Product Development Manager

Catface•Austin, TX

1d•$90,000 - $95,000•Onsite

About The Position

At CatFace, we don’t only make merchandise, we are committed to creating consumer products of all categories including toys/collectibles, plush, fashion/apparel, and lifestyle products that engage and support our fanbase of all ages. We are seeking an experienced Product Development Manager with at least 7 years experience to help us achieve this! This is a high impact, end-to-end development position where you will be leading development processes, sourcing, costing, production, and schedules within the Merchandise team to ensure successful execution and delivery dates. Reporting to the Director of Merchandise, you will be a leading example and will also serve as a mentor for PD leads and coordinators. This role has direct reports and is a manager position. Applications without resumes and work examples will not be considered. Portfolios are recommended but not required.

Requirements

Background in merchandise, apparel, fashion, and/or toy product development is a must.
Demonstrated ability to manage intricate product specs, timelines, and documentation with precision and consistency.
Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to collaborate effectively across departments and vendors (domestic & international).
Prior experience coordinating with domestic and overseas factories to execute product samples, approvals, and production timelines.
Ability to multitask, prioritize, and adapt under shifting deadlines with minimal supervision.
Proven ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely follow-ups and clear communication across all stakeholders.
Comfortable navigating evolving workflows, adapting quickly to feedback, and working in a highly collaborative creative environment.
Proactive, dependable, and committed to quality and follow-through.

Nice To Haves

Experienced in creating, reviewing, and finalizing detailed tech packs, BOMs, line sheets, and production-ready files is a plus.
Familiarity with product lifecycle management (PLM) tools or project tracking software (e.g., Monday.com, Asana, Airtable) is a plus.
Multilingual abilities such as Mandarin can be useful for communicating with overseas vendors.

Responsibilities

Support the merchandising teams in maintaining design intent while ensuring product manufacturability. Create item numbers, SOP’s that reflect the successful process of concept kick-off, costing, sampling, and production.
Monitor product specifications and adjust development plans as needed to ensure alignment with cost, manufacturing feasibility, and schedules.
Ensuring during the PD process to liaise cross-functionally to ensure product meets functional specifications, brand quality, licensor standards, and safety requirements.
Ensure that all products meet established quality standards per our branding throughout the development process and work closely with manufacturing partners & internal teams to address any quality concerns proactively.
Act as the main point of contact between internal teams and external vendors throughout the product development process.
Coordinate with vendors to ensure timely delivery of materials, samples, and finished goods, addressing any delays or issues that arise.
Ensure vendors understand product specifications, quality standards, and cost expectations, while fostering strong relationships.
Work with vendors to negotiate pricing and manage production schedules to align with overall project timelines.
Assist in the development and management of project timelines to ensure that all product development milestones are achieved on time.
Track progress across product lines and provide timely updates to the Director of Merchandise and cross-functional teams.
Ensure all necessary changes to product designs or processes are communicated to the responsible parties and executed accordingly.Elevate concerns or roadblocks to the Director of Merchandise and Merchandise Team leads when necessary to ensure timely resolution.
Coordinate the timely creation and placement of PP, development, photography, and presentation models/samples.
Manage product samples, including development team samples, show samples, retailer sample requests, and vault samples both physically and digitally.
Gather domestic and international field input on new and existing products to ensure market needs and preferences are considered.