Product Development Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

Australian Gold is seeking a creative, commercially minded Product Development Manager to lead the development and lifecycle management of retail skincare and sun care products, including SPF products regulated as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.

This role translates consumer insights, emerging beauty trends, ingredient innovation, and retail opportunities into products that deliver meaningful benefits and support brand growth. The Product Development Manager owns the product lifecycle—from concept and development through launch, performance evaluation, product improvements, and discontinuation.

The ideal candidate combines a strong understanding of skincare and sun care with the organization, business judgment, and leadership skills needed to bring products to market. This position leads the Product Development team and partners closely with R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Supply Chain to meet brand, quality, timing, and financial objectives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Product Strategy & Innovation

• Develop and manage product roadmaps, innovation pipelines, and launch calendars aligned with Australian Gold’s brand strategy, retail opportunities, and business objectives.
• Monitor skincare, sun care, and beauty trends, including emerging ingredients, technologies, packaging, product formats, and consumer preferences.
• Translate market research, competitive analysis, customer feedback, and retailer insights into differentiated product concepts.
• Create product briefs that define the target consumer, benefits, positioning, formula direction, packaging, target cost, and launch timing.
• Present product recommendations to leadership with a clear business rationale and competitive point of difference.

Product Development & Launch Management

• Lead product development from concept through formulation, packaging, testing, production readiness, and launch.
• Partner with R&D to establish formula direction, evaluate samples, and provide actionable feedback on product performance, texture, fragrance, appearance, and consumer experience.
• Manage development timelines that account for testing, documentation, and review requirements associated with cosmetic and OTC sunscreen products.
• Lead packaging development with internal teams and suppliers, balancing brand presentation, functionality, compatibility, cost, and manufacturing requirements.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales on product names, positioning, benefit statements, and consumer-facing messaging.
• Coordinate with Regulatory, Quality, and R&D to ensure formulas, claims, labeling, testing, and documentation complete the appropriate review and approval processes.
• Own project milestones and deliverables, proactively resolve challenges, and communicate risks and decisions.
• Coordinate launch readiness across departments to support retailer timelines and business commitments.

Product Lifecycle & Portfolio Management

• Manage the existing product portfolio to maintain consumer relevance, competitive differentiation, and alignment with brand objectives.
• Evaluate sales performance, customer feedback, competitive activity, and available profitability data to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Recommend formula updates, packaging refreshes, line extensions, assortment changes, and product discontinuations.
• Partner with Sales to understand retailer needs, assortment opportunities, and feedback from key accounts.
• Work with Operations and Supply Chain to plan product transitions and minimize obsolete packaging, materials, and finished goods.
• Apply learnings from product performance and previous launches to future development decisions.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Manage, coach, and develop Product Development team members.
• Set clear priorities, assign project responsibilities, and balance workloads to meet business needs.
• Establish accountability for deadlines, accuracy, communication, and execution.
• Lead cross-functional development meetings and maintain alignment on project status, responsibilities, and next steps.
• Foster effective working relationships across R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Supply Chain.

Vendor Relationships & Financial Accountability

• Build and maintain relationships with ingredient suppliers, packaging vendors, testing laboratories, and external development partners.
• Evaluate new materials, technologies, and supplier capabilities that support product innovation and quality.
• Review samples, specifications, quotes, minimum order quantities, and lead times with appropriate internal partners.
• Manage development decisions against approved budgets, target product costs, and margin objectives.
• Identify cost and efficiency improvements while maintaining product performance and brand standards.

Product Knowledge, Documentation & Quality

• Serve as a product expert and support sales training, retailer presentations, and launch communications.
• Maintain accurate product briefs, specifications, development records, approvals, and project tracking documents.
• Follow applicable company quality procedures, current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and policies relevant to cosmetic and OTC product development.
• Partner with Regulatory and Quality to incorporate applicable requirements into development plans and product changes.
• Travel as needed for supplier meetings, industry events, customer presentations, and other business initiatives.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Directly manage assigned Product Development staff, including setting priorities, reviewing performance, providing feedback, and supporting professional development.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, product development, cosmetic science, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Five or more years of product development experience in skincare, sun care, cosmetics, beauty, or personal care.
• Demonstrated success bringing consumer products from concept to market and managing products throughout their lifecycle.
• Experience developing SPF products regulated as OTC drugs strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with the testing, labeling, claims review, and documentation processes associated with sunscreen development.
• Understanding of retail product development, including retailer timelines, shelf presentation, assortment needs, and competitive positioning.
• Working knowledge of formulation development, cosmetic ingredients, packaging, and manufacturing processes.
• Two or more years of experience managing or mentoring team members preferred.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities across departments.
• Ability to combine creative thinking with commercial judgment, including an understanding of product costs, pricing, and margins.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook; experience with project management or product lifecycle management systems is a plus.
• Ability to work on-site in Indianapolis every workday and travel as business needs require.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• This position requires you to work onsite in the office in Indianapolis, Indiana. Are you located in the area or able to relocate?
• What are your wage expectations for this position?
• What experience do you have coordinating customer accounts, product development projects, or private label programs?

Work Location: In person