Sr. Director, Product Development and Design

Otter Products, LLC•Fort Collins, CO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Otter Products is hiring for a Sr. Director of Product Development and Design to join their team in Fort Collins, CO. This role leads a team of professionals responsible for the management of all products within the Otter Products portfolio, owning the short and long-term strategy for Product Development and Industrial Design. This includes planning and execution of the complete product portfolio through the entire product lifecycle for one or more categories. The Sr. Director will be ultimately accountable for ensuring the right product portfolio is established to enable Otter to meet strategic goals and growth targets. The role works closely with Merchandising, Sales, Marketing, Engineering, and Supply Chain to ensure cross-functional alignment, collaborate on goals, and execute on new product development and launch. The company is seeking a leader with a passion for design and the ability to create a compelling vision of the future of Otter Products’ visual brand language. This is a senior people leader role responsible for hiring decisions, career development, and performance management for the team. Otter Products, founded in 1998, is a global technology leader known for its industry-leading brands, OtterBox and OtterCares. They are committed to excellence and a philanthropic spirit, fostering partner relationships and supporting communities through the OtterCares Foundation, which inspires kids to change the world. The company measures success by business results and its ability to give back to communities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Minimum of twelve years of product management and/or product marketing experience including conceiving, developing, and driving innovative products and portfolios is required.
Minimum of two years in a director (and/or up) level role required.
Previous experience managing P&L is required.

Nice To Haves

Degree in marketing, business, or related field preferred.
MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Leadership responsibility for all aspects of the product portfolio, including product design, for given category or categories, specifically ensuring Otter Products is positioned to win in all relevant consumer and commercial market segments and geographies.
Directs Product Development Management of given category or categories, including: Owning the operational and strategic goals for the team.
Providing category insights and proposals to the business by analyzing market and consumer data.
Identifying emerging market trends to support 1–3-year strategic product and design objectives.
Identifying innovation opportunities from consumer/end user and customer insights
Leading competitive analysis and developing plans to beat the competition in market.
Partnering with the Marketing Team to develop product narratives/stories and marketing strategies that will connect with consumers/end users’ hearts and minds.
Overseeing development of portfolio-level business cases and investment recommendations to senior leadership.
Responsibility for the successful implementation/execution of portfolio plans within the category or categories.
Ensuring all new launches of new products and/or series across each region meet launch expectations and necessary time to market.
Successfully managing the product roadmap and design, color and material/finish roadmap by defining optimal strategies with the right pricing, costs, timing, brand, design and features.
Functions as a central resource within the organization as products move through their lifecycle.
Partner and collaborate with Merchandising Sales, Marketing and Engineering to align on goals and drive strategic initiatives.
Partner with global senior leaders to understand region-specific needs and opportunities to shape global product strategy for given category or categories.
Partner with Global Partner Management team to ensure OEM insights and partnership opportunities are integrated into portfolio strategy.
Establish and track annual goals and metrics for the Product Team and monitor monthly to ensure expectations are being met; course correct as necessary through active performance management.
Actively participate in and contribute as a product category owner in Product Management Reviews per the IBP process.
Oversee the development of product training content including the development and delivery of ‘train-the-trainers’, to effectively communicate product value and features.
Establish and maintain the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) strategy, ensuring alignment with market trends, cost structures, and competitive positioning to drive profitability and brand consistency.
Support and maintain a positive safety culture by being an active leader in all safety program initiatives
Other duties as assigned