Director of Product Development - Born To Play : Job Details

Director of Product Development

Location: Montvale, NJ

Employment Type: Full-time

Company Overview

Founded in 2024, Born To Play is a next-generation toy company on a mission to ignite imagination and inspire joy through innovative toys and digital content that reflect the latest trends in play. We believe in the power of play for everyone — because we were all Born To Play. By staying ahead of consumer trends, we deliver experiences that engage, educate, and entertain, fostering creativity and endless fun for all ages.

Our portfolio includes beloved homegrown brands such as Super Dough, Nano Art, Taba World, and DecoDen Designer, along with licensed properties from Paramount, Nickelodeon Slime, Miracle-Gro, CoComelon, and Bazooka Brands. We specialize in reusable compounds, arts & crafts kits, and trend-driven crafts.

Learn more at www.borntoplay.com and follow @borntoplaybrands on social media.

Role Summary

The Director of Product Development leads the product development and sourcing teams to deliver innovative, profitable, and high-quality product assortments. This role is responsible for the full product lifecycle—from concept through launch—while ensuring alignment with brand strategy, customer needs, and market trends.

Key Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Brand Management

• Develop and maintain a rolling 2-year product innovation roadmap to keep Born To Play brands fresh and competitive.
• Manage brand development calendars aligned to sales channel timelines and client requirements for price, value, and category.
• Monitor global market trends and competitive activity; ensure products exceed competitive benchmarks.
• Oversee overseas teams to maintain competitive pricing and high quality across product lines.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (Customer Service, Production, Quality Control) to ensure consistent quality.

New Product Development

• Lead the end-to-end development process from concept ideation to market launch.
• Facilitate brainstorming sessions and continual generation of new product ideas.
• Collaborate with Sales to develop customer-specific concepts, addressing costing, value, and presentation materials.
• Conduct and analyze market research to ensure products lead in innovation and market relevance.
• Coordinate with overseas partners on cost quoting, specifications, and value-driven MSRP/margins.
• Manage development and production schedules, ensuring milestones and delivery dates are met.
• Oversee prototyping and sampling processes to guarantee product quality and functionality prior to approval.

Leadership & Process Improvement

• Mentor and develop the Product Development team; foster a collaborative and high-performance culture.
• Implement agile workflows leveraging key systems and datasets and drive continuous process improvement.
• Identify and remove operational roadblocks to maintain momentum.
• Manage external design resources (freelancers, 3D modelers) as needed.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in the toy industry or related consumer products sector.
• Proven people management experience (5+ years) with a track record of developing talent and improving processes.
• Highly organized; able to manage multiple projects across cross-functional teams.
• Creative, innovative, and results-oriented with strong problem-solving skills.
• Skilled in leveraging technology systems to manage workflows and drive process improvement.
• Strong understanding of product design, manufacturing methods, and global supply chains.
• Experience working with overseas vendors and sourcing teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or equivalent.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office; PLM systems and CAD design a plus.

Benefits

• Health benefits
• Paid time off, including vacation days, holidays, and sick leave