[Hiring] Product Category Director - Fleece & New Categories @Comfrt

Role Description

We are seeking a highly strategic and product-obsessed Product Category Director - Fleece & New Categories to lead innovation, product development, and execution within a key category at Comfrt. This role owns the end-to-end product lifecycle and partners closely with Design, Creative, Technical Design, Sourcing, and Merchandising to bring differentiated, high‑quality products to market at speed while maintaining the standards that define the brand. This is a hands-on leadership role. The ideal candidate is comfortable rolling up their sleeves and engaging in the details of product development execution while maintaining a high‑level strategic view of category growth and product direction.

Key Responsibilities

• Category Strategy & Product Innovation
  • Own category product vision, roadmap, and long-term growth strategy
  • Identify whitespace opportunities and new product concepts through market analysis, competitive intelligence, and trend research
  • Consistently analyze market trends, fashion trends, consumer behavior, and sales data to inform product strategy and category direction
  • Demonstrate the ability to anticipate emerging trends and translate them into meaningful product opportunities for the brand
  • Continuously identify whitespace across the market, fashion landscape, and evolving consumer needs to inform new product development
  • Maintain strong awareness of fashion trends, cultural shifts, and evolving customer preferences
  • Translate brand vision, customer insight, and cultural trends into product direction
  • Drive innovation that expands the Comfrt product ecosystem while maintaining brand authenticity
• End‑to‑End Product Development Leadership
  • Own the full product development lifecycle from concept through commercialization
  • Develop product briefs and guide product creation from ideation to launch
  • Partner closely with Design to shape product expression and aesthetic direction
  • Lead key development milestones including concept reviews, sampling, fit sessions, and approvals
  • Build and manage product development calendars to ensure timely delivery of product launches
  • Drive development speed and efficiency by identifying creative ways to streamline development processes and accelerate timelines without compromising product quality
  • Bring new product ideas to market quickly by optimizing development calendars and leveraging agile development approaches
  • Demonstrate the ability to develop both complex functional products and trend-driven fashion concepts within disciplined timelines
  • Balance speed-to-market with technical execution, ensuring products meet performance, quality, and brand standards
• Hands‑On Product Execution
  • Work directly with cross‑functional teams and vendors to ensure product development milestones are achieved
  • Engage closely in day‑to‑day product development execution to solve issues quickly and maintain development momentum
  • Partner with Sourcing and factories to ensure feasibility, cost targets, and production timelines are met
  • Balance speed‑to‑market with quality standards and brand integrity
  • Step in when needed to remove roadblocks and keep product development moving forward
• Cross‑Functional Leadership
  • Partner with Merchandising to align category strategy with assortment architecture and commercial performance
  • Collaborate with Marketing to ensure product launches align with storytelling and campaign moments
  • Work closely with Technical Design to ensure product quality, fit, and construction standards
  • Align with Buying and Supply Chain to support inventory strategy and production timelines
• Product Performance & Continuous Improvement
  • Monitor product performance, customer feedback, and competitive activity
  • Use insights to refine future development and expand successful product franchises
  • Identify opportunities to improve development efficiency, product quality, and speed‑to‑market

Qualifications

• 10–15+ years of progressive experience in product development, product management, or category leadership within apparel or consumer brands
• Bachelor’s degree in business, Merchandising, or a related field
• Deep expertise across the full product development lifecycle—from concept and innovation through commercialization and production
• Strong category expertise with a track record of identifying innovation opportunities and scaling successful product franchises
• Demonstrated ability to deliver product on time while maintaining high standards of quality, performance, and brand integrity

Must Have Qualities

• Collaborative: Experience partnering closely with vendors, sourcing teams, and supply chain partners to bring product to market efficiently
• Collaborative by nature — thrives in cross-functional entrepreneurial environments and values partnership across design, merchandising, sourcing, and marketing
• Leadership: Proven experience operating at the Director level or higher within high-growth or global consumer brands
• Hands-on leadership style with a willingness to engage directly in product development execution when needed
• Ability to balance strategic category leadership with the day-to-day operational details required to bring product to market
• Growth Mindset: Possesses a growth-oriented mindset—constantly identifying whitespace, translating insights into opportunities, and building clear strategies to expand the category
• Experience scaling product categories and driving growth across multiple markets
• Creative problem solver who thrives in fast-moving, entrepreneurial environments
• Insight Driven Product Strategist: Highly analytical with the ability to translate market insights, sales performance, and competitive intelligence into actionable product decisions
• Deep understanding of customer: Strong product aesthetic and instinct for translating brand vision into compelling, customer-relevant product
• Deep appreciation for the Comfrt brand aesthetic and customer, with the ability to build product that feels authentic to the brand

Benefits

• Be part of a purpose-driven company that’s shaping the future of comfort and mental wellness
• Work in a supportive, creative environment where your ideas and growth are valued
• Enjoy Comfrt benefits such as generous paid time off, company-covered health insurance, 5% 401k match, and discounts on all Comfrt products!
• Join a passionate team making an impact on exciting projects, all while enjoying the flexibility and collaborative support of a fully remote environment