Walk-in || Head Product Development

Head of Product Development

A.L. Paper House LLP | Jaipur, Rajasthan

Position

Head Product Development & Sampling

Industry

Home Dcor / Seasonal Dcor / Paper Products & Global Export

Reports To

Director / Business Head / Managing Director

Experience

8–15+ years preferred in product development, sampling, and export-oriented home furnishing, home dcor, lifestyle, gift, packaging, or paper products.

Role Purpose

Lead the end-to-end product development, design, and sampling function, translating buyer briefs, international market trends, design concepts, materials, and commercial requirements into production-ready and commercially viable products. The role will balance design, quality, functionality, cost, manufacturability, and export-market requirements while leading Product Development, Design, and Sampling teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development of new products and seasonal collections for international markets, with complete ownership from concept through commercialization.
• Research international home dcor, seasonal, gift, packaging, and lifestyle trends; translate colours, materials, textures, techniques, and consumer preferences into commercially relevant product concepts.
• Understand buyer briefs, requirements, specifications, and market expectations; present new concepts and development ranges to international customers where required.
• Guide designers and product developers from concept through final approval and ensure buyer feedback is incorporated into subsequent development stages.
• Head the complete sampling and prototype process, including development briefs, dimensions, specifications, material requirements, sample evaluation, modifications, approvals, records, and sampling calendars.
• Work closely with factories, artisans, sampling units, suppliers, production, quality, merchandising, sourcing, and design teams to ensure production feasibility and timely sample delivery.
• Evaluate materials, construction, finishes, manufacturing processes, and product risks; ensure developed products can be consistently reproduced in bulk production.
• Drive costing and commercial development by reviewing material consumption, construction, labour, manufacturing processes, target costs, and cost-optimization opportunities.
• Ensure complete handover to Production after order conversion, including approved samples, costing, product risk analysis, specifications, and buyer commitments.
• Lead and mentor Product Development, Design, and Sampling teams; allocate projects, monitor timelines, sample conversion, performance, and accountability.
• Work with Quality and Production to establish specifications, testing requirements, and quality parameters during development and identify potential risks before bulk production.
• Develop and strengthen suppliers, artisans, sampling units, and manufacturing partners based on capability, workmanship, capacity, and development strength.

Key Deliverables / KPIs

• Timely development and approval of samples against buyer deadlines.
• Sample approval and conversion rate.
• Number of new products successfully commercialised.
• Development-to-production success rate.
• Cost adherence against target prices.
• Reduction in sample iterations and development lead time.
• Product quality at first production.
• New materials and manufacturing capabilities developed.
• Buyer satisfaction and repeat development business.
• Contribution to new collections and export-market growth.

Candidate Profile

• 8–15+ years of relevant experience in product development and sampling, preferably in an export-oriented home furnishing, home dcor, lifestyle, gift, packaging, or paper products business.
• Strong understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, product construction, sampling, and production feasibility.
• Experience working directly with factories, suppliers, artisans, sampling, production, and merchandising teams.
• Strong understanding of international buyer expectations, global trends, and retail requirements.
• Strong commercial and costing awareness.
• Ability to translate creative concepts into production-ready and commercially viable products.
• Strong communication, coordination, leadership, and project-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple product categories and development projects simultaneously.
• Creative mindset combined with strong manufacturing and commercial understanding.