Production Director Jobs in Ridgefield, CT (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

The Director of Product Marketing serves as the leader of a category or group of related categories, responsible for creating growth strategies, shaping innovation roadmaps, driving category performance, and building organizational capability. This role acts as the category General Manager and people leader for the business.

Responsibilities:

Category Strategy & Business Leadership

• Develop and lead multi-year category growth strategies.
• Define where to play, how to win, and where investment should be prioritized.
• Own category roadmaps and strategic portfolio plans.
• Lead portfolio reviews and identify innovation priorities.

Innovation Leadership

• Translate emerging consumer needs into innovation priorities and category growth platforms.
• Build and manage category innovation pipelines.
• Prioritize initiatives competing for resources and investment.

Consumer & Market Leadership

• Establish category learning agendas and research priorities.
• Translate consumer insights and market trends into category-level strategic choices.

Financial & Portfolio Ownership

• Own category P&L performance.
• Establish category pricing architecture and profitability targets.
• Shape investment priorities and resource allocation decisions.

Cross Functional & Enterprise Leadership

• Serve as the strategic connector across Product Development, Customer Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, and Insights.
• Collaborate closely with Asia development teams to align innovation priorities and commercialization plans.

Team & Organizational Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Product Marketing professionals.
• Build organizational capability in consumer-centric innovation, strategic thinking, and financial acumen.
• Develop talent pipelines and succession plans.

Qualifications:

Required

• Minimum 8 to 10 years of progressive experience in product marketing, category management, or brand strategy, with a proven track record in consumer goods or durable products.
• Demonstrated success in leading category strategies and driving innovation-led growth for physical consumer products.
• Deep expertise in consumer insights, usability, user experience, market dynamics, and product positioning for tangible goods.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen, including experience developing business cases, managing P&Ls, and driving portfolio profitability.
• Proven ability to translate consumer insights and ideas into executable strategies and tangible business outcomes.
• Experience managing the full product lifecycle, including concept development, stage-gate or equivalent innovation frameworks, and go-to-market execution.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams, including R&D, engineering, supply chain, and marketing, in global and matrixed environments.
• Demonstrated ability to strengthen innovation capability and ways of working within an organization.
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to distill complex concepts for varied audiences.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, engineering, or a related field required; MBA preferred.

Preferred

• Expertise in innovation frameworks such as design thinking, agile development, or usability testing, specifically applied to physical product development.
• Change management expertise, with a track record of inspiring adoption of new ways of working across functions.
• Commitment to building inclusive teams and fostering diverse perspectives in the innovation process.
• Experience with retailer partnerships, sell-in strategies, and channel management for consumer durables.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leadership and represent category strategies in enterprise planning and executive forums.

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, engineering, or a related field required; MBA preferred.

Skills:

• Strategic vision: Ability to set and communicate long-term category growth strategies for consumer durables.
• Innovation leadership: Expertise in guiding product development and managing innovation pipelines for physical goods.
• Consumer insight application: Skilled at translating consumer and market data into actionable product opportunities.
• Portfolio management: Proficient in optimizing product assortments and managing stage-gate or equivalent innovation frameworks.
• Financial acumen: Strong capability in business case development, pricing strategy, and margin management.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Effective partnership with R&D, engineering, supply chain, marketing, and external partners.
• Human-centered design: Deep understanding of usability, desirability, and real-world consumer behavior.
• Change management: Ability to drive organizational adoption of new ways of working and foster transformation.
• Executive communication: Exceptional storytelling and presentation skills for diverse audiences.
• Agile problem solving: Comfort with ambiguity, rapid prototyping, and iterative decision making.
• Inclusive leadership: Commitment to building diverse, high-performing teams and fostering an innovative culture.

Work Environment

• Working conditions are normal for an office environment.
• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to use a computer keyboard and view a monitor for extended periods of time.
• This role requires on-site presence in the Stamford, CT office Monday through Thursday, with the flexibility to work remotely on Fridays.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
• Generous Paid Time Off programs
• Life and Disability Insurance
• FSA, HSA, and Dependent Care FSA programs
• Paid Parental Leave
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Wellness Programs
• Paid Volunteer Time Off
• Complimentary breakfast and lunch in the Stamford office

About Conair

Conair is a leading international designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded personal care products, small kitchen appliances, cookware, hairbrushes and accessories, cosmetic bags, and travel accessories.

Since its founding in 1959, Conair has built a reputation for innovation, quality, and category leadership. Today, Conair products are sold in more than 120 countries through a portfolio of globally recognized brands, including Conair®, Cuisinart®, BaBylissPRO®, Scünci®, TRAVELSMART® by Conair, and Waring®.

With more than 1,000 patents worldwide and a long-standing commitment to innovation, Conair continues to develop products that enhance consumers' lives while expanding into new markets around the world.

At Conair, we inspire our customers through innovative, high-quality products and iconic brands that make everyday life better.