About the role
Position Overview
The Product Development Specialist / Manager will work closely with local creators, artisans, suppliers, manufacturers, and brands to identify, refine, prototype, and commercialize consumer products that meet market needs and retail standards. The role focuses on transforming product concepts into commercially viable, high-quality products that are ready for retail shelves.
The successful candidate will coordinate product development activities from concept evaluation and design refinement through prototyping, quality assessment, packaging, and commercialization, ensuring alignment with customer expectations, market trends, cost targets, and company objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development and Refinement: Evaluate product concepts and collaborate with creators, suppliers, and brands to improve product design, functionality, quality, and market appeal.
Prototyping and Testing: Coordinate prototype development, product sampling, testing, and refinement to ensure products meet defined specifications and intended use.
Supplier and Creator Coordination: Build and maintain relationships with local creators, artisans, manufacturers, suppliers, and product brands to support effective product development and sourcing.
Quality Assurance: Assess product quality, materials, workmanship, durability, consistency, and compliance with applicable standards and requirements.
Packaging and Retail Readiness: Support the development of appropriate packaging, labeling, product information, and presentation to ensure products are suitable for retail display and distribution.
Market and Consumer Insights: Monitor market trends, customer preferences, competitor offerings, and emerging product opportunities to inform product development decisions.
Costing and Commercialization: Work with relevant teams to evaluate production costs, pricing considerations, scalability, and commercial feasibility.
Merchandising and Category Development: Identify product assortment opportunities and contribute to the development of attractive, competitive, and market-relevant product categories.
Project Management: Coordinate product development timelines, deliverables, supplier follow-ups, and stakeholder feedback to ensure timely product launches.
Documentation and Reporting: Maintain product specifications, prototype records, quality assessment reports, supplier information, and product development progress updates.
Continuous Improvement: Recommend improvements to product design, production processes, packaging, and quality standards based on market feedback and performance.
Qualifications and Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Merchandising, Business Management, Food Technology, Product Technology, or a related discipline.
A minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience in product development, product design evaluation, quality assurance, merchandising, sourcing, or retail category development.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate product concepts and translate ideas into commercially viable products.
Experience working with suppliers, manufacturers, artisans, creators, or consumer product brands is an advantage.
Understanding of product quality standards, packaging requirements, cost evaluation, and retail readiness.
Strong project coordination, negotiation, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple product development projects simultaneously.
Familiarity with the Ethiopian consumer market and local product development opportunities is an advantage.
Working at Confidential
- Private health coverFor you and your immediate family
- 25 days paid leavePlus all public holidays
- Home office budget30,000 ETB to set up your space
- Learning stipendAnnual budget for courses and conferences
- Parental leave16 weeks fully paid, all parents
- Transport allowanceMonthly stipend for commuting days
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