CSC Generation · 11 hours ago
Director, Product Development – Private Brand
Seattle, WA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$140K/yr - $165K/yr
10+ years expCSC Generation is a company that operates Sur La Table, which offers a wide selection of kitchen and table goods. The Director of Product Development for Private Brand will lead the product development vision and strategy, ensuring the private label brand becomes the preferred choice for chefs across the country through innovative product design and effective collaboration with various teams.
AnalyticsFinanceRetailSoftware
Responsibilities
Define and drive the product development vision, strategy, and operating model for private brand, including clear roles, processes, and tools from merchant brief through product launch
Partner with Merchandising, Planning, and other functional teams to build seasonal and long-range line plans that balance innovation, differentiation, and profitability
Continuously evaluate and improve product development workflows, calendars, and tools to increase speed, reliability, and cross-functional alignment
Champion the smart use of AI, automation, and digital tools to accelerate trend discovery, concepting, analysis, and development workflows—and to free the team up to focus on higher-value creative and strategic work
Apply strong change-management skills to introduce new processes and ways of working, build cross-functional buy-in, and ensure durable adoption
Provide clear goals, coaching, and feedback to the Product Development team; build capabilities and bench strength that support future growth
Own the creative direction for Sur La Table private brand product across categories, in partnership with Merchandising, Creative and Brand Marketing: 1) Define consistent design language, naming conventions, packaging approaches, materials, color stories, finishes, and details that express the Sur La Table brand; 2) Lead seasonal concepting and “big idea” development grounded in customer insight, trend, and competitive analysis
Translate merchant briefs (product needs, target retails, margin goals, MOQs, channel strategy) into clear product development roadmaps
Oversee artwork and pattern development with design partners and creative resources; ensure all work is cohesive, on-brand, and ownable
Guide how artwork, color, and design stories are applied across collections and categories to create impactful, cohesive assortments
Partner with Merchandising on line architecture, SKU productivity, and lifecycle management to ensure the right balance of hero items, supporting items, and newness
Build and manage a robust network of manufacturing and sourcing partners across categories and regions
Lead vendor selection and negotiation for new and existing products, including costing, MOQs, payment terms, and development fees
Work closely with partners and factories from initial brief through sampling, revisions, and final approvals, ensuring quality, cost, and timelines are met
Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external experts on lead times, capacity planning, and risk mitigation
Ensure all private brand products meet Sur La Table’s expectations for quality, safety, and regulatory compliance in partnership with appropriate internal and external resources
Lead, mentor, and develop the Product Development team; set clear expectations and development plans that build both creative and operational capability
Balance strategic leadership with a willingness to be hands-on—especially as processes, tools, and structures continue to evolve
Help shape the future-state Product Development organization (e.g., divisional product development leaders, designers, coordinators) and contribute to a phased hiring and capability plan as the business grows
Foster a culture that balances creativity with accountability—where ideas are ambitious, and execution is disciplined
Partner closely with: Merchandising to align briefs, assortment strategies, and product positioning. Creative and Marketing to influence product name, on product branding, packaging, photography, copy, and storytelling for private brand launches. Planning & Finance to ensure development supports financial goals, margin targets, and inventory strategies. Stores, Culinary, and E-commerce to gather feedback from customers and store teams and use that insight to inform future development. Represent Product Development in cross-functional projects related to private brand growth, omni-channel strategy, and brand building
Qualification
Required
10+ years of product development experience in consumer hard goods (home, kitchen, tabletop, small electrics, or similar), including at least 5 years leading product development teams and processes
Deep experience in private brand / own-brand development for a multi-category, multi-channel retailer or consumer brand
Proven success building and/or improving a Product Development function (process design, tools, organizational structures, or operating models)
Strong taste level and design sensibility; able to quickly assess whether a product is on-brand, commercially right, and differentiated. A portfolio or work samples will be requested
End-to-end product creation expertise, including: Trend research and concept development, Line planning and product road mapping, Sourcing and factory/partner management, Cost engineering and negotiation, Sampling, testing, and quality, Timeline and calendar management
Strong analytical and financial acumen; comfortable working with cost models, margins, and business cases to support decisions
Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate with cross-functional partners at all levels, including senior leadership
Curiosity and hands-on experience using modern AI tools to accelerate research, streamline workflows (e.g., communication, documentation, and tracking), and reimagine how product development work gets done—without needing to be a technologist
High comfort level working with partners and vendors across time zones and cultures; ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment with ambiguity and phased change
Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed
Benefits
Paid time off policies
401(k)/RRSP match
Medical/dental/vision
A variety of supplemental policies
Employee discounts at our portfolio companies
Company
CSC Generation
CSC Generation develops a proprietary technology platform designed to save brands from liquidating.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
CSC Generation has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (2)
2024 (1)
2023 (5)
2022 (7)
2021 (3)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
unknown2024-08-27Series E
2021-10-01Series D
2019-01-01Series Unknown
Leadership Team
Justin Yoshimura
Founder, Chairman and CEO
Recent News
2025-07-19
2025-03-28
Company data provided by crunchbase