NPD Director, Breakthrough Innovation, Global Learning & Creative
Job Summary
ACCO Brands is seeking a New Product Development Director to lead Breakthrough Innovation for the Global Learning & Creative portfolio. This role is accountable for defining and advancing enterprise-critical innovation platforms that drive long-term category growth and competitive advantage across global markets.
Responsibilities
- Breakthrough Product Creation (Player-Coach)
- Personally lead the ideation, design, and launch of globally-scoped, platform-level new product programs, from insight through commercialization that drive category growth and strengthen ACCO’s competitive market position across regions
- Identify and articulate consumer, category, and white-space insights across global markets, and translate them into commercially viable, differentiated, and exciting product concepts while defining broader innovation opportunity areas and strategic platforms for future growth
- Operate as a hands-on builder on the most strategic "big bet" programs — not solely through delegation
- Assemble, coach and develop a team of New Product Managers, with a specific focus on building breakthrough thinking capability, insight-driven design, and commercial rigor
- Product Development Execution (Stage Gate + Agile)
- Lead programs through Stage Gate where appropriate, and design Agile or hybrid approaches where speed-to-market demands it
- Partner closely with the PMO (which this role does not own) to drive process improvement, identify speed unlocks, and align governance — without duplicating PMO accountabilities
- Deliver programs on-time, on-budget, and on-financials, with disciplined trade-off management when resources, timing, or scope must flex
- Global Brand Owner & Regional Partnership
- Partner with global brand owners who hold brand equity stewardship for Learning & Creative brands to ensure new product programs are anchored in brand strategy, equity, and long-term positioning
- Lead alignment on program-level innovation priorities and platform decisions across global and regional stakeholders
- Cook up and coordinate with regional Marketing and Product teams to align timing, scope, and go-to-market approach for globally-scoped Learning & Creative launches, maximizing reach and commercial impact
- Build the operating connections, briefing cadence, and decision points required for multi-region launches to be executed cleanly and at speed
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, Industrial Design, or related field; MBA preferred
- 15+ years in product development, product management, or innovation, with a demonstrated track record of personally ideating, developing, and launching commercially successful new products — not solely overseeing them
- Proven experience leading breakthrough or platform-level innovation in consumer products, learning/education, creative/arts, office products, or comparable categories
- Demonstrated experience leading global enterprise-wide product programs, including coordination with regional commercial teams and global brand stewards
- Demonstrated fluency in both Stage Gate and Agile (or hybrid) product development methodologies, with judgment on when to apply each
- Experience establishing or evolving innovation operating frameworks — project prioritization, governance cadence, portfolio visibility, and best-practice codification — in partnership with (not in place of) a PMO
- Proven ability to deliver in resource-constrained, ambiguous environments
- Strong financial acumen, including ownership of pricing strategy, margin optimization, and ROI delivery, with the ability to influence broader investment decisions and long-term value creation
- Advanced ability to translate consumer insight into product design and product design into commercial reality
- Strong leadership communication skills, with the ability to shape and present strategic recommendations to executive audiences
- Track record of building, coaching, and retaining high-performing product management and product development talent — especially developing breakthrough thinking in more junior team members
- Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision plans
- 4% 401(k) match with immediate eligibility and vesting
- Competitive time off, available from the first day of employment
- Parental leave
- Company-paid life and disability benefits
- Critical illness, accident, and long-term care insurance options
- Employee and family assistance programs
Qualifications
About Us
You know our brands. You love our brands. You just may not know they are ours. If you have touched a PowerA® gaming controller, a Five Star® notebook, a Swingline® stapler, a Quartet® dry erase board, or a Kensington® computer mouse, you have touched part of ACCO Brands Corporation. With annual revenues of more than $1.5 Billion, ACCO Brands (NYSE: ACCO) designs, markets, manufactures, and sells branded academic, consumer, and business products globally. The power of our brands, our unmatched global customer reach, and our strategic market strengths put us in a position to achieve global leadership and growth. We're proud of our long history of industry leadership and innovation and are focused on delivering exceptional value to our customers by providing unique, cutting-edge, branded products.
What we offer
Salary Range
$185,000 - $205,000/annually. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and geographical location.
About Us
A company with a pioneering past and a purposeful future. At ACCO Brands, we are united by a common purpose, to empower our consumers to feel good when they work, learn, and play. For more than a century we have developed and nurtured brands that enable people to work with more productivity, learn with more confidence, and play with more enjoyment. We are passionate about a winning culture where we grow together, driving business, professional growth, and success. We invite you to be part of a team that is grounded in a history of category-leading brands and products and focused on positioning our company for the future.
Equal Opportunity Employer
ACCO Brands is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. The company strives to create a winning culture with a leadership promise to provide equal access and opportunity for all to grow, succeed, and contribute to their full potential.