Research & Development Manager

About the role

Lead, coach, mentor, and develop the Research & Development team while establishing clear expectations and accountability.
Drive the end-to-end product development process, including research, sourcing, development, item setup, documentation, ROI creation, and SWOT analyses.
Build and maintain strong global supplier partnerships while negotiating costs, lead times, tooling, minimum order quantities, and overall product value.
Ensure sustainable product cost structures while maintaining exceptional quality standards.
Partner cross-functionally to evaluate supplier performance and identify future sourcing opportunities.
Collaborate with Legal and key stakeholders to negotiate contracts and ensure agreements protect the company's best interests.
Lead multiple concurrent product initiatives while ensuring projects remain on time, on budget, and aligned with overall business strategy.
Capture and coordinate R&D efforts across multiple product lines and business initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Exemplify Stampin' Up!'s core values: We Care About People First, We Act with Courage, We Better Our Best, and We Own It.
• Drive the end-to-end product development process, including research, sourcing, development, item setup, documentation, ROI creation, and SWOT analyses.
• Build and maintain strong global supplier partnerships while negotiating costs, lead times, tooling, minimum order quantities, and overall product value.
• Ensure sustainable product cost structures while maintaining exceptional quality standards.
• Partner cross-functionally to evaluate supplier performance and identify future sourcing opportunities.
• Collaborate with Legal and key stakeholders to negotiate contracts and ensure agreements protect the company's best interests.
• Lead multiple concurrent product initiatives while ensuring projects remain on time, on budget, and aligned with overall business strategy.
• Capture and coordinate R&D efforts across multiple product lines and business initiatives.

Requirements

• Has a bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent experience) with 3+ years of Research & Development experience.
• Bridges the gap between creativity and strategy, collaborating with suppliers and developing products that customers can't wait to create with.
• Brings proven leadership experience with a passion for developing people and building collaborative, high-performing teams.
• Is exceptionally organized and able to balance the big picture with the smallest details.
• Communicates confidently and professionally with teammates, executives, and global supplier partners.
• Successfully manages multiple priorities, competing deadlines, and changing business needs.
• Is an early adopter of change who embraces new ideas and business direction with enthusiasm.
• Demonstrates initiative, creative problem-solving, sound judgment, and strategic thinking.
• Has experience within the international direct-selling industry (a plus, but not required).