Development Assistant Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Description

Join our team as a Project Manager and take the lead on driving innovative product development from concept to launch. In this dynamic role, you'll keep projects on track, teams aligned, and milestones moving - all while keeping a sharp eye on financial outcomes.

Beyond core project management, you'll dig into product development and product management activities, helping translate ideas into actionable plans and coordinating cross-functional workstreams that bring new products to life. You'll also play a key role in bridging collaboration between our U.S. and Asia-based teams, working alongside overseas vendors and partners to keep communication seamless and timelines on target.

If you're highly organized, naturally proactive, and energized by moving complex projects forward across diverse teams, we'd love to hear from you!

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Demonstrate the Core Values of Comfort Research in daily actions, execution of tasks, and interactions with others.
• Lead end-to-end project management for product development initiatives from concept through launch.
• Build and maintain detailed project timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams, including Product Development, Design, Sourcing, Sales, and Marketing.
• Track project progress and proactively identify risks, delays, or resource constraints.
• Facilitate project meetings and ensure clear communication of priorities, status, and next steps.
• Maintain project documentation, task tracking, and status reporting.
• Ensure projects meet timing, cost, and quality expectations.
• Coordinate development activities between U.S.-based teams, Asia-based teams, and suppliers.
• Support communication with overseas vendors during product development, sampling, and production preparation.
• Help ensure design intent, product requirements, and development timelines are clearly communicated across regions.
• Assist in managing timelines that involve overseas development and sourcing.
• Partner with product development and design teams to help move concepts through development.
• Support product testing, validation, and readiness for production.
• Help coordinate samples, prototypes, and supplier communication during development.
• Assist with product specifications, documentation, and development milestones.
• Work with sales to translate product ideas and briefs into actionable project plans.
• Help create & track product roadmap initiatives and ensure execution aligns with priorities.
• Support launch preparation, including cross-functional coordination and readiness.
• Assist in gathering market feedback, product insights, and post-launch learnings.
• Support the Product Development team in shared goals and initiatives.
• HAVE FUN!
• Other duties as assigned by leadership.

This position is a hybrid role, requiring 3 days per week on-site at our office located at 1719 Elizabeth Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. The remaining workdays can be completed remotely, providing a flexible balance between in-office collaboration and remote work convenience. Candidates should be within commuting distance of our Grand Rapids location.

OUR AWESOME BENEFITS

Here at Comfort Research, we believe that the health and well-being of our Ambassadors and their families is critical to their success in the workplace. Comfort Research offers a generous benefits program that includes:

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) plan that begins accruing upon hire for eligible Ambassadors
• Culture Awards program with opportunities to win cash prizes or extra PTO in addition to company-wide recognition
• Several paid holidays throughout the year
• Employee Assistance Program
• Growing family bonus & extra PTO for new parents
• Referral Bonus program
• 401(k) program with a generous company match
• A variety of health insurance plans with company contributions to premiums
• Dental, vision, and other ancillary insurance coverages available
• Company-paid Short-Term Disability coverage
• Company-paid Life Insurance policy
• Free product allowances & product discounts

WHO WE ARE

Comfort Research is leading the furniture industry in innovative and affordable design and manufacturing. We've listened to the growing demand for quality, modern, leading-edge furniture and have responded with a bang! Today, you can find our products at all your favorite retailers, like Walmart, Meijer, and Amazon (to name a few). But that's just the beginning. We're on our way to realizing our dream of becoming the "Best Known Brand in Furniture," and we're pretty excited about it.

As we've grown, we've continued to be recognized as a Great Place to Work-and we've remained committed to building a positive culture and creating a dynamic, fun atmosphere. We believe in hard work and we live by our core values of: Finding A Better Way, Doing the Right Thing, and Expecting the Best from Each Other and Ourselves. At Comfort Research, the pace is fast, the work is anything but boring, and the result is always more Comfort for All.

Requirements

• 3-7 years of experience in project management, product development, or related roles.
• Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Experience coordinating with overseas suppliers or international teams is a plus.
• Ability to problem-solve and proactively remove roadblocks.
• Familiarity with project management tools (Monday.com, Smartsheet, Asana, or similar).
• Experience in consumer products or manufacturing environments preferred.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Strong communicator and team coordinator
• Comfortable managing a high volume of projects in a fast-paced environment
• Proactive and action-oriented
• Ability to translate ideas into structured plans

Comfort Research is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.