or Ulta experience required
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously through effective prioritization, planning, and execution in a fast-paced environment
• Proven track record of taking ownership, driving results, and successfully bringing innovative products to market
• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance big-picture objectives and tactical execution while maintaining exceptional attention to detail
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, presentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed
• Hands-on behind-the-chair hairstyling and hair coloring experience strongly preferred