Product Development Manager

Job Summary

The Product Development Manager (PDM) is responsible for driving the commercial success,

profitability, and market viability of all new and existing products. The role ensures that product

development initiatives are anchored on revenue generation, customer demand, and competitive

positioning.

The PDM owns the will this product sell and generate profit? decision by leveraging market

research, Voice of the Customer (VOC), sales insights, and business intelligence. The role works

closely with the R&D team, who provide technical feasibility and formulation expertise, while the

PDM ensures that only commercially viable and scalable products move forward.

Key Responsibilities

1. Product Strategy & Revenue Growth

Define and manage a profit-driven product pipeline aligned with company revenue

targets and growth strategy

Identify high-potential product opportunities based on:

• Market demand and consumer trends
• Sales performance and revenue data
• Competitive benchmarking and pricing strategies

Prioritize products based on ROI, margin potential, and speed to market

2. Market Intelligence & Business Development

Lead market research, customer insight analysis, and competitor benchmarking

Identify new business opportunities, product gaps, and category expansion strategies

Work closely with Marketing and Business Development teams to align product initiatives

with go-to-market strategies and revenue goals

Evaluate product concepts based on commercial viability, scalability, and profitability

3. Product Concept & Commercial Direction

Define product concepts including:

• Target market and customer segment
• Value proposition and key claims
• Pricing strategy and positioning
• Packaging direction based on customer experience and cost targets

Ensure all product decisions are aligned with brand positioning and

financial objectives

4. Cross-Functional Leadership

Serve as the business leader in product development aligning:

• R&D (technical feasibility and formulation)
• Marketing (branding, claims, campaigns)
• QA/Regulatory (compliance and approvals)
• SCM/Procurement (cost and sourcing strategy)

Drive decision-making to ensure speed, efficiency, and commercial

alignment

5. Product Development Oversight

Translate product concepts into Product Development Requests (PDRs)

Oversee execution of the NPD process from:

• Concept Development Validation Scale-up Launch

Ensure adherence to defined timelines (e.g., 3-month NPD cycle)

Identify risks and drive mitigation actions

6. Commercial & Financial Alignment

Ensure products meet:

• Target cost of goods (COGS)
• Gross margin requirements
• Revenue contribution targets

Pricing and profitability targets

• Conduct basic financial analysis (costing, pricing, margin impact)
• Work with Finance to ensure products contribute to overall business profitability

7. Product Launch & Performance Management

Ensure readiness for launch by coordinating to all cross-functional departments

Monitor post-launch performance:

• Sales and customer feedback

Drive optimization, repositioning, or discontinuation based on business performance

Additional Responsibilities

Perform other duties as assigned by CSO and Top Management

Assist in special projects or improvement initiatives as directed.

Qualification & Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, or related field
• is required
• MBA or equivalent business experience is a strong advantage
• Background in science (Chemistry, Pharmacy, etc.) is a plus but not required

Experience:

• 5–8+ years experience in product development, product management, or business
• development (cosmetics, FMCG, or related industries)
• Proven track record in launching commercially successful products
• Experience in market analysis, pricing, and profitability management
• Exposure to cosmetic or regulated industries is an advantage

Skills & Competencies

• Strong business and commercial acumen
• Ability to translate market insights into profitable product opportunities
• Excellent strategic thinking and decision-making skills
• Strong project management and cross-functional leadership
• Financial awareness (costing, pricing, margin analysis)
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• Gain expertise in end-to-end product commercialization and revenue strategy
• Develop strong capabilities in business-driven product development and portfolio
• management
• Opportunity to lead high-impact revenue-generating initiatives
• Exposure to cross-functional leadership across Marketing, R&D, QA, and Finance

ORGANIZATIONAL POSITION

• Reports directly to CSO
• Operates at the same level as R&D Manager
• May oversee Product Development Specialist(s) as the team scales

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Primarily office-based
• Requires coordination with laboratories, suppliers, and toll manufacturers to support
• quality and compliance activities.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

Dermorepubliq is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a diverse and

inclusive work environment