Scentbird

Director, Product Development

Scentbird

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Hybrid

Location: New Jersey • New York • United States

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Job Level

Lead

About the role

  • Lead all fragrance and product development initiatives across fine fragrance, car fragrance, home fragrance, and scent diffusion devices.
  • Own the full product development lifecycle from concept, briefing, and benchmarking through evaluation, validation, production readiness, and launch.
  • Create clear product and fragrance briefs that translate brand strategy, consumer insights, and white-space opportunities into actionable development direction.
  • Drive innovation by identifying market trends, competitive opportunities, and white-space concepts aligned with Drift’s brand positioning, customer needs, and subscription model.
  • Lead fragrance submission management, including evaluation, feedback, redirect rounds, and final selection in partnership with internal stakeholders and fragrance suppliers.
  • Manage product testing programs, including fragrance panel testing, consumer feedback loops, functionality testing, efficacy testing, and stability testing where applicable.
  • Oversee development of fragrance diffusion devices and ensure performance, user experience, safety, reliability, and cost targets are achieved.
  • Maintain project timelines, stage gates, and critical milestones to ensure on-time execution across all active development programs.
  • Identify project risks early and proactively drive solutions related to formulation, componentry, testing, regulatory, supply chain, timing, and cost.
  • Own vendor and partner relationships across fragrance houses, formulation labs, test labs, and consultants through regular business reviews and project check-ins.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Creative, Operations, Supply Chain, and external manufacturing partners to align on product requirements, artwork, claims, launch timing, and commercialization readiness.
  • Ensure all product development documentation is complete, accurate, and maintained in internal systems, including formulas, specifications, BOMs where applicable, claims support, test results, and approvals.
  • Manage the collection, review, and tracking of fragrance regulatory and technical documentation from suppliers and consultants.
  • Support product registration, compliance, and market readiness by coordinating documentation needed for launches, updates, and retailer or market requirements.
  • Oversee sample management and organization for all active development programs, including fragrance submissions, component samples, prototypes, standards, and retain samples.
  • Partner with packaging and creative teams to develop copy, artwork input, and product details that accurately reflect formula, claims, and regulatory requirements.
  • Help define development standards, best practices, and scalable processes that improve speed, organization, and execution quality across the department.
  • Mentor and lead product development team members, setting priorities and ensuring strong execution across multiple concurrent launches.
  • Directly manage the Senior Manager of R&D and oversee day-to-day R&D prioritization, performance, and development.

Requirements

  • 10+ years of experience in fragrance and/or consumer product development, with significant experience across fragrance-led categories.
  • Strong experience developing fragrance diffusion devices; device development experience is required.
  • Proven track record managing end-to-end product development from concept through commercialization and launch.
  • Deep knowledge of fragrance development, evaluation processes, supplier management, and product testing.
  • Experience working with fragrance houses, formulation labs, contract manufacturers, packaging suppliers, and regulatory partners.
  • Strong understanding of regulatory documentation and compliance requirements relevant to fragrance and home/car scent categories.
  • Ability to balance innovation, speed, quality, cost, and operational feasibility in a fast-paced environment.
  • Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines simultaneously.
  • Strong communication and cross-functional leadership skills; able to influence internal teams and external partners effectively.
  • Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable building process in a growing business.
  • Strong creative and strategic instincts, with an ability to translate trends and consumer insights into compelling product concepts.
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
  • Passion for fragrance and strong olfactory discernment.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
Benefits
  • Based in the Tri State Area, comfortable with regular travel to partners, suppliers, and warehouse locations.
  • Must have access to a personal vehicle.
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
fragrance developmentproduct development lifecyclefragrance diffusion devicesproduct testingregulatory documentationsupplier managementproject managementconsumer insightsformulationcost management
Soft Skills
communicationcross-functional leadershiporganizational skillsdetail-orientedinnovationstrategic thinkingmentoringproblem-solvingtime managementinfluencing