Director, General Merchandise Product Development

The Kroger Co.; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Kroger is seeking an experienced product development leader to shape the General Merchandise Our Brands portfolio, building and scaling GM product development capabilities in Portland, OR.

You will translate market trends into well-designed, cost-efficient products, lead cross-functional teams with suppliers and factories, and bring seasonal programs and product resets to market on time, with emphasis on safety and quality.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of product development experience.
• Leadership across multiple GM categories.
• Strong expertise in specifications, materials and sampling.
• Experience communicating directly with factories.
• Cost build-up and minimum order quantity negotiation experience.
• Proven people leadership.

Responsibilities

• Product specifications covering materials, construction and performance.
• Style guides and good-better-best product architecture.
• Trend, sampling and development calendars.
• Bottom-up cost estimates across materials, labor and tooling.
• Product safety, regulatory and testing requirements.
• A team of product development professionals.

Skills

Product development leadership

Private brand leadership

Specifications & materials

Factory communication

Costing & MOQs

People leadership

Trend analysis

Job description

Kroger is looking for an experienced product development leader to help shape the future of our General Merchandise Our Brands portfolio.

This leader will build and scale our GM product development capability, translating trend and product concepts into well-designed, cost-effective products that meet quality, safety and performance expectations. The role will lead product development across multiple GM categories and partner directly with suppliers and factory teams to bring seasonal programs and product resets to market on time.

What you’ll lead:

• Product specifications covering materials, construction and performance
• Style guides and good-better-best product architecture
• Trend, sampling and development calendars
• Bottom-up cost estimates across materials, labor and tooling
• Product safety, regulatory and testing requirements
• A team of product development professionals

What we’re looking for:

• 10+ years of product development experience
• Private brand leadership across multiple GM categories
• Strong expertise in specifications, materials and sampling
• Experience communicating directly with factories
• Cost build-up and minimum order quantity negotiation experience
• Proven people leadership
• Experience across domestics, seasonal or housewares, along with product safety and importer-of-record knowledge, will help a candidate stand out.