Product Development Specialist

Ice River Sustainable Solutions • Stratford, ON

8d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for leading the development of innovative, high-quality outdoor furniture collections. This role blends trend research, consumer insights, and hands-on development to bring compelling products to market that balance form, function, and durability. You’ll work cross-functionally with design, sourcing, marketing, and supply chain to manage the entire product lifecycle — from concept through launch.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or diploma in Product Design, Industrial Design, Business, or relevant work experience in a related field.
• 2-5 years of experience in product development or product management, ideally in furniture, home goods, or consumer durables.
• Strong understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and design principles relevant to outdoor furniture.
• Excellent project management and communication skills.
• Proficient in tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, SolidWorks, Adobe Creative Suite, or 3D modeling software
• Must observe and practice all safety regulations, up to and including wearing personal protective equipment when necessary.

Responsibilities

• Develop seasonal product strategies aligned with brand positioning, market trends, and customer preferences.
• High level of creativity to drive unique product designs
• Translate insights into innovative product concepts and collections tailored to outdoor living and lifestyle trends.
• Own the end-to-end product development process: from ideation, design briefs, material selection, prototyping, sampling, to final production sign-off.
• Partner with sourcing and manufacturing teams to ensure product feasibility, quality, and cost targets are met.
• Conduct competitive analysis and monitor industry trends to identify product opportunities and white space.
• Help ensure on-time product delivery across multiple product lines.
• Work closely with design, engineering, quality, and supply chain teams to align on materials, construction, packaging, and performance standards.
• Ensure products meet outdoor durability standards (e.g., UV resistance, weatherproofing, material performance).
• Explore and implement sustainable materials and practices.
• International travel may be required (less than 10%).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• RRSP Program
• Dental Care
• Extended Health Care
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Company Events
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• Store Discount
• Wellness Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level