Product Developer

Wilton's Journey
Wilton is a US heritage brand with a 95-year history in baking and decorating. Now fully integrated into the Dr. Oetker family, Wilton aspires to be the most influential and successful cake decorating brand. Learn more about Wilton at http://www.wilton.com
Job Title:
Product Developer Decorator Tools and Bakeware
Reports to:
Innovation & Technical Product Development Manager
Location:
Naperville/Hybrid
LI Level:
Mid-Senior
Job Summary
Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Innovation & Product Development, this critical role is accountable for developing successful, exciting products that help generate sales and provide consumers with innovative solutions that enhance our users' interaction with our brand. This person has a passion for all aspects of building brands with a consumer centric mindset.
Essential Responsibilities:

• Ownership for new product development within Wilton's decorating tools & bakeware product categories.
• Works closely with the Sr. Manager to align on strategy, project Brief requirements and objectives, and meets launch timing expectations. Plays a key partner with cross-functional teams to develop, and commercialize concepts.
• Manages relationship with external design partners.
• Manages and owns product development process from project brief, design revisions to production ready, working closely with sourcing, marketing, legal, compliance; supporting strategic initiatives of project management (domestic and global).
• Ensures all product design development is grounded in the needs of our target consumers as well as the Wilton brand and current trends.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to better understand consumer insights and pain points, to facilitate product development, and supports Insights & Analytics and Marketing to validate concepts through qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
• Partners on product claims, performance expectations, regulatory, quality issues, and labeling requirements.

Education and Experience:

• BA/BS a must, preferably in a materials engineering-related field
• 5+ years in a related role working with internal teams on new product development of consumer packaged goods, inclusive of product concept, development, and cross-functional collaboration to meet project objectives and requirements
• Experienced working within detailed project management timelines
• Experience & knowledge of Bakeware materials.
• Food experience a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills - excellent team work skill a must
• Ability to analyze and evaluate data to make recommendations and decisions
• Experience in developing conceptual product innovation

• Detail- and process-orientation, with strong project development skills, and a track record of delivering projects on-time
• Comfort working with Global vendor partners for development, inclusive of cultural considerations
• Creative mindset for developing new ideas, products, and assortment options

Physical Demands/Work Requirements:

• Must be able to come into the office following a hybrid model: one day per week minimum with half day Fridays
• Available to travel locally for supplier visits, consumer immersions and test sessions, including production trials, regularly.
• Available to travel domestically for trade shows and conferences
• Must be able to lift 20 lbs.
• Must be able to stand, sit, and walk for extended periods.

Wilton values an engaging in-person work environment with focus on cross-functional collaboration and problem solving. We also recognize the need for workplace flexibility. This is why Wilton offers a hybrid schedule with permanent 1/2-day Fridays.
Wilton is an equal employment opportunity employer. We attract and retain the best qualified people without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, individuals with disability or veteran status as provided by law. Wilton Brands LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.
If you need accommodation to access the information provided on our website, please contact us at 630-810-2416 or send an e-mail to: careers@wilton.com We will be happy to help you!