Director of Product Development, Wine Storage

Director of Product Development, Wine Storage Wine Enthusiast is seeking a Director of Product Development, Wine Storage to lead the innovation, development, sourcing, and commercialization of our wine refrigerator and wine cellar portfolio. This role will own the product development roadmap from concept through launch, partnering closely with internal industrial design, merchandising, quality, and manufacturing partners to create industry‑leading wine storage solutions. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in hard goods product development, preferably within appliances, refrigeration, consumer electronics, or other technically complex consumer products. We are looking for a customer‑focused innovator who is passionate about developing products that solve real consumer needs while pushing the boundaries of design, functionality, technology, and performance. This individual must be comfortable working directly with international manufacturing partners, factory engineering teams, and external development resources to bring innovative products to market while maintaining high standards of quality, compliance, and execution. The person in this role will be expected to travel to China and overseas 1‑2 times a year for a week to two at a time. Key Responsibilities Own the product development strategy and roadmap for Wine Enthusiast’s wine refrigerator and wine cellar portfolio. Lead the end‑to‑end product development process from concept, design, engineering, testing, and commercialization. Identify customer needs, market opportunities, emerging technologies, and industry trends to develop innovative and differentiated products. Collaborate with industrial design, factory engineering teams, and development partners to translate concepts into commercially viable products. Drive innovation across product features, usability, aesthetics, controls, connectivity, energy efficiency, and overall customer experience. Conduct competitive benchmarking and product evaluations to identify opportunities for innovation and differentiation. Develop product specifications, feature sets, performance requirements, and quality standards that align with customer expectations and business objectives. Champion a customer‑first approach to product development while balancing quality, cost, timing, and innovation. Product Development & Technical Leadership Lead product development initiatives from concept through commercialization, coordinating efforts across industrial design, factory engineering teams, and external technical resources. Oversee product testing, validation, and quality assurance activities throughout the development process. Evaluate new technologies, materials, manufacturing processes, and components to improve product performance and customer satisfaction. Support the development of connected and smart product capabilities, including user interfaces, digital controls, and future technology integration. Ensure products meet performance, reliability, and quality expectations before launch. Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. Factory & Supplier Management Build and maintain strong relationships with domestic and international manufacturing partners. Collaborate closely with factories to improve product quality, cost efficiency, manufacturability, and innovation capabilities. Manage development timelines, tooling investments, sample approvals, and production readiness. Lead supplier negotiations related to product development, tooling, and product cost targets. Conduct factory visits and product reviews as needed to support development and quality objectives. Identify and evaluate new supplier and manufacturing opportunities that support category growth and innovation. Compliance & Regulatory Oversight Maintain expertise in DOE requirements, energy efficiency regulations, safety standards, and product certification requirements related to refrigeration products. Ensure all products meet applicable regulatory and compliance requirements for target markets. Partner with factories, testing agencies, and quality teams to maintain compliance throughout the product lifecycle. Monitor regulatory changes and proactively address evolving requirements. Cross Functional Collaboration Partner closely with Merchandising, Marketing, Creative, Inventory Planning, Operations, and Customer Experience teams to successfully launch new products. Support product positioning, feature prioritization, and go‑to‑market planning. Present development updates, innovation roadmaps, business cases, and project milestones to executive leadership. Serve as the internal subject matter expert for wine storage products, technologies, and industry trends. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Product Development, Engineering, Industrial Design, Business, Supply Chain, or related field. 8+ years of experience in product development, sourcing, product management, or related leadership roles. Experience developing hard goods products, preferably appliances, refrigeration products, consumer electronics, or other technically complex consumer products. Deep understanding of the product development lifecycle from concept through commercialization. Experience working directly with overseas factories and manufacturing partners. Experience managing product costing, tooling investments, supplier negotiations, and development timelines. Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple development programs simultaneously. Strong technical aptitude with the ability to collaborate effectively with industrial designers, factory engineering teams, and external development partners. Knowledge of DOE regulations, energy efficiency requirements, safety standards, and product certification processes. Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required. Preferred Qualifications Experience within refrigeration, appliance, kitchen appliance, or consumer durable industries. Experience managing refrigeration products subject to DOE certification and testing requirements. Experience developing connected or smart products. Mandarin language proficiency is highly desirable. Experience working with manufacturing partners throughout Asia. Passion for wine, hospitality, or premium consumer products. This position offers a flexible hybrid schedule, requiring employees to be onsite at our Valhalla, NY headquarters twice per week minimum , with designated days as a required in‑office day. Our Commitment to You Unlimited PTO, Full Medical, Dental and Vision benefits, 401(K) Match, FSA, Flexible Work Environment, Onsite Gym, Pet Discount Plans, Employee Discount, optional Wine Tasting Class participation, Flexible Schedule, Dynamic and Collaborative work culture. Our Commitment to Inclusion & Equity At Wine Enthusiast, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and do not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status. As part of our commitment to fair hiring practices, we have adopted "ban the box" policies to provide individuals with criminal records a fair chance at employment. We consider all applicants on their merits and qualifications, considering their ability to perform the job. The pay range for this role is: 130,000 - 145,000 USD per year (200 Summit) #J-18808-Ljbffr Wine Enthusiast