Sr. Product Development Specialist

Position Overview

Every great product begins as an idea; a spark of creativity paired with thoughtful strategy and careful execution. In this role, you’ll sit at the exciting intersection of imagination and precision, helping bring unique, high-quality products to life for our casino incentive, lifestyle, and promotional product lines.

As our Sr. Product Development Specialist, you’ll bridge the gap between our current Product Development Specialist and our Product Development & Sourcing Manager. This role is designed for someone ready to take on more complexity, ownership, and decision-making than a junior specialist while still being closely supported by leadership.

You’ll guide products through their entire lifecycle, from the first brainstorming session to the moment they arrive at our warehouse, blending creativity with structure every step of the way. Some days will call for deep focus on retail math, compliance, and costing. Other days will challenge you to conceptualize exciting new products, shape vendor partnerships, and collaborate with teams across the company.

If you thrive on both big-picture thinking and detailed execution, and you find equal joy in brainstorming a fresh product concept and triple-checking a spec sheet, this role was made for you. Think of yourself as part artist, part architect, and part detective — because some of the best products are built with creativity, structure, and a bit of sleuthing to get all the details right.

What You’ll Do

Product Development & Ideation

• Partner with the team to conceptualize and develop new products across several categories including kitchen, outdoors, and bags to name a few, while also supporting the casino incentive and promotional product markets
• Conduct market and trend research to uncover consumer needs, industry shifts, and emerging opportunities
• Develop creative decks that support the themes for programs
• Translate abstract ideas into clear, actionable product specifications that balance design, function, and production feasibility
• Collaborate on design direction, materials, and packaging decisions to ensure products are both cost-effective and visually compelling
• Help create cohesive product assortments and gifting programs that resonate with customers and meet price point targets
• Maintain accurate and organized product information, including specs, samples, and development notes

Vendor & Factory Partnerships

• Act as a point of contact for domestic and international vendors, ensuring communication is professional, respectful, and productive
• Guide factories through sampling, feedback, and approval cycles to ensure on-time, high-quality results
• Assist in identifying and onboarding new vendors, particularly those with expertise in kitchenware, appliances, and high-quality lifestyle goods
• Support quality control and compliance processes, tracking inspections, certifications, and required documentation
• Work with logistics and compliance teams to ensure smooth importing processes and accurate information flow

Project & Timeline Management

• Track and manage multiple product development timelines to keep projects on schedule and within scope
• Organize samples, maintain the sample closet, and assist in preparing the showroom for meetings and presentations
• Monitor progress on open projects, identifying potential issues or delays and escalating when needed
• Maintain clear development records, costing logs, and vendor communications for easy access by the team

Costing & Retail Math

• Review materials, packaging, and freight assumptions to ensure accurate costing
• Support the manager and director in analyzing margins and pricing structures to keep products financially viable and competitive
• Assist in building pricing strategies that strike the right balance between quality, creativity, and profitability

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with marketing, logistics, and sales teams to ensure product details are aligned and communicated effectively
• Build product decks and presentations that highlight product stories using both compelling visuals and data-driven insights

Technology & Process Optimization

• Use internal systems such as Microsoft Office Suite, PIM software, and task management tools to keep projects on track and documentation organized
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes, reduce redundancies, and improve team communication

What You Bring

Required

• 3–5 years of experience in product development, sourcing, or vendor management within lifestyle, kitchenware, appliance, or promotional product categories
• Strong understanding of the product lifecycle, from concept through production, delivery, and launch
• Hands-on experience with both domestic and international factories, including knowledge of importing and compliance basics
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to apply retail math to support pricing and margin decisions
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to juggle multiple projects and shifting priorities
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative, team-oriented mindset
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and comfort using technology to manage workflows

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, Marketing, Product Design, Consumer Science or a related field
• Experience in the casino incentive or promotional product industry
• Familiarity with licensing processes and how they relate to product development
• Knowledge of a variety of product categories, with emphasis on kitchenware, appliances, and lifestyle goods
• Experience with Product Information Management (PIM) or Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems
• Mandarin language skills are a plus

Who You Are

• A creative thinker who also thrives in structure and process
• Excited by the challenge of turning ideas into tangible products people will love
• Comfortable shifting gears between brainstorming, spreadsheet analysis, and vendor calls
• Naturally curious, always learning about trends, new materials, and better ways to do things
• Dependable, detail-oriented, and motivated to help the team succeed
• Someone who values relationships and understands that great partnerships build great products

Why This Role Matters

This role is an essential bridge on our product team, providing depth, balance, and support across projects and people. As our product assortment grows in both complexity and creativity, you will ensure that every product journey, from initial inspiration to final delivery, is seamless, thoughtful, and successful.

And let’s be honest, you’ll also be the person who knows which sample mysteriously disappeared, why the color swatch looks slightly off, and how to untangle the world of compliance paperwork without losing your sense of humor. Because in product development, attention to detail and adaptability aren’t just skills, they’re superpowers.

Suppose you love both the art and science of product development. In that case, this is your opportunity to create meaningful, creative work while growing your skills and contributing to a team that values excellence and a little fun along the way.

‍