Product Development Manager

ABOUT SHINOLA

At Shinola, we make beautiful, enduring, handcrafted goods that are built to be lived in, worn out, and well-loved.  Our thoughtful craftsmanship, timeless design, and spirited stories inspire our customers to live well, with confidence & joy—in a style that is uniquely their own!  Because we are a growing and evolving company, each employee is a key stakeholder, making decisions every day that directly impact our overall vision and direction. At Shinola, you’ll have the opportunity to make a significant contribution at the start of what we believe will become an iconic American brand.  

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Product Development Manager to join our Product Development team. This role is critical in bringing thoughtfully crafted products to market—on time, at the right cost, and true to Shinola’s design intent. You’ll partner across design, engineering, merchandising, and production to ensure every product reflects our standards of craftsmanship, functionality, and timeless appeal. If you are passionate about building products that can be lived in, worn out, and well-loved, this may be the role for you.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Product Management

• Define product specifications that reflect Shinola’s design intent and craftsmanship standards.
• Review and comment on samples with a sharp eye for detail, ensuring corrections are captured and passed to factories.
• Manage accurate and complete PLM content, AX item creation, and BOM validation.
• Create seasonal and archive line sheets to support cross-functional teams.
• Approve final copy and photo assets to ensure product storytelling is accurate and consistent.
• Conduct market research to identify products that fit both design direction and Shinola’s point of view.
• Equip retail teams with the information they need to share product stories with confidence.

Project Management

• Partner with design, engineering, production, factories, and suppliers to ensure development timelines are met from concept through delivery.
• Manage official pass-off to manufacturing, ensuring QC/engineering teams receive accurate final samples.
• Support purchasing from PO placement through delivery.
• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with vendors to foster quality and accountability.

Product Quality

• Develop products and raw materials that meet Shinola’s high standards of quality, fit, form, and function.
• Research new suppliers that align with Shinola’s values and craftsmanship expectations.
• Partner with merchandising to balance design intent with appropriate price/value positioning.
• Evaluate samples thoroughly and analyze wear testing results to ensure products perform as beautifully as they look.
• Establish clear personalization and product functionality guidelines for retail and distribution partners.

Product Costing

• Partner with merchandising and planning to ensure cost, MOQ, and timing meet business goals.
• Negotiate product and raw material costs to achieve margin targets without compromising quality.
• Maintain accurate and transparent margin calculations at each development milestone.
• Ensure timely and complete RFQs at every stage of development.

Sample Management

• Order, receive, and track development samples with accuracy across factories and stages.
• Maintain a clear sample archive that reflects Shinola’s seasonal storytelling.
• Coordinate sample distribution to cross-functional teams, ensuring they have the tools needed to succeed.
• Manage physical and digital libraries of colors, materials, and components to preserve the brand’s design language.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in business, fashion merchandising, or design (accessories focus preferred).
• 3–5 years of related experience in product development.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with an eye for craftsmanship and detail.
• Proficiency with Excel, PLM, Illustrator, Asana, and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to prioritize effectively and think critically to balance design intent, quality, and profitability.

Note: This job description is not meant to be all-inclusive.  Employee may be required to perform other duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Filson and Shinola are equal opportunity employers. We believe that every employee has the right to work in surroundings which are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination.  It is our policy that all decisions involving any aspect of the employment relationship will be made without regard to race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, veteran and military status, genetic information, political ideology or any other status or characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.  Discrimination and/or harassment based on any of those factors are totally inconsistent with our philosophy of doing business and will not be tolerated.

With regard to applicants or employees with disabilities, the company offers what the law refers to as "reasonable accommodation" to enable a person to perform his or her job.