Director, Product Research, Testing & Quality

REI; Washington; On-site; USD 140,000 - 229,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discount

Health benefits

Retirement savings plan

A accrued time off

Job summary

REI is seeking a Director of Product Research, Testing and Quality to lead how we test, validate, and improve our Co-op Brands products. You will guide teams across research, testing, quality, and compliance to ensure every product is safe, durable, and ready for outdoor use.

You will manage Magnusson Lab and Prototyping Shop, shape strategy, build partnerships, and use data to inform product decisions while collaborating with design, supply chain, legal, and retail.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in product creation including research, testing, and quality.
• 8+ years leading teams in technical or product-focused roles.
• Experience working across design, supply chain, and operations.
• Strong knowledge of product testing, safety standards, and quality systems.
• Skilled in setting strategy and using data to inform decisions.
• Broad understanding of standards and systems to support complex work.
• Vision for product technologies, materials, and manufacturing methods.

Responsibilities

• Set strategy for product research, testing, quality, and compliance across Co-op Brands.
• Lead and develop teams in research, test engineering, and quality assurance.
• Manage lab and prototyping operations, including budgets and external partners.
• Develop and enforce seasonal plan for product teams to leverage product specific research methodologies.
• Inspire and protect team competencies in creation of innovative test methods and requirements.
• Foster an enterprise approach to Product Quality function through partnership with strategic leaders.
• Set strategic direction and governance for Product Compliance, ensuring regulatory and safety requirements.

Skills

Product development

Team leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Quality systems

Data-driven decisions

Regulatory knowledge

Product research

Job description

REI is seeking a Director of Product Research, Testing and Quality to lead how we test, validate, and improve our Co-op Brands products. You will guide teams across research, testing, quality, and compliance to ensure every product is safe, durable, and ready for outdoor use.

You will manage Magnusson Lab and Prototyping Shop, shape strategy, build partnerships, and use data to inform product decisions while collaborating with design, supply chain, legal, and retail.