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Job Description
Director of Product Design and Development
Location: Bend, OR (Relocation Required)
Business Unusual
At Ruffwear, we believe success goes beyond making great gear. Started as a one-person endeavor in 1994, Ruffwear has gained the support of dogs and humans around the world and is one of Outside Magazine’s 100 Best Places to Work. Known for innovative products that help people and dogs of all abilities enjoy outdoor spaces together, our “pack” values diverse thinking and voices from different backgrounds. We appreciate a willingness to take intentional risks that promote creativity, strengthen customer relationships, and reduce our impact on the planet. Our privately held company reinvests profits back into our business to keep it sustainable and nimble, and we partner with organizations like The Conservation Alliance to help protect the lands and waterways where canines and humans connect and thrive. Based in Bend, Oregon, we test our products and explore with our own dogs among our nearby forests, rivers, and mountains. Our headquarters recently underwent an innovative renovation to provide a workspace that enhances the wellbeing and creativity of our pack. Our warm and collaborative atmosphere fosters the sharing of ideas through respectful and stimulating dialogue and helps us implement new initiatives with gusto.
Summary/Objective
This position is responsible for leading and directing the product strategy, R&D, seasonal go-to-market planning, design, development, materials & product operations process for Ruffwear’s global product portfolio (in-line, direct-selling & service dog). By working closely with the Product Team and Leadership Team, this key leadership role inspires a deep commitment & day-day culture within the team to live our purpose of unleashing possibility through discovery.
Key Accountabilities
Lead the product function to support & amplify the Ruffwear brand’s momentum in both outdoor and pet market segments as well as global & regional opportunities.
Lead, participate and energize ideation to future-proof the brand from a product perspective.
Build, manage, implement & socialize a market-driven and clear long-range global product strategy that supports the brand’s purpose, maintains market leadership and energizes Ruffwear’s 2024 Trail Map.
Mentor, challenge & develop the Product Team’s candor, communication & technical skills to foster positive learning & growth for both the individual and the team..
Lead seasonal product planning & execution to support Ruffwear’s financial health (revenue, gross margin) & 2024 Trail Map intentions & priorities for Ruffwear.
Build & manage Product Team‘s annual budget.
Ensure the Product Team meets calendar & work product commitments to set-up the rest of the organization to do their best work.
Mentor the leaders on the Product Team and grow their leadership, decision-making and communication skills.
Reduce noise and increase clarity for the Product Team as the brand navigates growth & change.
Additional Accountabilities
Research & Development (R&D) & Innovation
Partner closely with the R&D Director/Founder to understand & apply the brand’s product history, learning, and vision to future seasons.
Smooth the interaction between long-term R&D and in-line R&D to ensure the innovation pipeline is full, R&D can move quickly when needed and has capacity to react to changing market conditions or observations from the team.
Design, Development & Color Merchandising
Maintain brand authenticity by ensuring that product material, fit, function, construction, finish, trim, hardware, branding, and color merchandising are designed & developed to support the brand’s ethos and relevant standards for the brand.
Ensure designs are manufacturable and partner with the Supply Team to nominate the right factory to support smooth commercialization, quality, target costing, and on-time delivery.
Go-to-Market & Product Line Management
Energize, mentor, vision and ongoing support the organization’s evolving go-to-market process to align key functions for smooth and powerful market introductions.
Ensure successful product introductions (seasonal, direct-selling & service dog) by managing the product team’s accountabilities across all calendars.
Department & Management
Actively involved in communicating and supporting company and department strategy to internal and external stakeholders.
Define and monitor key performance indicators for all product creation & planning activities to ensure quality, innovation, time, costs, and ROI goals are met.
Support and inspire the growth, skills development, and wellness of the Product Team based on Ruffwear’s intentions and values.
Support and enable growth and success by leading or facilitating cross-department collaborative partnerships.
Create a yearly budget and manage Product Department spending according to plan.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Supervisory Responsibility
All U.S.-based Product Design, Development, Innovation, Product Operations and Product Management team.
Work Environment
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting (Ruffwear office or home office as necessary).
Travel
Regular travel to various manufacturing, retail, and distribution partners – international and domestic.
Required Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree.
Ten years of professional experience managing a successful design, development, category and/or merchandising team.
A combination of years of experience and education may be taken into consideration.
Experience in various roles within a product creation &/or a category management department and a deep understanding of the complete process necessary to create a diverse, global product line.
Proven experience mentoring designers, developers, product managers, engineers, color merchandisers & product operations who contribute to market-leading product development.
Strong project management skills and a reputation for delivering high-quality work on time and budget.
A high EQ and a reputation for engaging others through your gift of leadership and communication.
Practical knowledge of design software, including Illustrator, SolidWorks, Photoshop, CAD, and 3D printing.
Working knowledge of Google Suite.
Passion for dogs and first-hand understanding of the interactive bond between canines and humans.
Preferred Education and Experience
A degree in design, product management or engineering.
15+ years of professional experience managing a successful design, development, category and/or merchandising team.
International travel and work experience are a plus.
Experience in the outdoor and/or consumer products industry.
A passion for the outdoors.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities of the employee to do this job.
