Hardware Product Development Manager

Summary

Join Caraway, a fast-growing home goods brand, as a Senior Product Manager and play a key role in physical product development. You will own the end-to-end product development process, from concept to launch, for specific product categories. This includes defining product requirements, prototyping, manufacturing, packaging, marketing, and strategy. You will also drive product improvements, work closely with overseas manufacturing partners, and collaborate with internal teams. The role is primarily remote with weekly in-person meetings in Manhattan and requires 1-4 nightly supplier calls. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience in consumer product development, preferably in kitchen products, and a strong understanding of materials and sustainable practices. Caraway offers a competitive salary, equity options, unlimited PTO, and various other benefits.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in a consumer product development role as a multi-faceted category lead. Experience in kitchen products is a plus
• Strong experience defining new product categories and opportunities, from competitor benchmarking, market and customer research, defining feature sets, and more
• Leverage product knowledge to be a strong liaison between product, marketing, growth, retailers, and other internal/external stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Able to draw conclusions and disseminate information in a clear and concise manner for all audiences
• Superior organizational skills and ability to prioritize workload autonomously
• A love of details with strong aesthetic sensibility and an eye for design. Desire to always move fast while balancing speed versus expected deliverables

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end new product development, from market & product research, competitive analysis, timeline development, design, sourcing, vendor selection, costing and packaging, and pricing from ideation through launch for specific product categories
• Write detailed technical specifications and quotation packages (RFQs) for suppliers, including technical overviews, cosmetic and quality requirements, product requirements, and other details
• Maintain product compliance and certifications. Conduct research into new product and consumer certifications to ensure Caraway stays ahead of industry updates and be able to weave this into marketing messaging
• Provide a bridge between product and other internal departments, such as marketing and growth. Ensure proper product messaging is being conveyed in both imagery and copy for digital and physical assets
• Work closely with the retail team to gather insights and craft storytelling for future product line pitches
• Establish clear communication channels with external manufacturing partners and work closely to manage product timelines and expectations
• Comfortably discuss prices and how to drive cost reductions for new and existing programs
• Work closely with the internal product team to set clear timelines and deliverables to maintain the product launch cycle. Ensure internal and external stakeholders are informed and aware of upcoming needs, and provide regular updates regarding overall program status

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working with overseas manufacturers for new product development with hands-on exposure in factory environments strongly preferred

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision offerings for you and your dependents
• Competitive salary + equity options
• Unlimited PTO
• 11+ paid holidays
• 3 months Parental leave
• Fully Remote Company
• Company-sponsored monthly wellness stipend
• Company-sponsored monthly coworking stipend
• Pre-tax Commuter and FSA/Dependent Care FSA, and HSA options
• 401(k) plan
• High quality home and kitchen product + swag, F&F discounts