Director, Product Development, Beauty

About the Role

The Production Director will own production strategy and execution across the Gap Inc. Beauty portfolio, managing manufacturing operations, vendor partnerships, commercialization timelines, and supply chain readiness from development through launch.

This role sits at the center of Product Development, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Packaging, Planning, Creative, Finance, and Legal to ensure products are delivered on time, within cost targets, and at the quality standards required to scale a best-in-class beauty business.

This individual must combine strategic leadership with strong operational execution and deep beauty industry expertise across formulation manufacturing, packaging production, vendor management, compliance, and commercialization.

What You'll Do

Production & Commercialization Leadership

• Lead end-to-end production execution across all beauty categories including fragrance, bath & body, body care, wellness, gifting, and seasonal programs

• Own commercialization timelines from formula lock through final production and retail delivery

• Build scalable production processes and operational frameworks to support rapid category expansion and growth

• Establish launch readiness governance and milestone tracking across all cross-functional stakeholders

• Drive speed-to-market optimization while maintaining quality and margin standards

Vendor & Manufacturing Management

• Develop and manage strategic relationships with domestic and international manufacturers, fillers, and packaging suppliers

• Lead vendor selection, capability assessments, and ongoing performance management

• Negotiate production timelines, MOQs, lead times, and operational terms in partnership with Sourcing and Finance

• Build contingency and risk mitigation strategies across the vendor network

• Partner with suppliers to drive innovation, scalability, and cost optimization opportunities

Quality, Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure all products meet retailer, regulatory, and quality standards across applicable markets

• Partner with Regulatory and Legal teams to oversee testing, documentation, claims substantiation, and compliance readiness

• Establish QA/QC protocols and escalation processes across the production lifecycle

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action plans for quality or supply disruptions

• Ensure adherence to GMP and industry best practices

Packaging & Supply Chain Coordination

• Partner closely with Packaging Development to align component readiness with production schedules

• Oversee production planning and supply coordination to support launch calendars and replenishment needs

• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Planning teams to manage inventory risk, production allocation, and operational continuity

• Support forecasting and capacity planning for future scale scenarios

Financial & Operational Management

• Own production budget management and support margin optimization initiatives

• Drive productivity improvements, cost savings, and operational efficiencies

• Partner with Finance on COGS management, accruals, and production forecasting

• Monitor operational KPIs including OTIF, lead times, fill rates, defect rates, and production costs

Team & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Build and lead a high-performing production organization as the business scales

• Serve as a key operational partner across Product Development, Brand, Merchandising, Creative, Supply Chain, and Strategy

• Foster a culture of accountability, agility, collaboration, and continuous improvement

• Support executive updates and operational reporting for senior leadership and governance forums

Who You Are

• 10+ years of experience in beauty production, manufacturing, operations, or supply chain leadership

• Strong expertise across beauty categories including fragrance, personal care, bath & body, skincare, or cosmetics

• Experience scaling production operations within a high-growth beauty or consumer products environment

• Proven track record managing complex vendor ecosystems and commercialization processes

• Deep understanding of beauty manufacturing, packaging production, QA/QC, and regulatory requirements

• Experience leading cross-functional operational initiatives and driving process optimization

• Strong financial and operational acumen with experience managing budgets and margin considerations

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting private label and/or vertically integrated beauty businesses

• Experience working within specialty retail, omnichannel, or high-volume consumer environments

• Familiarity with global sourcing and international manufacturing networks

• Experience supporting rapid launch cycles and seasonal innovation calendars