Director, Product Design

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Los Angeles, CA
165K-185K Annually
3D Printing • Consumer Web • eCommerce • Enterprise Web • Kids + Family • Manufacturing
Munchkin is on a mission to be the “World’s Most Loved Baby Lifestyle Brand” through ingenuity, love, and innovation.
The Role

Who We Are:
WHY Brands Inc., a parent company of Munchkin and Curio Home Goods , focuses on creating, incubating, and growing the next generation of consumer lifestyle brands. Founded in 1990, Munchkin is the leading consumer product company and most loved baby lifestyle brand behind the innovative gear and products for children, mothers and caregivers. Munchkin has sold billions of dollars of products through our key retail partners: Target, Walmart, and Amazon and has global distribution in over 50 countries. Curio, a premium brand of curated collections of home goods, launched in 2023. WHY's vision is to establish an expanding portfolio of innovative businesses that align with its commitment to inventive product design. With over 320+ patents under our belt, we continue to create solutions that leave our customers asking, "how did I ever live without this?" Recognized as #8 on America's Most Innovative Companies list by Fortune Magazine, innovation is the core of our company DNA and has been driving our designs for 30 years!
We lead with our core values and believe that investing in the community is our responsibility. We create opportunities for every child's potential and well-being through the Radiant Colors program, work to create a sustainable future, and in partnership with the International Fund for Animal Welfare have committed to animal conservation. Not only were we honored by LA Business Journal as The Most Sustainable Company of 2022, we were also humbled to be
honored on the 2023 Fast Company's
annual "Brands That Matter" list.
There is no better time than now to join WHY Brands as we embark on our next and biggest growth journey and you could be the next influential leader to play a key role in driving enormous customer-centered value and rapid growth.
What You'll Do:
The Director of Product Design leads new product strategy and enhancements for a new line of modern consumer products. Reporting to the VP of Product Development and Design, you'll lead a team of designers to identify new opportunities, translate those opportunities into product requirements and partner with a top-notch team of designers, engineers, developers, and operation teams to create new products & features.

  • Drive the product strategy and roadmap, leading a team of designers to ensure we achieve our short-term and long-term goals
  • Responsible for ensuring product design is consistent with market trends, business strategy and ensures product quality and efficacy
  • Develop and bring to market new and innovative products
  • Evaluate, analyze, and make recommendations on products, designs, and cost improvements to improve the competitive position of the product and relays this information internally and to overseas operations
  • Assist in creating detailed project plans and assures that the group and each individual has a clear set of goals and objectives
  • Assure that the established goals for Product Development team are accomplished on time and within budget. Any unavoidable exceptions are communicated effectively and timely
  • Reports progress against goals and schedules
  • Assist in formulating budgets. Monitor, control, correct and report expenditures versus approved budget
  • Meets managerial requirements related to Quality Systems and Design Control as well as any other requirement specifically designated by corporate or site policies or procedures. Assures that appropriate steps are taken to identify, prioritize and address quality problems
  • Provides technical leadership and acts as a consultant to Product Development group members
  • Assures that every group member establishes and maintains the technical skill level required to execute the Product Development programs
  • Build a strong relationship with Asia team to ensure smooth transfer of information and proper execution of product design
  • Have a strong sense of manufacturability to streamline the design process
  • Other duties may be assigned


Bring It!

  • Bachelor's Degree in Design Engineering or related field (Electrical, Mechanical, etc.)
  • 10+ years of CPG product design experience with 3+ years of management experience. Experience with electronics and tech devices / components highly preferred
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple cross-functional projects
  • Knowledge across the whole process of developing products from the concept phase through to development, regulatory approval, production and launch
  • Business understanding and knowledge within the entire product lifecycle
  • In depth knowledge within the industry including quality requirements and regulatory requirements
  • Direct management experience with proven ability to train, teach and lead others
  • Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skill. Experienced presenter in corporate context
  • Ability to improve situations with proactive problem solving skills and solution oriented negotiation skills


We Got You Covered!
As a Great Place to Work Certified™ company, we are committed to offering the best to our employees. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, vision, dental, prescription drug coverage, life insurance, AD&D, wellness benefits, generous employer-matched 401(k) plan, Paid Childcare Leave, among other benefit plans. Our total rewards are top of market and includes competitive salary, bonus and opportunities to earn equity. We invest and focus on supporting employee development and growth.
To give our people flexibility, we offer half-day Friday's all year around and provide annual weeklong global holiday closures, giving our people a chance to rest, recharge and spend time enjoying their passions outside of work.
We regularly hold social functions to foster a genuine camaraderie that enhances teamwork. At company-wide events, we take time to recognize the talent and dedication of our people.
Salary range: $165,000 - $185,000 (DOE)
To learn more, visit us at www.munchkin.com , www.curiohomegoods.com, and www.WHYBrands.com.
WHY Brands welcomes and values what makes everyone unique. We're proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All hires to our team are based on qualifications, merit and business needs. We recruit, employ, train and promote regardless of race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, genetic characteristic or any other protected status.
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What the Team is Saying

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The Company
Van Nuys , CA
300 Employees
Hybrid Workplace
Year Founded: 1990

What We Do

Munchkin is one of the most innovative and fast-growing consumer product companies in the world! With over 320+ patents under our belt, we continue to create solutions that leave our customers asking, "how did I ever live without this?" Recognized as #8 on America’s Most Innovative Companies list by Fortune Magazine, innovation is the core of our company DNA and has been driving our designs for 30 years!

Founded in 1990, Munchkin has sold billions of dollars of products through our key retail partners: Target, Walmart and Amazon and has global distribution in over 50 countries. We are industry leaders in design and innovation with over 140 international product and brand design awards in the past 5 years and growing!

We lead with our core values and believe that investing in the community is our responsibility. We create opportunities for every child’s potential and well-being through the Radiant Colors program, work to create a sustainable future, and in partnership with the International Fund for Animal welfare have committed to animal conservation.

After 30 years of being a leader in the baby industry, Munchkin is growing up and expanding our business
reach to even more consumers with the launch of Curio, a highly curated line of home goods inspired by curiosity.

There is no better time than now to join Munchkin as we embark on our next and biggest growth journey moving us into technology focused, higher valued products, and household consumer goods. Munchkin is growing up and you could be the next influential leader to play a key role in driving enormous customer-centered value and rapid growth.

Why Work With Us

We pour our hearts into simplifying life with big ideas for little (and big) hands. We treat everyone like a #1 - both our customers and employees!

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Munchkin, Inc. Offices

Hybrid Workspace

Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.

Munchkin offers different hybrid schedule options. The majority of Munchkin’s employees follow a Hybrid Schedule, where an employee works in the office on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and remote on Tuesday and Friday.

Typical time on-site: 3 days a week
Van Nuys, CA

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