Product Development Manager
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Employment Type: Full-time
Industry: E-commerce
About the Role
We are looking for a Product Development Manager to join our client, an established company in the e-commerce industry. This role will lead the development of new physical products from concept to commercialization, ensuring products align with market trends, customer needs, brand direction, and business objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Product Strategy & Portfolio Planning
- Develop product strategies aligned with business and brand objectives.
- Translate product strategies into quarterly Product Development Roadmaps across product lines.
- Lead New Product Development (NPD), including new series, bundles, collections, and product line extensions.
- Identify portfolio expansion opportunities based on market research, consumer trends, and business potential.
- Prioritize product development initiatives based on commercial potential, execution capabilities, and available resources.
- Manage the product lifecycle from development through post-launch improvement.
Market & Consumer Insights
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and consumer behavior across the US and European markets.
- Track relevant e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Walmart, Etsy, and TikTok Shop, particularly within Art & Craft, DIY, and Activity Kits categories.
- Research new materials, production methods, and product finishing techniques.
- Build and manage an innovation pipeline.
- Translate market and customer insights into new product opportunities and clear product directions.
Product Concept Development
- Develop frameworks and processes for product concept development.
- Evaluate and validate product concepts before moving into development.
- Ensure product concepts meet requirements for customer experience, functionality, quality, cost, timeline, and manufacturability.
Product Development Management
- Own the end-to-end product development process, including Research, Ideation, Brief, Design, Prototyping, Sampling, Validation, and Launch.
- Establish quality and testing criteria at each stage of development.
- Manage multiple product development projects simultaneously.
- Maintain product specifications and documentation.
- Develop and monitor project timelines, milestones, resource plans, and quality standards.
- Proactively identify risks, bottlenecks, and execution issues and drive appropriate solutions.
Cross-functional & Supplier Management
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align on product objectives, quality, cost, and implementation plans.
- Work closely with Supply Chain and external suppliers throughout product development.
- Evaluate materials, packaging, manufacturing feasibility, supplier capabilities, and cost optimization opportunities.
- Ensure products meet relevant quality, safety, e-commerce platform, and intellectual property requirements in target markets.
Product Launch & Continuous Improvement
- Partner with Marketing to develop Go-to-Market plans.
- Support the preparation of product information and materials for sales and marketing activities.
- Monitor post-launch performance, including sales, conversion, customer reviews, return rates, and contribution margin.
- Gather customer feedback and identify opportunities for product improvements, bundles, and product line extensions.
Team & Process Development
- Lead, manage, and develop the Product Development team.
- Assign and monitor team responsibilities and project progress.
- Set development goals and capability-building plans for team members.
- Provide coaching and training on product development processes and best practices.
- Develop and standardize SOPs, templates, and frameworks to improve product development efficiency.
- Ensure product data is accurate, complete, and up to date.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Product Design, Industrial Design, Engineering, Supply Chain, Marketing, or a related field.
- 7+ years of experience in Product Development, Product Management, Category Management, or New Product Development (NPD).
- 3+ years of experience managing a Product Development team.
- Proven experience developing physical products from concept to commercialization.
- Experience managing multiple product development projects simultaneously.
- Hands-on experience working with factories, suppliers, or manufacturing partners.
- Experience developing products for international markets and/or e-commerce platforms, such as Amazon, Shopify, Walmart, or TikTok Shop.
- Experience in Art & Craft, DIY Products, Stationery, Lifestyle & Creative Hobbies, or Home Decor is a strong plus.
- Strong understanding of product development processes, manufacturing, materials, and cost optimization.
- Ability to translate market and customer insights into compelling product value propositions.
- Strong understanding of e-commerce requirements, market regulations, and intellectual property considerations.
- Good English communication skills for working with international partners and reviewing technical and market research materials.
- Certifications in Product Management or Project Management are a plus.
Skills
- Product Development
- Market & Consumer Research
- Project Management
- Data & Business Analysis
- Strategic Thinking
- Leadership & Team Management
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Stakeholder Management
- Customer-centric Mindset
- Creative Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Negotiation
- Presentation & Communication
- Time Management
- Adaptability
- Cross-functional Collaboration
Tools
Experience with the following is preferred:
- Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets
- Notion / Asana
- AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity for research and product development
Compensation & Benefits
- 13th-month salary and profit-based bonus based on business performance.
- Annual performance review and salary adjustment.
- Full insurance coverage upon signing the labor contract.
- PVI health insurance for employees and their family members.
- Comprehensive physical and mental health care policy.
- Annual health check-up.
- 16 days of annual leave plus additional seniority leave.
- 3 remote working days per month.
- Learning and development budget for personal growth.
- Opportunities for skill and professional development through internal and external training sessions.
- Team building twice a year to strengthen teamwork and company spirit.
- Various internal engagement activities: monthly Fridays, Year-End Party, Mid-Autumn Festival, Women’s Day (Oct 20, Mar 8), Men’s Day (Apr 6), and other celebrations.
- Onboarding and Buddy Program throughout the probation period.
