Director of Product Development, Wine Refrigeration

Job description

Your Role in Our Journey Wine Enthusiast is seeking a Director of Product Development, Wine Refrigeration to lead the innovation, development, sourcing, and commercialization of our wine refrigerator and wine cellar portfolio. This role will own the product development roadmap from concept through launch, partnering closely with internal industrial design, merchandising, quality, and manufacturing partners to create industry-leading wine storage solutions. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in hard goods product development, preferably within appliances, refrigeration, consumer electronics, or other technically complex consumer products. We are looking for a customer-focused innovator who is passionate about developing products that solve real consumer needs while pushing the boundaries of design, functionality, technology, and performance. This individual must be comfortable working directly with international manufacturing partners, factory engineering teams, and external development resources to bring innovative products to market while maintaining high standards of quality, compliance, and execution. The person in this role will be expected to travel to China and overseas 1-2 times a year for a week to two at a time. What You'll Be Uncorking Key Responsibilities: Product Development & Innovation Own the product development strategy and roadmap for Wine Enthusiast's wine refrigerator and wine cellar portfolio. Lead the end-to-end product development process from concept, design, engineering, testing, and commercialization. Identify customer needs, market opportunities, emerging technologies, and industry trends to develop innovative and differentiated products. Collaborate with industrial design, factory engineering teams, and development partners to translate concepts into commercially viable products. Drive innovation across product features, usability, aesthetics, controls, connectivity, energy efficiency, and overall customer experience. Conduct competitive benchmarking and product evaluations to identify opportunities for innovation and differentiation. Develop product specifications, feature sets, performance requirements, and quality standards that align with customer expectations and business objectives. Champion a customer-first approach to product development while balancing quality, cost, timing, and innovation. Product Development & Technical Leadership Lead product development initiatives from concept through commercialization, coordinating efforts across industrial design, factory engineering teams, and external technical resources. Oversee product testing, validation, and quality assurance activities throughout the development process. Evaluate new technologies, materials, manufacturing processes, and components to improve product performance and customer satisfaction. Support the development of connected and smart product capabilities, including user interfaces, digital controls, and future technology integration. Ensure products meet performance, reliability, and quality expectations before launch. Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. Factory & Supplier Management Build and maintain strong relationships with domestic and international manufacturing partners. Collaborate closely with factories to improve product quality, cost efficiency, manufacturability, and innovation capabilities. Manage development timelines, tooling investments, sample approvals, and production readiness. Lead supplier negotiations related to product development, tooling, and product cost targets. Conduct factory visits and product reviews as needed to support development and quality objectives. Identify and evaluate new supplier and manufacturing opportunities that support category growth and innovation. Compliance & Regulatory Oversight Maintain expertise in DOE requirements, energy efficiency regulations, safety standards, and product certification requirements related to refrigeration products. Ensure all products meet applicable regulatory and compliance requirements for target markets. Partner with factories, testing agencies, and quality teams to maintain compliance throughout the product lifecycle. Monitor regulatory changes and proactively address evolving requirements. Cross Functional Collaboration Partner closely with Merchandising, Marketing, Creative, Inventory Planning, Operations, and Customer Experience teams to successfully launch new products. Support product positioning, feature prioritization, and go-to-market planning. Present development updates, innovation roadmaps, business cases, and project milestones to executive leadership. Serve as the internal subject matter expert for wine storage products, technologies, and industry trends. The Perfect Blend (What You Bring to the Table) Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Product Development, Engineering, Industrial Design, Business, Supply Chain, or related field. 8+ years of experience in product development, sourcing, product management, or related leadership roles. Experience developing hard goods products, preferably appliances, refrigeration products, consumer electronics, or other technically complex consumer products. Deep understanding of the product development lifecycle from concept through commercialization. Experience working directly with overseas factories and manufacturing partners. Experience managing product costing, tooling investments, supplier negotiations, and development timelines. Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple development programs simultaneously. Strong technical aptitude with the ability to collaborate effectively with industrial designers, factory engineering teams, and external development partners. Knowledge of DOE regulations, energy efficiency requirements, safety standards, and product certification processes. Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required. Preferred Qualifications : Experience within refrigeration, appliance, kitchen appliance, or consumer durable industries. Experience managing refrigeration products subject to DOE certification and testing requirements. Experience developing connected or smart products. Mandarin language proficiency is highly desirable. Experience working with manufacturing partners throughout Asia. Passion for wine, hospitality, or premium consumer products. This position offers a flexible hybrid schedule, requiring employees to be onsite at our Valhalla, NY headquarters twice per week minimum , with designated days as a required in-office days. Our Commitment to You Unlimited PTO, Full Medical, Dental and Vision benefits, 401(K) Match, FSA, Flexible Work Environment, Onsite Gym, Pet Discount Plans, Employee Discount, optional Wine Tasting Class participation, Flexible Schedule, Dynamic and Collaborative work culture. Our Core Values JOY We recognize that our business is not just about numbers, but also about people. As a family business, we honor the importance of our employees’ home lives. We encourage fun, discovery, adventure and health for our teams. EMPATHY We support our employees with patience and understanding, recognizing that work hours represent a substantial percentage of one’s time. We encourage a diverse mindset that helps us better reflect the evolving wine culture. TRANSPARENCY Communication and integrity are the cornerstones of our relationships with each other and our customers. We speak openly about our achievements and challenges, with the goal of helping each other grow. PASSION We’re not just a company; we’re a community. Our job is to enhance the lives of others, making the wine industry and all its offerings accessible and enjoyable. Delighting and educating our consumers is at the core of everything we do. INNOVATION We value those who think outside the box to elevate the company. We celebrate change, appreciating that a nimble culture attracts talent and motivates team members to push the envelope and build our business for the future. COLLABORATION We believe in the power of working together, sharing ideas, and leveraging our collective talents to achieve our goals. We mentor those we lead and surround ourselves with people who drive us to do more than our personal best. Our Commitment to Inclusion & Equity At Wine Enthusiast, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and do not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status. As part of our commitment to fair hiring practices, we have adopted "ban the box" policies to provide individuals with criminal records a fair chance at employment. We consider all applicants on their merits and qualifications, considering their ability to perform the job. Our family-owned company was born from a passion to bring a fine wine experience to the everyday. We believe wine is best shared with others and brings people together. In 2021, Adam and Sybil's daughters Erika Strum Silberstein and Jacqueline Strum were named co-presidents and continue to lead the mission of bringing wine to life. The second generation works together with the collective team to create new and better ways for everyone to explore and enjoy the exciting world of wine, including low-alcohol wines, non-alcohol wines, spirits, and beyond! We hope you’ll join us with a glass in hand. Who We Are Wine Enthusiast Companies is the ultimate source of innovation and information around wine. Founded in 1979 by Adam and Sybil Strum, the family-owned company is composed of Wine Enthusiast Commerce and Wine Enthusiast Media. Wine Enthusiast Shop provides premium wine-lifestyle products, reaching millions of consumers globally via direct mail, an e-commerce site, and a business-to-business division. Wine Enthusiast magazine is an award-winning print publication and online resource that showcases wine news, food trends, and more than 25,000 ratings and reviews annually. Wine Enthusiast events include the annual premier Wine Star Awards gala. In 2024, the company launched a travel division, which includes the Tasting Room Directory and Cork+Compass Travel. Together, Wine Enthusiast Companies is the indisputable hub for everything wine. We bring wine to life.