Global Product Development Director

Tropic Skincare; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading beauty company in Greater London is seeking a Global Product Development Director to lead the Product Development team across various beauty categories. This pivotal role involves setting global product strategies, fostering innovation, and ensuring a sustainable impact. Ideal candidates will have 15-20 years of experience, deep knowledge of international markets, and a passion for creating exceptional beauty products. The position offers a hybrid working model and competitive salary.

Benefits

Up to 33 days' holiday

Enhanced family leave

Private medical insurance

Generous product allowance

50% discount for family and friends

Free breakfast bar

On-site parking

Qualifications

• 15-20+ years of product development experience in beauty/personal care.
• Demonstrated success in launching products internationally.
• Highly organized and visionary in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the Product Development team across categories.
• Develop product strategies tailored to diverse international markets.
• Champion sustainability in every product launch.

Skills

Leadership

Product Development

Innovation

Sales Dynamics

Customer Behavior Analysis

Job description

This is a career-defining role for an ambitious leader who wants to make their mark on the global beauty industry. As our Global Product Development Director, you'll take the reins at the very start of Tropic's international growth journey. You will lead our Product Development (PD) team across multiple categories from skincare and haircare to makeup, body care, and fragrance, while collaborating with our world-class scientists, designers, writers, and marketeers to deliver breakthrough products. This is your chance to shape the future of a £100m+ business as we expand worldwide. You'll set the global product vision, innovate across categories, and ensure every launch resonates with international markets and makes our customers feel truly amazing in their own skin.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the PD team across all categories, fostering innovation, creativity, and commercial excellence.
• Collaborate with in-house experts, from scientists to designers and marketeers, to deliver world‑class, sustainable, and ethical products.
• Develop product strategies tailored to international markets, ensuring relevance across diverse cultures and customer needs.
• Obsess over our customers, creating products that not only work but also transform how people feel in their own skin.
• Drive commercial success: balance creativity with business impact, ensuring products fuel sales growth and global brand equity.
• Track trends and insights globally to stay ahead of consumer expectations and competitors.
• Champion sustainability, ensuring every product launch is mindful of environmental impact.
• Report directly to the Founder/CEO, playing a pivotal role in Tropic's global leadership journey.
• Drive the global Innovation‑to‑Launch process, embedding data‑led insights and streamlined systems to scale efficiently.
• Champion the digital transformation of our PD platforms and tools to support international growth.
• Influence and align senior stakeholders across regions to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 15‑20+ years of product development experience in beauty/personal care, with proven international market experience.
• Demonstrated success in growing product ranges internationally, from concept through to launch.
• A commercially sharp leader with deep knowledge of sales dynamics, customer behaviours, and global market trends.
• A true innovator with an obsession for creating exceptional beauty products and making customers feel amazing.
• Experience working with marketing to ensure product strategies align with brand and market success.
• A people‑focused leader, able to inspire, mentor, and push a talented NPD team to break boundaries.
• Highly organised, visionary, and resilient in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment.
• Passionate about ethical, sustainable beauty and committed to using business as a force for good.

Employment Details

• Employment Type: Full‑time, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
• Location: Tropic HQ, short walk from Beddington Lane Tram stop, with direct links to East Croydon and Wimbledon.
• Hybrid Working: 4 days in office, 1 day remote.
• Salary: Competitive.

Benefits

• Hybrid working, up to 33 days' holiday.
• Enhanced family leave, private medical insurance, Medicash plan, life insurance (available after a qualifying period).
• EAP through the Wisdom App.
• Generous product allowance and 50% discount for family and friends.
• Access to retailer discounts, Cycle‑to‑Work and Electric‑Car schemes.
• Free breakfast bar, dog‑friendly HQ with a chill zone and pool table.
• On‑site parking.
• Regular social events and plenty of well‑being treats throughout the year.

About Tropic

Susie, our Founder and CEO, started Tropic Skincare as a teenager, selling homemade body scrubs at Greenwich Market to help her mum pay the bills. She sold out on her first day, and the incredible response made her realise she had started something quite special. We still sell that iconic body scrub, and it sits alongside an extensive range of award‑winning skincare and beauty products that have made us one of the UK’s fastest‑growing beauty businesses. Our brand is certified vegan, cruelty‑free and CarbonNeutral®, and our infinite purpose is to create a healthier, greener, more empowered world.

Tropic's Commitment to Equal Opportunities

Tropic is an equal‑opportunity employer. We value every candidate, respect protected characteristics, and never discriminate. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities at every stage of the hiring process. Our selection process focuses on skills, experience, and qualifications to ensure fairness and a great experience for all applicants.

Apply now if you’re ready to join a vibrant team who believes beauty knows no bounds!