KAYALI Director, New Product Development & Projects

Description

Who We Are

Fueled by passion, KAYALI was founded in 2018 by beauty mogul and fragrance fanatic, Mona Kattan. Translating to 'my imagination' in Arabic, KAYALI provides a modern fragrance experience inspired by Mona's rich Middle Eastern heritage and the art of layering scents to help you create your mood; where sharing scents is a ritual and smelling good is both an act of goodwill and self-love. Mona collaborates with some of the world's most renowned perfumers and sources the finest ingredients to create unique juices that are infinitely memorable, long-lasting, and cruelty-free. Each luxurious fragrance is an ode to true craftsmanship and tells a special story, from the addictive notes to the multi-faceted jeweled bottles.

Our Mission

To make everyone feel like the diamond they are! To build a global community of fragrance lovers through the power of scent and by providing them with the most innovative & luxurious fragrances, education and sharing our Middle Eastern fragrance rituals with the world.

Summary

The Director of NPD & Projects will own and lead the global product development project management function, ensuring seamless execution across all stages of the product development lifecycle, spanning concept creation, feasibility assessment, development, launch readiness, and post-launch optimization. This leadership role will drive adoption of a standardized Stage-Gate model across all innovation projects, driving speed-to-market, cross-functional alignment, and operational excellence at scale.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & NPD Excellence

• Own and evolve KAYALI's Stage-Gate product development framework, ensuring clear governance, decision-making, and accountability across all phases of the lifecycle

• Define and govern stage gates, including entry/exit criteria, decision checkpoints, and escalation protocols

• Lead the development of the 24-month global launch roadmap, ensuring alignment with brand, commercial, and supply strategies

• Drive continuous improvement of speed-to-market while balancing innovation, risk, and quality

• Act as the central point of accountability for on-time, in-full (OTIF) delivery of all launches globally

Stage 0-1: Concept & Feasibility

• Ensure robust front-end innovation processes, including clear concept definition, consumer insight integration, and strategic opportunity sizing
• Oversee feasibility assessment across formula, packaging, regulatory, and supply capabilities
• Validate business cases (cost, margin, timelines, scale viability) prior to gate approval
• Align cross-functional stakeholders on risk, trade-offs, and go/no-go decisions early in the process

Stage 2: Development & Validation

• Oversee end-to-end development across all projects, ensuring alignment on timelines, KPIs, and quality standards

• Ensure rigorous management of formulation, packaging development, testing, and regulatory validation
• Drive disciplined milestone tracking, risk mitigation, and issue escalation across all active projects
• Build and maintain robust project timelines, ensuring proactive tracking, risk management, and milestone adherence
• Establish clear governance across projects, including stage gates, decision frameworks, and escalation protocols

Stage 3: Industrialization & Launch Readiness

• Lead transition from development to production, ensuring readiness across manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics

• Oversee forecasting, demand alignment, and order placement in partnership with Demand Planning and Regional Markets

• Ensure all launch readiness criteria are met, including operational, commercial, and regulatory requirements

• Drive accountability for OTIF delivery across all launches

Stage 4: Launch & Post-Launch Optimization

• Track launch performance against defined KPIs, including sales, forecast accuracy, OTIF, and operational delivery

• Champion a mindset of innovation, agility, and continuous improvement

• Drive post-launch reviews to capture learnings and inform future pipeline decisions

• Identify opportunities for optimization, reformulation, or lifecycle extension

• Embed continuous improvement across tools, processes, and ways of working to elevate efficiency and scalability

Cross-Functional Orchestration

• Act as the central connector across all functions, ensuring alignment, accountability, and transparency across each stage gate [JD -Direct...dits).docx | Word]

• Lead structured cross-functional forums aligned to stage-gate checkpoints

• Ensure clear communication of risks, priorities, and decisions to senior leadership

Supplier & External Partner Management

• Ensure external partners are fully aligned to stage-gate timelines, deliverables, and quality standards

• Integrate suppliers early in feasibility and development phases to de-risk execution

• Drive accountability across manufacturing and supply partners through industrialization

Risk Management & Operational Excellence

• Embed proactive risk identification and mitigation at each stage of the product lifecycle

• Establish structured "red flag" reporting tied to stage-gate decision points

Forecasting & Launch Readiness

• Oversee launch forecasting in collaboration with Demand Planning and Regional Markets

• Ensure accurate submission of forecasts and timely placement of orders for components and finished goods

• Drive excellence in launch readiness, ensuring all operational elements are aligned ahead of go-live

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead and scale a high-performing NPD & Projects team, ensuring the right structure, capabilities, and resourcing to support business growth

• Set clear objectives, priorities, and performance expectations across the team, driving accountability and ownership
• Coach and develop team members, providing ongoing feedback, mentorship, and career development support
• Foster a culture of collaboration, agility, and continuous improvement, aligned with KAYALI values
• Ensure strong resource planning and workload prioritization across projects to optimize team efficiency
• Partner with People & Culture to attract, retain, and develop top talent within the function

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in New Product Development, Project Management, or Transformation within beauty, fragrance, or luxury consumer goods

• Proven track record of leading complex, cross-functional global launches

• Strong expertise across product development and end-to-end supply chain processes

• Experience building and leading high-performing teams

• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels

• Strong strategic thinking combined with operational rigor and attention to detail

• Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Asana, MS Project, etc.)

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, founder-led, high-growth environment