Product Development Manager (CPG)

Flex is seeking a talented Product Development (PD) Manager who has experience bringing new products and medical devices to market. This role will be responsible for managing multiple aspects of our PD function, including taking a defined and scoped product from concept to launch and providing technical expertise and best-in-class project management to deliver innovative and market-leading products.

Our ideal candidate will be exceptionally passionate about consumer packaged goods. They will be able to meet internal and external timelines, partner with marketing and brand management to define dependencies and specs, and work with supply chain to deliver product cost/margin requirements. Our teammates are adaptable self-starters and thrive working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with other talented people. We have proven product-market fit for our core products, and are looking for a seasoned product manager who thrives on creating and innovating.

Responsibilities

• Manage our product development pipeline, ensuring phased design reviews and successful product launches by stated timelines. This may include vetting manufacturers, developing timelines, identifying product and resource requirements (e.g. personnel, budget, equipment), writing test procedures and protocols, securing prototypes, and coordinating design inputs and logistics.
• Achieve product assortment goals of the customer while ensuring product quality and testing standards as well as margin expectations are met.
• Lead development of personal care products, including medical devices, cosmetics and custom formulations.
• Continually improve the standardized NPD methods to reduce cycle time, resulting in the reduction of unnecessary costs and improving market responsiveness.
• Direct and perform product performance testing on existing and new products.
• Create and maintain strong relationships with new and existing factory partners to ensure successful execution of product development process.
• Lead cross-functional PD meetings and internal communication, keeping key stakeholders informed of dependencies, critical decisions, tradeoffs, and input to stay on track for product launches.
• Provide solutions to Brand Management, laying out PD recommendations that solve for the project scope, risks and tradeoffs, and product conception and messaging
• Work closely with Supply Chain to asses existing supplier network, identify new supplier opportunities and on board new suppliers as needed.

Qualities

• Meticulous attention to detail and time management skills with the ability to follow projects at every stage through to completion.
• Ability to influence at all levels of an organization internally and externally and present what's at stake when challenges arise
• Superior customer service with excellent phone, email and writing etiquette.
• Ability to adapt and manage effectively in a fast paced and continuously changing environment.
• A positive and professional attitude with a team player outlook and an outgoing, friendly, and approachable personality.
• The ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, think critically, manage multiple priorities and adhere to strict deadlines.

Requirements

• 3-5 years in a comparable role (MUST have led entire product development process of multiple products, ideally in related consumer/medical industry)
• Comfortable leading outside vendors and cross-functionally with other teammates
• Experience and expertise in new product development, product road mapping, and product cost and pricing.
• Skilled in strategic planning and communicating a strategic vision.
• Strong process management skills
• Proficiency in Fusion 360 or similar CAD software a plus

In 1 month you will:

• Build relationships with your team and cross-functionally.
• Develop a deep understanding of our brands, products, customers, and our omnichannel strategy
• Understand our product development process and gotten a couple of quick wins under your belt

In 3 months:

• Own the product development process for 1-2 products
• Support and transition ownership of PD process for 1-2 additional products
• Be a trusted member of the PD team and relied upon by teammates as a highly accountable and trust-worthy teammate

In 6 months:

• Have meaningfully contributed to the successful, on time, within margin goal delivery of multiple products
• Become an expert and evangelist for an improved product development process
• Have navigated some challenges, but have also demonstrated your ability to define the critical path despite setbacks

Our shared values:

• Lead with Intention: Leaders are made not born. Leadership is a practice of intention. And through that intention is how we will ultimately succeed in realizing our mission and vision.
• Embrace Accountability: We are imperfect in our actions, results, and even sometimes our intentions. By making accountability a practice, we destigmatize failure, increase trust with others, and accelerate learning both at the individual and the team level.
• Practice a Growth Mindset: Growth comes at the edge of our comfort zone. We repeatedly place ourselves there by risking failure and embracing the challenges that failure presents us to own our growth and support others in theirs.
• Be You: We want people to show up as they are because that creates a healthier, more dynamic, and effective work environment. Just as much to do with being oneself, it’s everyone’s responsibility to create space for others to be their authentic self as well.

About The Flex Company

The Flex Company was founded on the belief that people deserve innovative, sustainable, life-changing period products. After years of disappointment and discomfort trying dozens of products, Lauren Schulte Wang founded Flex to create body-safe, medical grade alternatives that outperform traditional period products. Flex Disc and Flex Cup generate 60% less waste and have the capacity of up to three super tampons, all while maintaining the highest level of comfort through inventive engineering and rigorous testing.

Flex is sold at over 28,000 stores across the US and is the #1 better for you period brand based on units sold. Committed to making its life-changing products accessible to as many people possible, Flex is available at Walmart, Target, CVS, and Walgreens, and at flexfits.com.

Flex is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, age, and other protected categories. From our hiring practices to the design of our flagship products, we believe equity and diversity is critical to the ideas, talent, and processes that help us create the most positive impact for our customers and for each other. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply to be a team member here. Moreover, Flex considers for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

Flex collects personal information from candidates as part of the application and hiring process. California residents can view our CCPA Notice at Collection and Privacy Policy, which serves as our "Notice of Collection" for applicants and employees under the CPRA.

We pay competitive salaries, equity, & benefits including (but not limited to) medical, dental and vision health insurance, 401k, paid parental leave, open PTO, 401k, and a $1,000 annual learning credit.