Product Development Associate

Essor

$75K — $90K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 2-3+ years in Product Development, Operations, Buying, Product Management, or R&D within CPG industry
  • Preferred experience with cleaning, household goods, or beauty/personal care products, especially natural formulations
  • Proven success in launching new products from concept to market
  • Experience with B Corp certified brands or sustainability-focused organizations
  • Prior involvement in packaging development and material selection
  • Familiarity with retailer-specific requirements such as Walmart, Target, and Amazon Vendor Central

Responsibilities

  • Own and manage the product roadmap from ideation to launch
  • Conduct market and competitive analysis to inform product strategy
  • Partner with teams to develop product costing and manage budgets
  • Develop innovative product concepts to enhance brand recognition
  • Lead rapid product development initiatives for market expansion
  • Oversee formulation selection and approval to meet ingredient standards
  • Ensure regulatory compliance and high-quality product performance
  • Manage detailed timelines and communicate project roadblocks proactively

Benefits

  • Opportunity to shape a growing brand in the competitive CPG landscape
  • Engagement in innovative product development with a focus on sustainability
  • Collaboration with cross-functional teams and stakeholders
  • Room for professional growth in a fast-paced startup environment
  • Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic, entrepreneurial setting
Full Job Description
What you will do:

Strategy & Vision

  • Own the Product Roadmap: Define, champion, and manage the full product development lifecycles from ideation and concept to final production and input on strategic launch. Specific focus on products that will win in the ecommerce space and large brick & mortar retailers.
  • Market Analysis: Conduct competitive analysis and stay ahead of industry trends, consumer needs, and ingredient innovations within the natural cleaning and CPG space.
  • Financial Oversight: Partner with brand and operations to develop product costing, manage project budgets, and ensure products meet margin targets. Take the lead on applying learnings to the entire product portfolio for stronger profitability.


Product Development & Execution

  • Unique Innovation: Develop concepts for products that will stand out in the commoditized cleaning world, supporting the growth of Puracy into a household, widely recognized household brand.
  • Rapid NPD: Lead "sprint" initiatives that help support product improvements and rapid franchise development to help Puracy become dominant in new markets (baby).
  • Formulation & Packaging: Lead the selection and approval of raw materials, ensuring all formulations meet Puracy's ingredient standards and performance benchmarks. Manage relationships with contract manufacturers, formulators, fragrance houses, and packaging suppliers.
  • Regulatory & Quality Assurance: Goal to develop products that comply with relevant federal, state, and industry regulations (e.g., EPA, Safer Choice, EWG), while standing out as a "winner" in performance.


Project Management & Launch

  • Timeline Management: Create and rigorously manage detailed project timelines to ensure on-time delivery for all product launch initiatives. Proactively communicate road blocks and bring forward solutions to mitigate.
  • Commercialization: Oversee the final stages of commercialization, including manufacturing readiness, quality control checks, timely completion of content, and final handover to the scale team.
  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Serve as the central hub for the product development, coordinating seamlessly with internal teams, including Brand, Operations, Regulatory/ Legal, Creative, Retail.


Qualifications & Criteria

Experience

As a fast growing start up, we do not believe one size fits all. We are open to candidates of all backgrounds/experience, listing the below as "nice to have":

  • 2-3+ years of progressive experience in Product Development, Operations, Buying, Product Management, or R&D within the CPG industry.
  • Experience with cleaning, household goods, or beauty/personal care products is highly preferred, specifically with natural or plant-based formulations.
  • Proven track record of successfully launching multiple new products from concept to market.
  • Experience working with B Corp certified brands or organizations focused on environmental sustainability.
  • Prior experience managing packaging development, including material selection (PCR, sustainable options) and print proofing.
  • Familiarity with retailer-specific requirements and documentation (e.g., Walmart, Target, Amazon Vendor Central).


Key Skills & Competencies

  • Exceptional Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, multiple stakeholders, and aggressive timelines. PMP certification is a plus.
  • Technical Formulation Knowledge: A fundamental understanding of ingredient function, stability testing, and the formulation process to effectively collaborate with R&D partners.
  • Strategic & Analytical Thinking: Ability to translate consumer insights and market data into a tangible, profitable product strategy.
  • Communication & Influence: Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence without direct authority across internal and external partners.
  • Detail-Oriented: A relentless commitment to accuracy and quality, particularly regarding regulatory compliance and ingredient transparency.


If you are ready to join our fast-paced company, apply now!

The estimated salary range for this role is $75-90K per year. Final compensation will depend on experience, skills, and location.

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