Product Development and Quality Manager

The Product Development and Quality Manager is responsible for leading end-to-end product development while ensuring product quality, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement across 's product portfolio. This role combines ownership of product design and commercialization with accountability for quality assurance, compliance, and risk management throughout the product lifecycle and supply chain.

The position plays a critical role in delivering safe, compliant, high-quality products that meet customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and business objectives. The role partners closely with Brand, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Operations to ensure seamless execution from concept through post-launch performance.

Inc. is a Canadian digitally native direct-to-consumer brands company. Our mission is to provide branded products of remarkable quality and value that customers love. We earn market share by obsessing over our customers, being relentlessly better, moving fast and doing it right, applying an ownership mindset when solving challenges, and celebrating wins together.

• Competitive compensation, vacation, profit share, and equity package

• 100% employer-paid extended benefits - health and dental

• Employee Assistance Program

• 125% RRSP matching (10% of salary, up to a maximum of $10k/yr)

• Employee product discounts

• Transportation Reimbursement

• Lead all stages of product development from concept validation through commercialization and post-launch improvement.

• Own and maintain product specifications, balancing performance, materials, cost, manufacturability, and durability.

• Coordinate product testing and validation to confirm safety, performance, and reliability.

• Apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and risk assessment methodologies (e.g., FMEA) to optimize designs.

• Drive continuous improvement in development workflows to reduce time-to-market while maintaining traceability and quality.

Quality Assurance and Control:

• Establish, implement, and maintain quality assurance processes across product development and the supply chain.

• Oversee inspections, audits, and testing of materials, in-process products, and finished goods as required.

• Investigate quality issues, non-conformities, and customer complaints, leading root cause analysis and corrective actions.

• Monitor and report on key quality metrics, trends, defect rates, and returns.

Regulatory Compliance:

• Ensure products comply with all applicable Canadian and North American regulations, certifications, and industry standards.

• Maintain documentation required for audits, certifications, and regulatory inspections.

• Stay current on regulatory changes and proactively integrate requirements into product and quality processes.

Supplier and Vendor Management:

• Assess, approve, and monitor suppliers based on quality, compliance, and performance standards.

• Conduct supplier audits, self-assessments, and quality reviews.

• Collaborate with suppliers to resolve quality, compliance, and manufacturing issues.

• Ensure quality and compliance requirements are clearly defined and enforced within supply agreements.

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement:

• Identify and manage risks related to product quality, safety, compliance, and manufacturability.

• Develop and implement corrective and preventive action plans (CAPAs).

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across product development and supply chain operations.

• Maintain and improve SOPs to ensure consistent execution and compliance.

Leadership & Collaboration:

• Lead, develop, and mentor product development and quality professionals.

• Support recruitment, onboarding, and capability development within the function.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Brand, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Operations.

• Communicate clearly across teams to align priorities, share progress, and resolve issues.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Industrial Design, Quality Management, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.

• Professional Engineer (P.Eng) designation preferred.

• Quality certifications (ISO, Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent) are an asset.

• Minimum 5 years of experience in consumer product development, quality assurance, or compliance, including leadership experience.

• Strong understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and product testing.

• Proven experience with quality assurance systems and regulatory compliance frameworks.

• Ability to apply structured problem-solving and risk management tools.

• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret quality and performance data.

• Experience managing suppliers and enforcing quality standards.

• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

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