Job description
Client Overview:
Our client is an award winning French Cosmetic and Skin Care Company.
Director, Product Development Complexion Overview:
Drive Brand and Category development by planning and developing new products and launch plan for skincare, complexion, Primer category (50% of the business). Director will work with Executive Director identifying growth opportunities that drive global sales, increase global market share, build customer loyalty and strengthen brand identity. Focus markets are China, US, UK and Japan.
Product development is the key point of contact interfacing with R&D, Creative, NPD, Packaging, Operations, Finance, Marketing, Sales, Merchandising, Education and Global Communications to flawless launch execution.
Position Reports to ED of Product Development (skincare and complexion)
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
NEW PRODUCT IDEATION:
- Identify new short term and long term opportunities through competitive analysis, industry studies, sales data, as well as SWOT analyses
- Develop and implement the 3-year global strategy in the Complexion and Skincare categories
- Identify growth opportunity. Asia is priority
- Develops efficacious and differentiated formula by working closely with R&D and sub-contractors
- Bring innovative formula that represents the company philosophy
- Responsible for the creation of briefs (New Product, Creative, and Copy), ensuring deliverables are aligned with launch objectives, and all briefs are executed and delivered on-time
- Collaborate with TIG to Develop product test and claim strategy to bring unique product positioning
- Bring new package that brings best gross margin
- Constantly bring ideas to reduce COG of existing products
- Responsible for product technology presentation, One page product summary of each new launch.
- Bring consumer insight and market trend for Asia, and US and bi monthly
- Meets with sub-contractors, Raw Material supplier to propose ingredient approach / R&D technology to match with new product marketing concept
- Propose brainstorming sessions on new product concepts with Global Marketing and Artistry for new product ideas
- Work with Global marketing to refine product concept
- Attend conference to cultivate creativity to bring newness to the brand
- Lead meetings and write minutes of all meetings to clarify next step to all attendees
NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT/FORMULA PROCESS:
- Ensures all product development meets the highest quality standards set by company
- Ensures all product timely launch
- Oversees and work with company to bring target cost and feasibility cost of all ideas
- Oversees the maintenance of all new and existing product/shade/packaging
- Work with CM, R&D, Global marketing to bring unique concept
- Work with NPD for Devex and Dragon Fly / SGS
- Tracks and follow-up of respective complexion/skincare initiatives with all key partners (NPD, Creative, Packaging, Marketing, Operations, R&D), providing status updates on a regular basis
- Ensures that all profiles and bulletins are created and posted according to the timeline
- Meets all key timeline date approvals (product, testing, package, Devex, Dragon Fly)
- Organizes all submissions and corresponding documentation to company lead
- Reviews all visual assets for product/shade accuracy
- Manages coordination of regulatory information for all new products/formulas
- Reviews all formula testings: Consumer test, Safety Test, Stability test, Compatibility test
- Attends bulk trials and first production for new launches
- Reviews all launch related copy (Marketing presentations, PR files, Training manual updates)
- Works with creative to bring new product COMPS
- Proposes and manages all submissions to company lead
CONTRIBUTES TO OVERALL COMPLEXION AND SKINCARE CATEGORIES MAINTENANCE:
- Oversees the maintenance of the existing complexion/skincare products, closely reviewing shades, packaging and overall quality/ aesthetic
- Sets standards on all new products (formula/ shade production, primary and secondary component development)
Working Relationships/Key Stakeholders:
- Company Global Marketing/ Global Education/ Global Communication/ Global Operation
An Innovation Center/NPD/Package
Qualifications & Competencies:
• 10+ yrs of Global Prestige Beauty experience, cosmetics related preferable; with a focus on complexion/skincare product development. Priority is complexion. Lead globally recognizable launches
• BS or BA in Marketing or related field
• Strong organization and prioritization skills, with a proven ability to multi-task and manage complexity
• Ability to collaborate with cross functional teams to develop creative solutions in dynamic and changing business environment
• A strong sense of urgency, ability to manage details while responding to changing priorities and feedback.
• Strong project and timeline management skills, structured, problem solver
• Forward thinking, anticipation of needs
• Attention to details, ability to work independently, reliable
• Strong oral, written, communication and presentation skills.
Competencies
• Below is a list of Core Competencies designed to help employees at The Company succeed as the company continues to evolve and innovate.
• Business Insights: Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization’s goals
• Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer centric solutions
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
• Drives Results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
• Develops Talent: Developing people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals
• Nimble Learning: Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder
• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity and authenticity
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
• Drives Vision & Purpose: Painting a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action
• Cultivates Innovation: Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful
