Job Summary
Position Summary
The Director of Product Development is responsible for leading the execution of Crofter’s product innovation pipeline and overseeing the end-to-end commercialization process. This role ensures that new products and new category expansions are developed, validated, scaled, and launched in alignment with the company’s strategic direction.
While innovation strategy is defined at the executive level, the Director is accountable for translating that strategy into actionable development plans, managing technical development, and ensuring successful commercialization. This role oversees the Commercialization Manager and R&D Associate and is responsible for cross-functional alignment from concept approval through commercial launch. In addition, this role owns external consultant relationships to assist in new product development.
The Director of Product Development reports to the Vice President of Brand Strategy & Innovation.
Key Responsibilities
1. Product Development Leadership
- Lead the technical development of new products from concept through commercialization.
- Oversee formulation, benchtop development, pilot trials, and plant scale-up.
- Ensure products meet expectations for taste, texture, nutritional profile, quality, cost, and manufacturability.
- Provide technical leadership and final formulation approval prior to commercialization.
- Guide investigation of ingredient technologies, manufacturing capabilities, and process improvements that support innovation initiatives.
- In partnership, lead the on-going Product Development budget creation and execution
2. New Category Development Execution
- Lead development efforts for entry into new product categories as defined by executive strategy.
- Assess technical feasibility, ingredient sourcing, operational requirements, and manufacturing implications of new category initiatives.
- Develop structured development timelines and resource plans to support category expansion.
- Identify risks and mitigation strategies associated with new category launches.
3. Commercialization Ownership
- Own the end-to-end commercialization process from approved concept through market launch.
- In partnership with the Commercialization Manager, maintain a structured stage-gate process to ensure organized project progression.
- Ensure all commercialization projects meet defined timelines, cost targets, and quality standards.
- Oversee plant trials, production validation, and launch readiness.
- Partner with Finance to validate margin expectations and cost targets prior to final commercialization approval.
4. Team Leadership
- Indirectly manage external consultant relationships, as needed, especially as it relates to new category
- Directly manage the R&D Associate.
- Provide leadership, coaching, and performance oversight.
- Ensure the team effectively coordinates timelines, manages projects, day to day formula development and production trials / manufacturing readiness.
6. Cross-Functional Project Leadership
- Collaborate closely with Marketing, Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, QA, and Finance to ensure alignment throughout development and commercialization.
- Ensure regulatory, labeling, and nutritional compliance prior to product launch.
- Maintain strong communication across departments to proactively address risks and bottlenecks.
- Provide clear reporting on development timelines, risks, and project status to leadership.
- Partner cross-functionally for evaluation and selection of co-manufacturing partners for new products.
7. Technical Governance & Compliance
- Ensure documentation of formulas, specifications, and development records is accurate and properly maintained.
- Maintain internal sensory testing standards to ensure product consistency.
- Support continuous improvement of development and commercialization processes.
8. Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve speed-to-market, cost efficiency, and cross-functional coordination.
- Conduct post-launch reviews to evaluate product performance and identify improvement areas.
- Refine development and commercialization workflows to enhance organizational effectiveness.
Pay: $95,000.00-$172,500.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Parry Sound, ON
