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