Product Development Manager

Location:
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Employment Type:
Full-time
Industry:
E-commerce
About The Role We are looking for a Product Development Manager (Head of Product Development & Creative) to join our client, an established company in the e-commerce industry.
This role will lead the creative direction and the development of new physical products from concept to commercialization, ensuring products align with market trends, customer needs, brand direction, and business objectives.
The role also leads the Product Development team and works closely with cross-functional departments and manufacturing partners to deliver products that are on-brand, high quality, on schedule, and scalable in international markets. Key Responsibilities Product Strategy & Portfolio Planning
Develop product strategies aligned with business and brand objectives
Set the creative and product development direction in line with Business Strategy, Brand Strategy, and target markets
Translate product strategies into quarterly Product Development Roadmaps across product lines
Lead New Product Development (NPD), including new series, bundles, collections, and product line extensions
Identify portfolio expansion opportunities based on market research, consumer trends, and business potential, commercial value, customer experience, and ability to differentiate
Prioritize product development initiatives based on commercial potential, execution capabilities, and available resources
Manage the product lifecycle from development through post-launch improvement
Define concept, aesthetics, visual storytelling, and creative direction for each product line, series, and collection
Define a consistent visual language and creative standards across the entire portfolio
Market & Consumer Insights
Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and consumer behavior and market gaps across the US and European markets
Track relevant e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Walmart, Etsy, and TikTok Shop, particularly within Art & Craft, DIY, and Activity Kits categories
Research new materials, production methods, and product finishing techniques
Build and manage an innovation pipeline
Translate market and customer insights into new product opportunities and clear product directions
Leverage market insights to develop ideas, concepts, and category expansion opportunities
Define themes, illustration styles, colors, materials, forms of expression, and product experience that fit the target customer
Product Concept Development
Develop frameworks and processes for product concept development
Lead concept development from insight and ideation to Product Brief, Creative Brief, and detailed design direction
Evaluate and validate product concepts before moving into development, prioritizing concepts by differentiation, commercial potential, brand fit, and execution capability
Build evaluation criteria for concepts and creative output, ensuring differentiation, customer experience, aesthetic quality, and commercial viability
Ensure product concepts meet requirements for customer experience, functionality, quality, cost, timeline, and manufacturability, and have the potential to expand into a series or collection
Creative Production & Art Direction
Review and approve concepts, moodboards, artwork, visual direction, and other creative deliverables, ensuring quality and consistency with brand positioning
Provide art direction for product projects, launch campaigns, and commercial content
Product Development Management
Own the end-to-end product development process, including Research, Ideation, Concept, Brief, Design, Prototyping, Sampling, Validation, and Launch Readiness
Lead the Product Research, Idea Development, Designer, and Artist functions to turn concepts into finished products
Establish quality and testing criteria at each stage of development, including review and approval criteria from concept validation and artwork review to sample approval
Manage multiple product development projects simultaneously
Maintain product specifications and documentation, including design files and artwork assets
Develop and monitor project timelines, milestones, resource plans, and quality standards
Proactively identify risks, bottlenecks, and execution issues and drive appropriate solutions
Cross-functional & Supplier Management
Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Brand, Marketing, and other departments) to align on product objectives, quality, cost, and implementation plans
Work closely with Supply Chain and external suppliers throughout product development, including sample development, material selection, and packaging
Evaluate materials, packaging, manufacturing feasibility, supplier capabilities, and cost optimization opportunities
Ensure products meet relevant quality, safety, e-commerce platform, and intellectual property requirements in target markets
Work with Marketing, Brand, and Social Media to communicate product value, differentiators, and experience consistently
Product Launch & Continuous Improvement
Partner with Marketing to develop Go-to-Market plans
Support the preparation of product information and materials for sales and marketing activities, including artwork and launch documentation
Monitor post-launch performance, including sales, conversion, customer reviews, return rates, and contribution margin
Gather customer feedback and identify opportunities for product improvements, bundles, and product line extensions
Analyze customer feedback and business data to assess concept effectiveness, quality, and product experience
Propose product improvements, new versions, and series or collection expansions based on actual results
Team & Process Development
Lead, manage, and develop the Product Development team (Product Research, Product Idea, Designer/Artist)
Assign and monitor team responsibilities and project progress
Set development goals, output standards, and capability-building plans for team members
Provide coaching and training on product development processes and best practices
Develop and standardize SOPs, templates, and frameworks , evaluation criteria, and product approval processes to improve product development efficiency
Ensure product data is accurate, complete, and up to date ; standardize data systems, documentation, and creative assets to improve team performance, quality, and scalability
Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Product Design, Industrial Design, Engineering, Supply Chain, Marketing, Architecture, Fashion Design, 2D Graphic Design, Art Direction, or a related field
7+ years of experience in Creative, Art Direction, Product Development, Product Management, Category Management, or New Product Development (NPD)
3+ years of experience managing a Product Development team (or a related team)
Proven experience developing physical products from concept to commercialization
Experience managing multiple product development projects simultaneously
Hands-on experience working with factories, suppliers, or manufacturing partners
Experience developing products for international markets and/or e-commerce platforms, such as Amazon, Shopify, Walmart, or TikTok Shop
Experience in Art & Craft, DIY Products, Stationery, Lifestyle & Creative Hobbies, or Home Decor is a strong plus
Strong creativity and aesthetic sense
Strong understanding of product development processes, including product classification and the ability to set evaluation criteria at each stage of development, manufacturing, materials, and cost optimization
Ability to translate market and customer insights into compelling product value propositions (USPs)
Solid knowledge of the market and target customers
Ability to apply manufacturing knowledge to material selection and cost optimization
Proficient in project management methods for schedule and budget control
Commercial mindset: understanding and applying portfolio management and cost structure (COGS)
Strong understanding of e-commerce requirements, market regulations, and intellectual property considerations
Good English communication skills (IELTS 6.5+ or equivalent) for working with international partners and reviewing technical and market research materials
Certifications in Product Management or Project Management are a plus
Tools
Experience with the following is preferred:
Adobe Creative Suite, 3D tools, prototyping
Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets
Notion / Asana
AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity for research and product development
Compensation & Benefits
13th-month salary and profit-based bonus based on business performance
Annual performance review and salary adjustment
Full insurance coverage upon signing the labor contract
PVI health insurance for employees and their family members
Comprehensive physical and mental health care policy
Annual health check-up
16 days of annual leave plus additional seniority leave
3 remote working days per month
Learning and development budget for personal growth
Opportunities for skill and professional development through internal and external training sessions
Team building twice a year to strengthen teamwork and company spirit
Various internal engagement activities: monthly Fridays, Year-End Party, Mid-Autumn Festival, Women's Day (Oct 20, Mar 8), Men's Day (Apr 6), and other celebrations