Product Development Associate Manager

Branch Furniture Inc.; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 63,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Notion

Slack

Google Workspace

Job summary

Branch Furniture Inc. is seeking a Product Development Associate Manager to support the Sr Manager of Product Development in growing our portfolio of office furniture and accessories, focusing on quality, user experience, and on-time launches for both direct-to-consumer and contract lines.

You will manage cross-functional collaboration with design, sourcing, engineering, and international partners, own development trackers, and help optimize costs, tooling, and timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required or equivalent practical experience in product development, sourcing, or production
• Superlative attention to detail and organization with a fast-paced startup mindset
• Deadline-driven with the ability to work independently and prioritize effectively
• Motivated self-starter who anticipates hurdles and communicates risks early
• Passion for defining process, quality, and clear documentation

Responsibilities

• PD Process Ownership: own delivering products and align cross-functional teams on development goals; manage tooling fees and sampling timelines
• Timeline Management: ensure calendar adherence from design to PO placement; manage sample requests and approvals
• Costing: partner with Asia Sourcing and Engineering to drive cost engineering and packaging efficiencies
• Vendor Development: understand vendor capabilities and drive optimal product outcomes within constraints
• Sample + Testing Management: coordinate design samples and ensure compliance testing and on-time PO placement

Skills

Attention to detail

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Notion

Slack

Google Workspace

Job description

Branch is shaking up the $46B office furniture industry to create an office experience for the 21st century: easy, affordable and flexible so you can sit down (or stand) and get to work.

We're based in NYC and backed by investors behind household brands like Quip, Caraway and Peloton. Our founders arrive with experience in partnerships, real estate acquisitions and venture building at leading real estate companies like Oxford Properties, SL Green and Redfin.

We're an ambitious group of problem solvers innovating across software, design and logistics, and we're looking for entrepreneurial teammates who like a challenge.

The Role

We are looking for a Product Development Associate Manager to support our Sr Manager of Product Development in the growth of our portfolio of products with the highest level of quality and user experience. You'll support the departmental organization, development, and launch of beautiful, functional, and accessible office furniture and accessories for both our direct to consumer and contract office furniture product lines.

The ideal candidate is team-oriented and passionate about product. This person is detail oriented, thorough, and committed to seeing products launch on time. They multitask efficiently and effectively while being flexible to accommodate the changing needs of the business. This person has a strong understanding of retail math, product performance requirements, materials, and production processes. The PD associate manager builds strong cross functional relationships by approaching all interactions with a service mindset. This is an independent and self-motivated person that acts as an owner and excels in a fast paced, dynamic work environment. This person is a skilled communicator with experience in solving complex problems through communication with both domestic and international partners.

This is an incredible opportunity to help build the product development function at a category-defining, well-funded, and rapidly growing startup. If you're truly passionate about exceptional product development and want to improve the objects, we interact with for eight plus hours a day, we'd love to meet you!

This role is salaried with a compensation range of $63,000-$82,000 CAD based on the candidate's experience, skills, competencies, and qualifications.

Key Responsibilities

• PD Process Ownership - Owns delivering products and drives cross functional alignment on development goals. Leads weekly PD meetings for both US and Asia teams. Updates development tracker. Communicate accurate information relating to sampling, costing and product details to all cross functional partners and vendors. Tracks, approves, and documents all tooling fees.
• Timeline Management - Drives adherence to all calendar goals: spec out, sample due dates, design approvals, cost approvals, spec sheet validation, and PO placement. Leads communication on sample requests, follow up and troubleshooting timelines. Builds chase T&As as needed.
• Costing - Works hand in hand with Asia Sourcing and Engineering to identify opportunities for cost engineering and packaging efficiencies and implements into development. Communicates and negotiates newness costing based on target margins.
• Vendor Development - In partnership with design and overseas team, develops a deep understanding of vendor capabilities and leverages knowledge to lead the team to develop the best possible product within vendor limitations.
• Sample + Testing Management - Responsible for the day-to-day coordination and tracking of design samples. Drives alignment on product and compliance testing requirements internally and externally to achieve on time PO placement.

What We're Looking For

• 2-5+ years of product development, sourcing, production, or buyer experience - hardgoods preferred, ideally within furniture (retail, wholesale, or contract) but not mandatory
• Bachelor's degree required (or equivalent practical experience in product development, sourcing, or production).
• Superlative attention to detail and organization, bringing a strong sense of ownership and excellence within a fast-paced, rapidly growing startup environment.
• Deadline driven with a bias towards action. Strong ability to work independently, assess tradeoffs, prioritize work, and communicate strategically.
• Motivated self-starter with a thirst to learn; thinks ahead and can identify and navigate hurdles that are inherent to the product development process. Proactively assess risk, raise flags, and resolve issues before they become problems for the larger teams.
• Passion for defining process, implementing quality, and producing clear documentation
• Exceptional written and verbal communication; and experience working with a variety of cross-functional partners and project stakeholders
• Potential domestic and international travel to vendors or tradeshows
• Keen ability to organize and comprehend large sets of data to drive thoughtful and purposeful decision making.

Bonus Points

• Multilingual, Mandarin or Vietnamese
• Proficient with Notion, Slack, and Google Workspace