Director, Global Product Development, Innovation & Commercialization – GWW – US

Company:
US2160 Sysco Guest Supply, LLC Sales Territory:
Zip Code:
08873 Travel Percentage:
Compensation Range:
$131,700.00 - $219,500.00
The compensation range provided is in compliance with state specific laws. Factors that may be used to determine your actual rate of pay include your specific skills, years of experience and other factors.
You may be eligible to participate in the Company's Incentive Plan. BENEFITS INFORMATION:
For information on Sysco ’s Benefits, please visit
The Director, Product Development, Innovation & Commercialization leads Manchester Mills’ textile product strategy from market insight and concept development through sourcing alignment, testing, commercialization, launch, and lifecycle performance. This role serves as the bridge between technical textile expertise and commercial growth, translating customer needs, hospitality trends, product performance requirements, sourcing practicality, and cost/margin considerations into practical, competitive product solutions. The Director partners closely with Sales, Sourcing, Quality, Marketing, Finance, Operations, and external customers to support new business wins, customer retention, product innovation, and Manchester Mills’ long-term growth strategy.

35% Product Strategy, Innovation & Commercialization
• Lead the end-to-end product development roadmap for Manchester Mills textile categories, including bedding, bath, filled goods, and related hospitality textile solutions.
• Translate hospitality market trends, customer requirements, guest demand, competitive insights, brand standards, and operational realities into practical product concepts and commercialization plans.
• Own the product development process from opportunity identification, business case, concept, sample/prototype, testing, costing input, customer approval, pre-production, launch, and post-launch review.
• Establish product requirements that balance quality, performance, guest experience, sustainability, price point, margin, manufacturability, and commercial laundry durability.
• Maintain a disciplined development calendar and stage-gate process to prioritize projects, manage timelines, and ensure cross-functional accountability.
25% Customer-Facing Technical & Commercial Leadership
• Serve as Manchester Mills’ senior textile product expert in strategic customer meetings, New Business presentations, RFP/RFI support, brand reviews, trade shows, and customer-sponsored events.
• Partner with Sales leaders as a strategic resource, translating technical product attributes into customer-facing value propositions, including durability, operating efficiency, quality, sustainability, comfort, and total cost of ownership.
• Build trusted relationships with corporate accounts, brand stakeholders, management groups, and internal sales teams by providing credible product expertise and commercially practical recommendations.
• Support customer pilots, property testing, and product trials, ensuring learnings are documented and incorporated into product decisions.
20% Textile Technical Expertise, Quality Standards & Supplier Collaboration
• Define textile specifications and performance standards in partnership with Quality, Sourcing, Operations, and supplier/manufacturing partners.
• Evaluate materials, fiber content, construction, finishes, laundering performance, absorbency, durability, shrinkage, hand feel, colorfastness, and operational practicality for hospitality use.
• Partner with Sourcing on supplier capabilities, costing inputs, sample timelines, manufacturability, and production readiness.
• Ensure product claims, including sustainability or operational savings claims, are supported by appropriate testing, documentation, and cross-functional review.
• Escalate quality, manufacturability, or feasibility risks that could affect customer commitments, launch timing, margin expectations, or brand standards.
10% Market Intelligence, Product Lifecycle & Portfolio Management
• Maintain current kn