Director, Product Development & Design - Seasonal, Secondaries, Human & Collabs

Petco; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 166,000 - 249,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401K

Paid time off

Job summary

Petco is seeking a Director of Owned Brands Product Development to lead the end-to-end development of private-label assortments. You will own the product lifecycle from concept to commercialization across multiple categories, ensuring alignment with brand strategy, quality, cost targets, and customer needs.

You will collaborate with design, sourcing, merchandising, planning, marketing, and QA teams to bring exclusive products to life that differentiate the brand and drive loyalty.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in product development, merchandising, or sourcing.
• Proven success in launching and scaling private label or exclusive brand assortments.
• Strong understanding of the product development lifecycle, materials, costing, and supplier management.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and partnering closely with design, sourcing, and merchandising.

Responsibilities

• Lead the owned brand product pipeline aligned to consumer trends and brand positioning.
• Oversee end-to-end lifecycle from concept through commercialization with cross-functional partners.
• Collaborate with design, sourcing, merchandising, marketing, and QA to bring exclusive products to life.
• Build and lead a high-performing team of product managers and manage key vendor relationships.
• Drive margin improvement and cost optimization through strategic line architecture and negotiations.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Strategic thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Product Development, Business, or related field

Job description

Want to help pets live their best lives?

We’re proud to be where the pets go and where the pet people go. If you want to make a real difference, create an exciting career path, feel welcome to be your whole self and nurture your wellbeing, Petco is the place for you.

Our core values capture that spirit as we work to improve lives by doing what’s right for pets and people.

• Pet First – Protect & Empower. All pets should Live their Best Life. We put the needs of pets and pet parents at the center of everything we do.
• Foster the Fun – Connect & Bond. Our Passion for pets brings us together! We celebrate the journey of pet parenthood through district experiences, products, and services.
• Let’s Go! Own & Commit. We are stronger as One Petco team. We bring our unique superpowers and champion authenticity in everyone to drive success.

About Petco

We’re proud to be "where the pets go" to find everything they need to live their best lives for more than 60 years — from their favorite meals and toys, to trusted supplies and expert support from people who get it, because we live it. We believe in the universal truths of pet parenthood — the boundless boops, missing slippers, late night zoomies and everything in between. And we’re here for it. Every tail wag, every vet visit, every step of the way. We are 29,000+ strong and together we nurture the pet-human bond in more than 1,500 Petco stores across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics and eight distribution centers. In 1999, we founded Petco Love. Together, we support thousands of local animal welfare groups nationwide and have helped find homes for approximately 7 million animals through in-store adoption events.

About The Role

We are seeking a strategic, consumer-obsessed Director of Owned Brands Product Development to lead the end-to-end development of innovative, trend-right, high-performing private-label assortments. This role will own the product creation lifecycle—from concept through commercialization—across multiple categories, ensuring alignment with brand strategy, quality, cost targets, and customer needs.

As a key cross-functional leader, you will collaborate with design, sourcing, merchandising, planning, marketing, and quality assurance teams to bring exclusive products to life that differentiate the brand and drive customer loyalty.

Key Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Leadership

• Lead the development of the owned brand product pipeline aligned to consumer trends, category growth, and strategic brand positioning.
• Translate customer insights, market research, and competitive intelligence into product roadmaps and seasonal strategies.
• Partner with brand and merchandising leaders to define brand identity, tiering, and value proposition across categories.

Product Development Lifecycle

• Oversee the end-to-end product development process from concept through final approval, including briefs, line reviews, fit sessions, and commercialization.
• Partner with sourcing and design teams to ensure products meet quality, cost, sustainability, and timeline targets.
• Manage seasonal development calendars and ensure milestone alignment across all stakeholders.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Design, Merchandising, Sourcing, Marketing, Packaging, and Store Operations to ensure cohesive go-to-market execution.
• Influence assortment planning, packaging design, and retail presentation to drive a consistent and differentiated brand experience.

Team & Vendor Management

• Build and lead a high-performing team of product managers and developers; foster a culture of innovation, ownership, and speed-to-market.
• Manage key vendor relationships, ensuring effective communication, development efficiency, and compliance with brand standards.

Operational Excellence

• Drive product line efficiency and margin improvements through smart line architecture, costing strategies, and vendor negotiations.
• Monitor KPIs including sell-through, returns, product quality, and customer feedback to inform continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in product development, merchandising, or sourcing within retail or consumer goods.
• Proven success in launching and scaling private label or exclusive brand assortments across multiple product categories.
• Strong understanding of the product development lifecycle, materials, costing, and supplier management.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and partnering closely with design, sourcing, and merchandising.
• Exceptional organizational and communication skills; able to influence at all levels.
• Strong analytical acumen and a passion for delivering customer-centric products.
• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Product Development, Business, or related field; MBA a plus

#CORP

Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Salary Range: $166,300.00 - $249,400.00

Hourly or Salary Range will be reflected above. For a more detailed overview of Petco Total Rewards, including health and financial benefits, 401K, incentives, and PTO - see https://careers.petco.com/us/en/key-benefits

Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.

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