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Associate Director Product Development Jobs in Chicago, IL

OSI Group

Director Product Development - Kettle

Aurora, IL · On-site

$76.06 - $114.09/hr

This role is responsible for directing the activity of the corporate Product Development department in support of organization objectives. This position will work closely with cross functional ...

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All JobsAssociate Product Development JobsAssociate Director Product Development JobsAssociate Director Product Development Jobs in Chicago, IL

Associate Director Product Development information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$75.2K

$168.6K

$251.9K

How much do associate director product development jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate director product development in Chicago, IL is $168,619.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $135,500.00 and $191,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an associate director of product development do?

An Associate Director of Product Development oversees the planning, creation, and launch of new products or enhancements to existing ones. They coordinate cross-functional teams, manage project timelines, and ensure that product strategies align with company goals. This role also involves market research, resource allocation, and collaborating with stakeholders to deliver innovative solutions. Additionally, they mentor junior staff and help drive the overall product vision and strategy.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate director of product development?

To thrive as an Associate Director of Product Development, you need expertise in product lifecycle management, strategic planning, and a relevant degree—often in engineering, business, or a related field. Familiarity with product management tools (such as Jira or Asana), data analytics platforms, and agile methodologies is highly valued, along with certifications like PMP or Scrum Master. Strong leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and problem-solving abilities help drive innovation and align teams toward common goals. These competencies ensure the effective development and launch of successful products that meet market needs and organizational objectives.

What are some common challenges faced by an associate director of product development, and how can they be addressed?

Associate Directors of Product Development often face challenges such as balancing strategic vision with day-to-day execution, managing cross-functional teams, and aligning diverse stakeholder interests. Navigating shifting market demands and ensuring products meet regulatory requirements can also be complex. Success in this role typically involves effective communication, strong project management skills, and the ability to foster collaboration between engineering, marketing, and sales teams. Proactively addressing these challenges helps ensure timely product launches and organizational alignment.

What is the difference between Associate Director Product Development vs Product Manager?

AspectAssociate Director Product DevelopmentProduct Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple product teams, strategic planning, and long-term development goalsManages specific product lifecycle, feature development, and customer requirements
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in relevant field, experience in product development, leadership skillsBachelor's degree, experience in product management, strong communication skills
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with cross-functional teams, often in larger organizationsWorks closely with engineering, marketing, and sales teams on specific products

The Associate Director Product Development typically has broader strategic responsibilities and oversees multiple projects, while the Product Manager focuses on managing individual products and features. Both roles require relevant industry experience and strong collaboration skills, but the Associate Director is more involved in high-level planning and leadership.

Director, Product Development

Glendale Heights, IL • On-site

MJK Connections LLC
Recruiting and Staffing Services • 1 - 10 employees
Learn more about MJK Connections LLCexternal

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Manage and execute MDC's end-to-end product launch process and provide technical expertise to stakeholders and customers.

  • Coordinate with vendor partners and internal departments to support product releases and improve launch efficiencies.

  • Supervise the Product & Pricing team to ensure timely delivery of sampling materials and process improvements.

Job description

MJK Connections is thrilled to partner with MDC Interior Solutions on a highly impactful Director, Product Development role in Glendale Heights, IL.:

Summary

Responsible for overseeing end-to-end project management of MDC's product

launches and providing technical guidance of MDC's portfolio of products to internal

and external users. The role must manage competing priorities and deadlines to ensure

deliverables are executed on time and in alignment with the organization's annual

product launch and maintenance schedule. The Product & Pricing Director drives

stakeholder coordination and management across MDC's array of vendor partners to

achieve swift product-to-market capacity, resource allocation and vendor selection

decisions, and technical and pricing support to the MDC salesforce. Other

responsibilities include oversight of daily pricing activities managed by the Product &

Pricing team, as well as identifying opportunities for continuous improvement across

department operations.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Responsible for managing and executing MDC's end-to-end product launch
  • process and providing technical expertise to internal MDC stakeholders and
  • MDC's customers.
  • Work with MDC's vendor partners and internal departments - including
  • Marketing, Operations, and Salesforce - to support ongoing product releases
  • processes and increase efficiencies with new product launches.
  • Identify technical support needs of MDC's customers -Architects, Designers, and
  • End Users – and develop solutions to provide proactive support.
  • Achieve cost efficiencies in MDC's sample use, including application in sales
  • presentation tools spanning selections, format, replenishment, new rep
  • distribution, sample bags, and portfolio management.
  • Product Launch Management:
  • Manage the timelines and efficiencies for all MDC product launches and make
  • recommendations for the optimal formats for internal and external needs.
  • Provide up-front and ongoing technical support to MDC's customer base and
  • MDC's Salesforce through development, compilation, and/or distribution of
  • relevant resources that may be used on an ad hoc basis, as well as internal
  • training and development tools.

Supervisory Tasks:

  • Supervise Product & Pricing team members (4 full-time staff)
  • Ensure that all product sampling materials and tools are on schedule and work
  • to improve processes and communication.
  • Key Competencies
  • Exceptional project management skills, with proven ability to run multiple
  • ongoing projects with competing priorities and deadlines
  • Strong presentation skills for regular in-person meetings comprising of
  • executive leadership, the MDC salesforce, and other Marketing team members.
  • Outstanding communication skills
  • Keen listening skills
  • Ability to drive process improvements to achieve efficiencies
  • Strong interpersonal abilities
  • Ability to present a complex mix of products in a concise, easy to understand
  • manner.
  • Industry experience, strongly preferred

Qualifications:

  • To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential
  • duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge,
  • skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable
  • individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • Education/Experience:
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.