Product Manager, Agile Innovation & Strategy

About the position

The Project Manager, Product Development & Packaging for New Ventures leads and executes new product development projects from concept to launch. You will collaborate with other teams, vendors, and suppliers to ensure timely, cost-effective, and high-quality product launches. In this fast-paced role, you’ll help us challenge industry norms and create unique products that don't compromise efficacy or quality for accessibility. Reporting to our Associate Director, Agile Innovation & Strategy for our Consumer Care business, you have experience in beauty product development, knowledge of packaging, supply chain coordination, and project management. Kao is looking for an experienced and strategic project manager to lead projects across 3rd party manufacturers, private formulators, packaging, formulation, finance, testing facilities and QA. As a leader of the team you will lead the scaling of NPD from concept to launch requiring the ability to develop detailed timelines and work with internal and external teams. You need to be savvy in technical solutions and deliver innovation and renovation of key products within different portfolios. This includes optimization projects requiring product formulation, claims validation, regulatory compliance, claims validation and Iso Manufacturing compliance. You will offer creative solutions when issues on constraints arise. Implementing risk mitigation solutions is a must have in this role. Partner with Marketing to leverage and translate consumer insights into product design from concept to launch. You must be willing to travel to Kao USA’s Cincinnati headquarters approximately 4 – 6 times per year to meet important partners. You will travel 20-25% for in-person meetings to visit vendors, labs and team members to manage overall development of projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute new product development projects from concept to launch.
• Collaborate with teams, vendors, and suppliers for product launches.
• Develop detailed timelines for project scaling.
• Deliver innovation and renovation of key products.
• Implement risk mitigation solutions.
• Partner with Marketing to translate consumer insights into product design.
• Manage multiple simultaneous projects.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in project management, product development, and/or packaging within the beauty, haircare, skincare, or personal care industry.
• Knowledge of beauty formulations, manufacturing processes, and packaging components.
• Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., SAP and WERCS).
• Ability to create solutions to external factors that may impede project success.

Benefits

• Healthcare available on the first day of employment.
• 401(k) plus company match.
• 36 total days off (vacation + holidays + sick).
• Remote work environment.
• Friendly and flexible work environment.
• Ongoing development opportunities.