Senior Product Operations Manager

In Common With•New York, NY

3d•$110,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Product Operations Manager leads the systems, processes, and cross-functional partnerships that move products from concept through development, launch, and production at In Common With and Quarters. The role creates clarity around timelines, budgets, vendor partnerships, and product readiness to support quality, profitability, and scalable growth. Reporting to Co-founder Felicia Hung, the manager partners with Product Design, Supply Chain, Finance, Sales, and Marketing, manages Product Operations day to day, and leads one direct report, an engineer. The role determines plans, timelines, and processes to meet goals established with the Co-founders. This hands-on leadership position oversees product development operations, global vendor relationships, operational readiness, compliance, quality, and production handoffs. It translates creative direction into feasible operational plans, manages development budgets, supports costing and margin decisions, and establishes scalable systems and success metrics. The role is based in person at the company’s Gowanus, Brooklyn studio, with studio hours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

Requirements

At least 6 years of experience in product development or product operations, including at least 3 years managing people and cross-functional programs in product-based industries.
Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Industrial Design, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Proven track record of managing people and delivering complex, cross-functional programs.
Experience managing international manufacturing partners, product costing and BOMs, and certifications such as UL, ETL, or CE.
Proficiency with project management and ERP/PLM systems.
Must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Experience in lighting, furniture, or high-end retail.
An advanced degree.
Familiarity with 3D modeling programs and shop drawings.
Passion for design and a keen interest in the studio’s work.
Detail orientation and excellent organizational and communication skills.
Ability to work effectively with others across functions and levels.
Comfort with ambiguity and change and ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to own work, meet deadlines, and follow through on commitments.
Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Openness to giving and receiving feedback as part of a culture of growth and learning.
Integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism.

Responsibilities

Own and drive the integrated product development calendar and Gantt timelines, manage milestones and deliverables, identify risks, and support leadership decision-making.
Plan and manage operations for multi-category product development, aligning timelines, budgets, and deliverables with business goals.
Translate creative direction into operational plans that address feasibility, margin health, and manufacturability.
Manage approved product development budgets, including prototyping, testing, and launch readiness.
Lead material sourcing and feasibility reviews and pursue cost optimization through value engineering while protecting design integrity.
Oversee product operations workflows and transitions across design iterations, manufacturing, and downstream teams.
Execute the global vendor strategy agreed with the Co-founders and identify and onboard partners meeting company standards for quality, ethics, and performance.
Lead vendor selection, onboarding, and contract negotiation within approved terms, including NDAs and workflow integration.
Define vendor capabilities and establish performance management using KPIs, scorecards, and regular reviews.
Oversee product sampling, material and finish approvals, and BOM accuracy, ensuring a smooth handoff from development to production.
Partner with Product Design on manufacturability reviews, design troubleshooting, and real-time problem-solving with vendors.
Build and maintain centralized documentation for vendor onboarding and collection sampling.
Lead go-to-market operational readiness across product, packaging, inventory, and compliance.
Define quality standards for finish, fit, and function; establish quality-control and testing protocols and packaging specifications.
Manage product compliance, including third-party certifications such as ETL, CE, CB, and UL, and monitor regulatory changes that may affect production or market access.
Hand off complete product packages to Supply Chain, including BOM, purchasing, quality-control standards, and compliance documentation.
Provide costing and margin analysis to the Co-founders and Finance to inform pricing, margin goals, and portfolio decisions.
Collaborate with Supply Chain and Finance on pilot production budgets aligned with the overall inventory budget.
Work with Supply Chain on redundancy and risk mitigation for critical materials and single-source vendors.
Coordinate escalated troubleshooting for current products with Supply Chain, lead alternate sourcing and product updates, and minimize production disruption.
Determine plans, priorities, and processes to achieve goals set with the Co-founders, independently resolving complex cross-functional problems.
Drive department-level outcomes through scalable systems, cross-functional initiatives, and clear success metrics.
Manage and develop the Product Operations team, beginning with one direct report, by setting expectations and coaching performance.
Recommend department direction on capacity, sourcing, and product economics; final strategy and goals are set with the Co-founders.
Measure results, analyze performance, and implement continuous-improvement initiatives.
Develop and maintain scalable Product Operations SOPs and systems, ensure team adherence, and recommend changes to shared systems for approval.