Director of Product Development

The Spice & Tea Exchange®

Director of Product Development leading product development for The Spice & Tea Exchange. Overseeing product lifecycle across spices, teas, and related categories.

Posted 5/9/2026full-timeSt. Augustine • Florida • 🇺🇸 United StatesLeadWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop and execute product roadmaps across all core categories including, but not limited to, spices, salts, sugars, teas, blends, candles, honeys/syrups and accessories.
Identify market trends, consumer insights, and franchise needs to drive new product concepts.
Lead ideation and cross-functional collaboration to bring new SKUs and seasonal programs to market.
Conduct in-depth market research and competitive analysis to identify new trends, consumer preferences, and gaps in the market.
Leverage customer and franchisee feedback to inform the product roadmap and drive data-driven decisions.
Partner with franchise owners to pilot new products, collect field insights, and integrate real-time operational feedback to improve product performance and guest experience across diverse markets.
Analyze product performance data post-launch to inform future development cycles and measure success against KPIs.
Manage and mentor a team of Product Category Managers, Coordinators and/or Specialists.
Ensure each category has clear strategy, timelines, and performance goals.
Oversee product lifecycle, from concept to launch to retirement.
Own category dashboards and lifecycle analytics, leveraging POS, e-commerce, and supply chain data to optimize SKU mix, forecast demand, and identify discontinuation or re-formulation opportunities.
Partner closely with Senior Director of Corporate Development to ensure product procurement is aligned with the brand vision and sustained growth plan.
Champion sustainable sourcing, packaging innovation, and supplier transparency initiatives that align with The Spice & Tea Exchange’s brand promise and environmental responsibility goals.
Marketing to align branding, packaging, positioning, naming, and launch campaigns.
Franchise Operations for owner input and sell-in support.
QA & Regulatory to ensure ingredient accuracy, certifications, and compliance.
Oversee timelines, costing, and margin targets for every product initiative.
Drive SKU launches for retail, wholesale, ecommerce, and seasonal programs.
Align product pipeline with production, distribution, and operational capacity.
Ensure products meet brand expectations for flavor, consistency, packaging, and guest experience.
Collaborate with QA on labeling, certifications (organic, kosher, etc.), and ingredient integrity.
Set goals, track KPIs, and report progress to the Senior Director of Corporate Development.
Oversee project timelines, P&Ls, and profitability targets by category.

Requirements

What you’ll need

A bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Food Science, Business Administration, Marketing, or related discipline.
7+ years of product development, category management, or CPG experience (preferably in food, beverage, or specialty consumables) with a minimum of 4 years in a managerial role.
Proven leadership, managing product teams, or category leads.
Strong understanding of consumer trends, sourcing, product lifecycle, and commercialization.
Experience collaborating cross-functionally with marketing, supply chain, and operations.
Excellent organizational, communication, and project management skills.
Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to balance creativity and execution.
Highly organized with meticulous attention to detail.
Adaptable and resourceful in a fast-paced, evolving retail and franchise environment.
Background in gourmet foods, teas, spices, or specialty retail, preferred.
Experience working with franchise networks or multi-channel product distribution, preferred.
Knowledge of regulatory standards and certifications for consumables, preferred.
A passion for high-quality food, tea, and flavor, preferred.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical Insurance
401(k)
Paid time off
Flexible work from home options

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

product developmentcategory managementmarket researchcompetitive analysisdata-driven decision makingproduct lifecycle managementSKU optimizationproject managementregulatory complianceconsumer insights

Soft Skills

leadershipcross-functional collaborationorganizational skillscommunication skillsentrepreneurial mindsetattention to detailadaptabilityresourcefulnessmentoringstrategic thinking

Certifications

organic certificationkosher certification