Product Development Project Manager - LA Based

DedCool, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Vision, and Dental Coverage

401K

Monthly Fitness Reimbursement

Job summary

DedCool, Inc. in Los Angeles is seeking a Product Development Project Manager to own the execution of our new product launch pipeline—from ideation through production handoff to in-market launch.

You will be the connective tissue between marketing, formulation, packaging, sourcing, regulatory, and quality, ensuring launches stay on time, on spec, and on cost. This role focuses on enforcing the stage gate process, maintaining a single source of truth for project status, and flagging risks early

Qualifications

• 3+ years of project management experience in product development.
• Experience managing a high-volume portfolio of concurrent projects against firm, externally committed timelines.
• Expert in project management tools, especially Asana, building timelines and reporting views.
• Direct experience with formulation, packaging, or component sourcing timelines is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Own and administer DedCool's stage gate process end to end—from ideation to launch—acting as the process authority on what “complete” looks like at each gate.
• Escalate to leadership when a gate decision requires a trade-off on timeline, scope, cost, or quality.
• Continuously improve the framework using project data to identify where gates slip and how to fix recurring issues.
• Build and maintain every launch timeline in Asana, coordinating formulation, testing, packaging, and production milestones.
• Maintain the master launch calendar and NPD status tracker as the single source of truth for launch status.
• Confirm briefs and leadership approval before kickoff, then run kickoff meetings with cross-functional teams.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional teamwork

Organizational skills

Communication

Accountability

Process improvement

Tools

Asana

Fulfil ERP

NetSuite

Job description

DedCool is an LA-based functional fragrance brand that empowers all people to smell and feel good through scent. We're on a mission to reshape the way fragrance is defined and experienced. We think everyone should have a signature scent that extends beyond a glass bottle. DedCool brings fragrance into your everyday routine through unexpected mediums—from laundry detergent, to car air fresheners, and pets—so scent becomes a practical, integrated part of your life.

We are a growth-stage startup gaining serious traction, with a strong brand presence and amazing advisors. We're growing quickly, and we'll give you the opportunity to do the same.

The Role

DedCool is looking for a Product Development Project Manager to own execution of our new product launch pipeline - from ideation through production handoff and in-market launch. You'll be the connective tissue between marketing, formulation, packaging, sourcing, regulatory, and quality, keeping a growing volume of launches moving on time, on spec, and on cost.

This role is more than a keeper of dates. You are the owner and enforcer of our stage gate process - holding the cross-functional team accountable to the lead times each launch type requires, confirming that briefs are approved before development work begins, and maintaining one reliable source of truth for where every project stands.

It's a highly cross-functional, detail-driven role for someone who thrives on structure, can manage many concurrent timelines without losing the thread, and knows how to flag risk early rather than let it surface at the worst possible moment.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Own and administer DedCool's stage gate process end to end - ideation, brief approval, concept, formula lock, packaging lock, production handoff, and launch - acting as the process authority on what “complete” looks like at each gate
• Escalate to leadership when a gate decision requires a trade‑off on timeline, scope, cost, or quality - with options, not just a problem
• Continuously improve the framework using project data: where gates slip, why, and what structural fix prevents recurrence
• Build and maintain every launch timeline in Asana, working backward from the in‑market date through all formulation, testing, packaging, component, regulatory, and production milestones
• Maintain the master launch calendar and NPD status tracker as the single, reliable source of truth for launch status across the active portfolio
• Confirm that Marketing has presented the brief and received leadership approval before any project is kicked off, then run a formal kickoff meeting to align the full cross‑functional team on scope, milestones, owners, and known risks
• Run a weekly cross‑functional meeting that keeps every function current on status, decisions required, and upcoming deadlines
• Identify and resolve bottlenecks proactively, escalating to leadership when a timeline or scope decision is needed
• Own sample tracking across every round - lab submissions, packaging and decoration samples, pre‑production and production samples - including logging, distribution, and turnaround of consolidated feedback
• Prepare and present active projects in the weekly Product Approvals meeting, ensuring each sample leaves with a documented decision and clear next steps
• Maintain complete, current specs, BOMs, and system item setup so production handoff is clean
• Ensure testing (stability, compatibility, preservative efficacy, micro, and any applicable safety/claims testing) is scheduled into the timeline from the start, not fitted in at the end
• Flag regulatory risk early enough that reformulation is still a real option
• Coordinate day to day with contract manufacturers and component suppliers on active projects - lead times, MOQs, sample rounds, capacity, and production scheduling
• Partner with sourcing to keep projects tracking to target COGS and margin, flagging cost risk as specs and quantities evolve
• Manage production handoff: approved specs, BOM, artwork, QC standards, and support of the first production run
• Run post‑launch retrospectives to capture lessons learned and feed them back into the process and templates

Qualifications and Skills

• 3+ years of project management experience in product development, ideally in beauty, fragrance, personal care, or CPG
• Proven ability to manage a high‑volume portfolio of concurrent projects against firm, externally committed timelines
• Expert in project management tools, Asana strongly preferred - building timelines, dependencies, templates, and reporting views, not just task lists
• Comfortable working cross‑functionally across brand/marketing, sourcing, quality, and external manufacturing partners
• Excellent organizational skills and calm, clear communication in a high‑volume, deadline‑driven environment
• Willingness to hold peers and senior stakeholders accountable to process without damaging the relationship
• Direct experience with formulation, packaging, or component sourcing timelines - strong plus
• ERP fluency (Fulfil, NetSuite, or similar) including item and BOM setup - strong plus
• Experience building or improving a stage gate process, not only operating inside one - strong plus

Benefits and Perks

• This is a full‑time role with an anticipated compensation range of $100,000 - $120,000 base, depending on experience
• Medical, Vision, and Dental Coverage and 401K
• Monthly Fitness Reimbursement

DedCool is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

DedCool believes in the power of building a diverse and culturally inclusive team. We seek candidates from all backgrounds to join our teams. We're driven to build a workplace based on inclusive behaviors and equitable systems, where all employees can bring their authentic selves, feel engaged, and share their perspectives as a valued member of DedCool.