Vice President of Product Development

Position Overview
We are seeking a Vice President (VP) of Product Development with extensive experience in product management, product development, and business leadership. This role involves leading the company's product development strategy, product innovation, and product lifecycle management to ensure the product portfolio consistently meets customer needs, adapts to market changes, and aligns with long-term business goals.
The VP will be fully engaged in the product lifecycle—spanning market research, product planning, conceptual design, development, testing, launch, and continuous optimization. They will collaborate closely with engineering, operations, sales, marketing, customer service, and senior management teams to ensure product development projects advance according to established quality, timeline, and commercial objectives.
The ideal candidate possesses strong strategic thinking, product judgment, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to translate market demands and customer insights into commercially valuable product strategies and development plans.
Key Responsibilities
1. Product Development Strategy
Formulate the company's mid-to-long-term product development strategy and product roadmap.
Determine product development priorities based on the overall corporate strategy.
Evaluate the existing product portfolio and identify opportunities for product improvements, upgrades, and innovation.
Establish product development standards, processes, and management mechanisms.
Continuously adjust product development direction based on market changes and customer needs.
Advise senior management on product strategy, market trends, and development opportunities.
2. Product Lifecycle Management
Oversee the entire product lifecycle, from concept formation and commercialization to ongoing optimization.
Manage product planning, development, testing, launch, and continuous improvement.
Establish processes and performance metrics for product lifecycle management.
Regularly evaluate product performance, customer feedback, and the competitive landscape.
Determine strategies for product upgrades, expansion, repositioning, or market exit.
Ensure the product portfolio remains aligned with long-term business objectives.
3. Market and Customer Needs Analysis
Research market trends, customer needs, and the competitive environment.
Collaborate with sales, marketing, and customer-facing teams to gather customer feedback.
Translate market intelligence into product development requirements and priorities.
Analyze competitor products, industry trends, and potential market opportunities.
Identify new areas for product growth.
Support product-related decisions using data and customer insights.
4. Product Development Team Leadership
Build, manage, and develop a high-performing product development team. Provide guidance to product managers, product owners, and relevant management personnel.
Define team goals, responsibilities, and performance standards.
Establish mechanisms for talent development, performance evaluation, and career progression.
Facilitate knowledge sharing and the adoption of best practices across product teams.
Foster a product culture centered on customers, quality, and business outcomes.
5. Cross-functional Project Management
Collaborate closely with engineering, R&D, operations, sales, marketing, finance, and customer service teams.
Coordinate resources and priorities across different departments during product development.
Drive the execution of cross-functional product projects according to schedule.
Resolve conflicts regarding resources, processes, and priorities during product development.
Ensure alignment between product development teams and overall corporate operations.
Establish effective communication and reporting mechanisms for product projects.
6. Product Innovation
Drive innovation in new products, services, and features.
Evaluate new market opportunities and potential product directions.
Establish mechanisms for product innovation and proof-of-concept (POC) development.
Integrate customer needs and market trends with product innovation.
Assess the commercial viability of innovation projects.
Balance the speed of innovation, product quality, costs, and market demand.
7. Product Commercialization
Formulate go-to-market strategies in collaboration with sales and marketing teams.
Support product positioning, pricing, and market entry planning.
Ensure alignment between product development plans and commercialization timelines.
Provide product training and relevant materials to sales and customer-facing teams.
Monitor market performance following new product launches.
Continuously optimize products based on sales data, customer feedback, and market performance.
8. Product Quality and Risk Management
Establish mechanisms for product quality management and development reviews.
Identify potential risks during the product development process.
Implement product testing, validation, and quality control processes with relevant teams.
Ensure products meet internal company standards and applicable industry requirements.
Drive the rapid identification and resolution of product issues.
Establish risk assessment mechanisms prior to product launch.
9. Budget and Resource Management
Develop the annual budget for the product development department.
Allocate personnel, technology, project, and operational resources effectively.
Adjust development resources based on project priorities.
Manage product development costs and improve resource utilization efficiency.
Evaluate the return on investment (ROI) for key product projects.
Report regularly to senior management on budget and resource utilization. 10. Senior Management Support
Report product strategy and development progress to the CEO, President, and other senior executives.
Prepare product strategy reports, market analyses, and management presentation materials.
Participate in annual business planning and corporate strategic planning.
Provide expert advice on major product investments and business decisions.
Participate in key strategic projects and corporate transformation initiatives.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements
Over 20 years of work experience in product development, product management, R&D, business management, or related fields.
Over 15 years of experience managing product teams or cross-functional teams.
Experience managing the full product lifecycle, from product planning to commercialization.
Strong strategic planning and business acumen.
Excellent team leadership and talent development capabilities.
Strong cross-functional communication and project management skills.
Ability to make product decisions based on market and customer data.
Ability to prioritize tasks within complex, multi-project environments.

Work arrangement
Yes