Product Design & Development Manager

Parker Baby Co. | Parker Kids | TallSlim
Seward, NE | Full-Time | Hybrid or In-Person Only

About Us

At Parker Baby Co., we believe business should do more than sell products. Our vision is clear: We nurture and grow strong families.

We design thoughtful, functional products that make life better for parents and families, and we back that vision with action. Each year, we give 10% of our profits to non-profits that strengthen families and communities.

We live by our Core Values:

• Servant Leadership – Puts team success ahead of personal recognition
• Family Focused – Respects work-life balance; treats team members with care
• Have Fun – Creates an enjoyable, positive work environment
• Make it Better – Continuously improves processes, products, and outcomes
• Do What You Say – Follows through on commitments; integrity in action

If this resonates with you, you belong here.

About the Role

We’re hiring a Product Design & Development Manager to own end-to-end product design and development across Parker Baby Co., Parker Kids, and TallSlim.

You will take products from concept to bulk production by leading design direction, supplier execution, costing/MOQ negotiations, sampling, packaging, and production handoff.

You will work closely with our Brand Advisor (who owns product ideation and approves the product roadmap), Brand and Creative Team (branding/graphics support), and Operations Team (production timelines + supplier communications support).

What Success Looks Like

Company-Wide (Across All 3 Brands)

• Products are developed efficiently and on time, without sacrificing quality or functionality.
• Products land at a price point that fits our brand and supports standard keystone economics.
• We continuously improve our lead times across our supply base.
• Existing product lines stay fresh through regular color/pattern refreshes and thoughtful enhancements.

By Brand (Primary Focus)

• Parker Baby Co. (Diaper Bags, Nursery Storage): Launch and refresh high-quality, functional, beautiful products for moms and parents.
• Parker Kids (Bags, Patches, Bedroom Decor): Build products that are durable, delightful, and age-appropriate with strong design cohesion.
• TallSlim (10% of time, nice-to-have): Support tops (primarily t-shirts) with established suppliers; apparel experience is a bonus, not required.

What You’ll Do

• Own Product Development End-to-End: From development kickoff to sampling, revisions, PP approval, and bulk production signoff.
• Lead Supplier Execution: Build strong relationships with factories in China, Cambodia, and India; drive clear communication, accountability, and timelines (including some non-standard work hours).
• Design Direction + Technical Handoff: Translate concepts into clear, production-ready direction (materials, construction, measurements, features, trims, finishes, artwork placement, packaging requirements).
• Costing + MOQ Negotiation: Negotiate final cost and MOQs; ensure economics work before proceeding; partner with leadership when risk is meaningful.
• Improve Lead Times: Identify bottlenecks and implement supplier/process improvements that reduce time from development to landed inventory.
• Packaging + Inserts Ownership: Ensure packaging, instructions, and inserts are correct, compliant, and production-ready.
• Vendor Selection + Sourcing: Evaluate and source new factories when needed to improve capability, quality, cost, or lead time.
• Discontinuations + Refreshes: Recommend discontinuations and run a steady cadence of color/pattern updates and functional improvements.
• Build Repeatable Systems: Create simple, repeatable development workflows, timelines, and documentation.

First 90 Days

• Build strong working relationships with our supplier base and establish a clear communication rhythm.
• Develop deep knowledge of our existing product lines, materials, specs, and quality expectations.
• Get fully aligned to our product roadmap (built through end of 2027) and execute the next set of launches with excellent pace and organization.
• Identify the biggest lead time opportunities and propose a practical plan to improve them.

The Archetype We’re Looking For

This role is for someone who:

• Loves making high-quality functional products for moms and families.
• Has strong product taste and can balance beauty + function.
• Is detail-obsessed in the best way: specs, samples, fit/finish, packaging, and execution quality.
• Communicates clearly across time zones and cultures and can hold suppliers accountable with respect.
• Operates with urgency and builds systems so development gets faster over time.

About You

• High ownership: you take initiative and finish strong.
• Organized operator: you can run multiple product workstreams without things slipping.
• Excellent communicator: clear, concise, supplier-ready communication and internal updates.
• Product craftsmanship mindset: you care deeply about how a product looks, feels, functions, and lasts.
• Negotiation-ready: you can push for better costs, MOQs, and timelines without burning relationships.

Experience & Skills (Preferred)

• 3+ years of product design and development experience (soft goods strongly preferred)
• Experience working directly with overseas suppliers and managing sampling to bulk production
• Experience with costing/MOQs and product feasibility decision-making
• Familiarity with compliance requirements for children’s products (CPSIA experience is a plus; we have internal support)
• Bonus: apparel product development experience (especially tops/t-shirts)

Benefits

We believe in taking care of our people the same way we take care of our customers and community:

• 401k with company match
• Generous PTO
• Paid Parental Leave
• Hybrid option (for qualified candidates; in-office expectation applies)
• QSEHRA health reimbursement
• Paid holidays
• 1 Paid Volunteer Day every year
• Continuing Education Reimbursement

Why Join Us?

This is more than just a job. It’s a chance to:

• Own the products that families use every day, and feel the impact of your work.
• Build long-term supplier partnerships and a world-class development system.
• Help grow mission-driven brands that invest in families and give back meaningfully.

How to Apply

If you’re excited about building beautiful, functional products that serve families, and you want real ownership in a builder culture, please complete the brief application here.