Director of Product Development - Life is good : Job Details

You've made it to the show. Picture this: You're standing at the podium, baton in hand. In front of you? A well-tuned orchestra, every section in sync… most of the time. Here at Life is Good, our product development team is led by a founder who loves to innovate and improvise, adding new ideas and notes to our melody.

As our Director of Product Development, you're the conductor who makes the music happen, setting the tempo and ensuring the entire band is in harmony—so we can deliver delightful apparel to our customers on time. You'll collaborate with designers, manage developers, and keep artists and dreamers on schedule. You bring a blend of structure and creativity—so our products hit all the right notes and leave room for those special flourishes that make people smile. Here, the score is flexible, and every voice counts. If you can lead confidently, listen effectively, and adapt when the music changes—then we look forward to jamming with you.

If you are energized and inspired by this vision, we want to hear from you.

• This application requires detailed responses to specific questions. We recommend preparing your answers outside the application and pasting them in once you're satisfied with the content, spelling, grammar, and tone. Incomplete applications will be disqualified.
• Our compensation strategy is market-based. You can use publicly available salary calculators to estimate your potential earnings here. All permanent roles are eligible for an annual bonus based on company performance, to which you will contribute.
• This role is based in Boston. You will work on-site Wednesdays and Thursdays.
• Everyone who applies will receive a response from a human. We value your effort and skill, and you deserve a personal reply.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• 8-10 years of leadership experience in apparel and accessory retail/wholesale product development and sourcing/supply chain.
• First-hand knowledge of quality construction for men's, women's, and kids' apparel.
• Ability to teach manufacturing and costing processes.
• Proven ability to analyze data and extract valuable insights.
• Experience in identifying products that enhance brand aesthetics and drive results.
• Effective at building credibility and collaborating with business leaders at all levels.

Pay Transparency: We post jobs on various sites, but not all show accurate salary ranges. We use a market-based approach to determine pay. We encourage you to explore salary calculators like Salary.com or PayScale, considering industry data, company size, location, and experience to estimate the pay range for this role.

YOUR OBJECTIVE

You will be the strategic leader driving the creation of on-brand product lines across all sales channels, using consumer insights, market research, and analytics. Your work will ensure Life is Good maximizes revenue and profitability. Collaborating with eCommerce, Wholesale, Retail, Design, and Product Graphics teams, you will develop a unified product assortment that our customers love.

YOUR JOB - Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Analyze success factors, product costs, margins, and timelines to assess progress toward company goals, leveraging market knowledge, consumer insights, trend analysis, and financial data.
• Lead the briefing process for product graphics.
• Collaborate on assortment planning and sales strategies for all product categories and channels.
• Oversee material selection, construction, and quality targets, working with design and technical teams.
• Create and manage seasonal and vendor calendars, coordinating with cross-functional teams to meet timing challenges.
• Build strategic relationships with supply chain partners to meet company objectives.
• Lead market trend analysis by product category.
• Ensure global manufacturing support for seasonal and ongoing programs, in collaboration with merchandising and sourcing teams.
• Resolve product-related issues promptly.
• Manage product changes related to legal and copyright concerns.
• Track changes and ensure the Centric system is accurate and used correctly.
• Present seasonal plans and product selections to sales and senior management.
• Facilitate efficient information flow and team operations.
• Develop long-term strategic solutions to improve performance.
• Ensure all product timelines and deliverables are met or exceeded through effective management.

Your Personal Attributes:

• Passionate about our mission and values.
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively with a creative, opinionated team.
• Skilled in giving and receiving constructive feedback.
• Natural leader with an open, compassionate management style.
• Excellent communicator, clear and effective.
• Fosters a collaborative environment for superior results.

SUCCESS MEASURES

• Achieving annual goals.
• Being a cultural leader within Life is Good.
• Being recognized as a positive business and brand leader by your team and peers.

Our office is located in the vibrant Fort Point neighborhood, offering green spaces, excellent food, and entertainment. We provide comprehensive benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA, Transit/Parking Reimbursement, Life and Disability insurance, 401(k) with match, Paid Time Off, holidays, Good Vibes Time (volunteering paid leave), and pet-friendly policies.

We support our social mission, The Playmaker Project, helping kids heal from trauma.

Life is Good is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.