Product Design & Development Manager

HTrust Consulting; Dubai; On-site; AED 45,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

HTrust Consulting in Dubai, UAE, is seeking a Product Design & Development Manager to transform ideas into commercially viable products. The role covers product design, development, materials, packaging, supplier management, sampling, costing, and production coordination.

You will lead cross-functional teams, work with factories in multiple hubs, and travel as required to ensure brand-aligned products, margins, and timely delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, Fashion, or related field.
• 4–6 years of relevant product design and development experience.
• Experience in beauty/cosmetics, jewellery, fashion accessories, gifting, or consumer products.
• Strong portfolio showing physical products developed or launched.
• Excellent understanding of materials, manufacturing, and packaging.
• Strong project-management, organizational, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Translate ideas into commercially viable products with brand direction.
• Own end-to-end product development from concept to production.
• Develop packaging concepts for retail presentation.
• Collaborate with suppliers and factories in multiple hubs and travel as needed.
• Analyze costs, margins, and target retail pricing.

Skills

Product design

Product development

Supplier management

Costing

Packaging

Sampling

Production coordination

Project management

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Product Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

Our client, a growing consumer-focused business in Dubai, is actively seeking a Product Design & Development Manager who can transform ideas into commercially viable products. The role combines product design, development, materials, packaging, supplier management, sampling, costing, and production coordination.

Location: Dubai, UAE

Package :-4-5K

Product Concept & Design

• Translate product ideas and brand direction into commercially viable products.
• Develop concepts, mood boards, colour palettes, materials, finishes, and product details.
• Research global trends across beauty, jewellery, fashion, accessories, gifting, youth culture, and lifestyle products.
• Identify new product opportunities and contribute innovative product concepts.
• Ensure products are relevant to the target consumer and aligned with the brand direction.

Product Development

• Own the complete product development cycle from idea and concept through design, sampling, revision, costing, approval, and production.
• Create detailed product specifications and supplier briefs.
• Work directly with manufacturers and suppliers to develop products.
• Review samples and manage revisions to achieve the required quality and design standards.
• Check product dimensions, materials, colours, finishes, and construction.
• Ensure final manufactured products accurately reflect approved designs.
• Maintain clear product development timelines and project trackers.

Packaging Development

• Develop packaging concepts alongside product development.
• Ensure packaging is visually appealing, commercially practical, and suitable for retail presentation.
• Consider materials, dimensions, cost, shipping efficiency, and display requirements.
• Coordinate with graphic designers on artwork, typography, and brand elements.
• Review packaging samples and approve final production specifications.

Supplier & Manufacturing Management

• Work directly with suppliers and factories in China, India, and other manufacturing hubs.
• Be willing to travel to manufacturing hubs to meet suppliers and factories when required.
• Source new suppliers and manufacturing capabilities.
• Communicate product specifications clearly to suppliers and manufacturers.
• Negotiate sampling, MOQs, materials, production options, and commercial terms.
• Monitor supplier quality and execution.
• Identify and resolve product-development challenges efficiently.

Costing & Commercial Decisions

• Understand target retail prices and required margins before product development begins.
• Work backwards from target selling price to establish achievable product costs.
• Compare materials and manufacturing alternatives.
• Identify unnecessary costs without compromising product quality.
• Evaluate whether product concepts are commercially viable before proceeding to production.

Knowledge & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, Fashion, Product Development, or a related field preferred.
• 4–6 years of relevant product design and development experience.
• Experience in beauty/cosmetics, jewellery, fashion accessories, gifting, stationery, kids/tween products, lifestyle products, or consumer products preferred.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating physical products personally developed or launched.
• Excellent understanding of product design, materials, manufacturing, and packaging.
• Strong aesthetic judgment combined with commercial awareness.
• Experience dealing directly with factories and suppliers.
• Experience managing sampling, revisions, costing, and production.
• Understanding of margins and target retail pricing.
• Strong project-management and organizational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or similar design skills are an advantage.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.

Key Performance Indicators

• Number of commercially viable new products developed and launched.
• Product development timelines achieved.
• Sample-to-approval turnaround time.
• Percentage of products launched on schedule.
• Target cost and margin achievement.
• Reduction in unnecessary sampling rounds.
• Product quality and consistency.
• Supplier performance and new supplier/material opportunities identified.
• Commercial performance of newly developed products.