Vice President of Product Development

Five Star Recruiting and Staffing; South Bend (IN); On-site; USD 200,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Five Star Recruiting and Staffing seeks a Vice President of Product Development & Innovation to drive the strategic evolution of its product portfolio. Lead R&D, engineering, and product teams from concept to commercialization in a manufacturing/logistics context.

The role shapes the innovation roadmap, champions customer-centric solutions, and ensures alignment with sustainability and regulatory standards while managing budgets and timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Product Design, or related field.
• 10+ years of product development experience, including 5+ years in senior leadership.
• Experience in industrial manufacturing, packaging, logistics.
• Proven success launching products and managing lifecycle.
• Lean Product Development, Six Sigma, Agile experience.
• Strong strategic thinking and communication.

Responsibilities

• Architect and execute a product innovation strategy aligned with market demands and long-term business goals.
• Lead cross-functional teams through ideation, prototyping, testing, and full product launch.
• Manage and mentor engineering and R&D teams, fostering accountability and continuous improvement.
• Identify and integrate emerging materials, technologies, and design methodologies to enhance product performance and sustainability.
• Partner with Operations, Sales, Marketing, and Customer Support to ensure seamless product introduction and market adoption.
• Oversee product development budgets, timelines, and resource planning.
• Direct intellectual property strategy and product lifecycle management.
• Ensure compliance with relevant certifications, safety standards, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Problem-solving

Cross-functional leadership

Lean Product Development

Six Sigma

Agile

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Product lifecycle management

Job description

Vice President of Product Development & Innovation

Job Type: Executive Leadership | Full-Time

A confidential manufacturing and logistics solutions provider is seeking a Vice President of Product Development & Innovation to lead the strategic evolution of its product portfolio. This executive will shape the innovation roadmap, oversee multidisciplinary engineering teams, and drive new product development from concept through commercialization.

Role Summary

This is a high-visibility, high-impact leadership role responsible for building the next generation of load-securement and containment technologies. You will guide R&D, engineering, and product development functions while championing a culture of creativity, technical rigor, and customer-centric innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect and execute a forward-looking product innovation strategy aligned with market demands and long-term business goals
• Lead cross-functional teams through ideation, research, prototyping, testing, and full product launch
• Manage and mentor engineering and R&D teams, fostering accountability, performance, and continuous improvement
• Identify and integrate emerging materials, technologies, and design methodologies to enhance product performance and sustainability
• Partner closely with Operations, Sales, Marketing, and Customer Support to ensure seamless product introduction and market adoption
• Oversee product development budgets, timelines, and resource planning
• Serve as the organizational champion for innovation, leveraging customer insights, industry trends, and competitive intelligence
• Direct intellectual property strategy and product lifecycle management
• Ensure compliance with relevant certifications, safety standards, and regulatory requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Product Design, or related field; advanced degree preferred
• 10+ years of product development experience, including 5+ years in senior leadership
• Strong background in industrial manufacturing, packaging, logistics, or related sectors
• Proven success launching new products and managing full lifecycle development
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and drive cross-functional alignment
• Experience with Lean Product Development, Six Sigma, Agile, or similar methodologies
• Exceptional strategic thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills

What's Offered

• Executive-level leadership role with significant influence on company direction
• Compensation of $200K+ with performance-based incentives
• Opportunity to shape the future of freight securement and sustainability within the logistics industry