Director of Product Development - Enesco

Definition of Enesco's Business:

Enesco, LLC is a well-known, recognized international leader in the gifts and home décor industry. Operating under the brand and portfolio trade names of Enesco Gift and Department 56, Enesco is renowned for designing, licensing, producing, and distributing creative, fun, and engaging consumer products. Enesco's portfolio includes some of the most recognized Company-owned brands such as Department 56 and The Original Snow Village, Possible Dreams, Our Name is Mud, Michelle Allen Designs, and Izzy & Oliver, as well as iconic licensed brands including Jim Shore, Disney, Lolita, Etta Vee, Grinch, Harry Potter, Sanrio, and Britto.

With over 60 years of experience, Enesco markets and distributes its products to a wide variety of specialty card and gift retailers, home décor boutiques, national retail chains, and direct-to-consumer retailers through its own dedicated headquarters, field, and in-house salesforces together with international distributors and eCommerce channels in over 50 countries serving markets in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia.

Enesco's international headquarters is located in Itasca, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, with subsidiaries and business units in the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and China.

For more information, visit www.enesco.com

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Position Summary

The Director of Product Development will manage the team that is responsible for sourcing new product ideas & new makers and partnering with marketing to manage the product development process from the concept phase to the post-launch analysis phase. This person will be the primary contact for art direction involving major artists and licensors. Additionally, this role is responsible for the Artwork Review Meeting with senior management.

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities

• Assists in the development of strategic product plans for existing or new brands and lines. Sources new product concepts and themes.
• Directs the efforts of the product development team to produce all new product lines or extensions.
• Directs the art associated with internal artists and external artists/licensors.
• Manages the Artwork Review Meeting with senior management.
• Reviews and approves vendors, product specifications, initial sculpts and final samples.
• Manages the Final Sign Off Review meetings and final approvals prior to launch.
• Manages product development budget ensuring new lines stay within expected time frames, projected costs and meet quality goals.
• Analyze success of product launch with marketing.

Performance Factors

• Executional Capability
• Creativity
• Customer Satisfaction
• Communication
• Innovation
• Change Tolerance

Experience, Competencies, and Education

• A proven record of success in developing lines that meet revenue and profitability goals.
• Must have the ability to source product ideas and product makers.
• A clear understanding of the wholesale retail business is required.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to draw conclusions, make recommendations and present ideas to management.
• Must be persuasive with solid communication capabilities.
• Innovation and the ability to envision new programs, processes and products is strongly desired.
• Demonstrated success in partnering with marketing teams is essential.
• Contacts with international vendors and makers is a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and fundamental computer skills.
• Bachelors degree in marketing, business or related field or equivalent experience.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

• The ability to travel approximately 20% of time. U.S. based and international travel to source ideas and makers.
• Light physical effort equal to frequent lifting or moving of lightweight materials.
• Regularly required to sit or stand, bend and reach.