Product Development Manager

Calyan Wax Co. is a mission-driven candle company committed to becoming the top 100% soy candle brand in the United States. We are known for our product reliability, exceptional customer service, and unwavering dedication to funding the fight against human trafficking. Since our founding in 2017, we have achieved considerable growth, establishing ourselves as a key player in the soy candle market nationwide.  

The Product Development Manager will oversee the full product development lifecycle, including ideation, market research, prototyping, testing, and product launch. They will identify trends and opportunities through data and consumer insights, ensuring our product offerings meet customer needs and stand out in the marketplace.

This role will also manage ongoing product improvements, monitor the performance of existing products, and provide recommendations based on KPI tracking and analysis. A strong candidate will have experience in consumer goods, an understanding of fragrance or lifestyle products, and a blend of creative vision and operational expertise.

Core Responsibilities:

• Data Analysis 

• New Product Launch
• Project Management 

• Product Testing 

• Quality Assurance 

• SOP Management 

Duties: 

Sales Data Analysis and Market Trend Research 

• Maintaining a pulse on fragrance market trends and competitor offerings. 

• Consistently researching and gaining understanding of fragrance market. 

• Ensuring Calyan’s new product pipeline is on trend and differentiated. 

• Analyzing partner sales data and internal sales data to determine
  development strategy. 

New Product Development 

• Research, development, and testing of new potential products. 

• Initial sourcing of new items with suppliers – setting up new items in inventory system. 

• Creating and managing BOMs for all items in inventory software.  

• Maintaining new product calendar. 

• Developing all new products 12 months or more in advance of launch date. 

• Creating physical prototypes and digital mockups of new products, including designing print-ready labeling. 

• Ensuring all aspects of new product launches are delegated throughout the company and executed at correct times during process. 

• Creating new product/product changes debriefs and leading debrief meetings with Sales and Ops teams to ensure smooth new product launches/successful product changes. 

Shipping Supply R&D 

• Collaboration with Purchasing Manager on developing shipping solutions with partner suppliers that minimize breakage in transit. 

• Creating new shipping supply items in inventory system. 

New Supplier Set Up 

• Seeking out new supplier relationships for current and new raw materials. 

• Ensuring that new suppliers fill out supplier agreements. 

• Handing off new suppliers/products to Purchasing Manager. 

Quality Assurance 

• Consistent testing of products to ensure quality. 

• Ongoing management of every product BOM 

• Troubleshooting consistent negative feedback from customers. 

• Ensuring all products are being produced according to spec and system BOM— collaborating with Production Manager on any process changes to BOMs needed. 

Internal/External Catalog Management 

• Manage company product catalog, ensuring all product data is accurate. 

• Collaboration with Marketing Manager on digital assets required.  

• Manage outsourced catalog designer and printing company. 

• Submitting new product
  to customer’s data software partners. 

Private Label Brand Management 

• Creating and managing private label brands—from concept to production. 

• Business development of private label accounts.  

• Account management of private label accounts.  

SOP Management 

• Ensuring new product development process is documented via SOPs and held accountable. 
  

Qualifications: 

• 5+ years Project management experience; experience working with fragrance products is a plus.

• Self motivated with strong organizational.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to write and execute detailed SOPs. 

• Design experience (ideally Adobe suite and Canva).  
• Willingness to continuously learn and improve skills.

• Ability to collaborate and consistently work cross-departmentally.  

Hours: 

• 40 hours/week
• Position is primarily on-site at our Arlington, TX facility, with some flexibility for off-site deep work once the role is well established.
• Candidates must reside within the DFW Metroplex.
  

Starting Salary: 

• $70,000 - $100,000 

• Compensation will be based on experience level

Benefits: 

• Unlimited PTO 

• 10 paid holidays per year

• 401K Plan – Available after 3 months
• Profit Sharing Plan 

• Health, Dental, Vision Benefits - 60% company/40% employee split (available on the first of the month after start date)  
• Employee Recognition programs

• Employee discount of 50% and free breakfast on pay days!