Research & Development Manager

Description

Lead the Magic Behind Every Creative Experience.

At Stampin' Up!, we don't just develop products, we create meaningful experiences that strengthen community. If you're energized by innovation, inspired by collaboration, and love turning big ideas into beautifully executed products, this might just be your dream job.

Who We Are

At Stampin' Up!, creativity is at the heart of everything we do. For more than 35 years, we've helped people around the world create, connect, and celebrate life's meaningful moments through handcrafted experiences.

Our mission is simple, but powerful.

We create meaningful experiences that strengthen community.

We provide coordinating products that engage customers.

And behind every stamp set, tool, embellishment, and product collection is a team passionate about bringing ideas to life with quality, intention, and innovation.

We care about people first. We act with courage. We better our best. And we own it.

If those values resonate with you, we'd love to meet you.

About the Role

As our Research & Development Manager, you'll lead the talented team responsible for transforming ideas into products our customers can't wait to create with.

This role sits at the intersection of creativity, strategy, supplier partnerships, product development, and leadership. You'll guide the research, sourcing, development, and execution of multiple product lines while helping your team deliver exceptional results from concept through production.

You'll collaborate across departments, build strong vendor relationships around the globe, negotiate strategically, keep projects moving, and ensure every product supports our larger business strategy.

This role isn't just about managing projects.  It's about leading people, building scalable processes, and helping shape the future of our product portfolio.

You'll thrive here if you love solving complex problems, finding creative solutions, and bringing calm, clarity, and confidence to fast-moving environments.

What Success Looks Like

This role is incredibly rewarding, but it's also one that will challenge you in the best ways.

You'll be successful if you enjoy:

• Thriving in a fast-paced environment where priorities evolve and adaptability is essential.
• Leading multiple projects with overlapping timelines without losing sight of the details.
• Navigating high-impact conversations with internal stakeholders and global supplier partners.
• Thinking strategically while confidently rolling up your sleeves to execute.
• Inspiring, onboarding, coaching, and developing a high-performing team.
• Remaining calm under pressure while helping others do the same.
• Optimizing skills, processes, products, and relationships to develop products with efficiency and consistency.

If you're someone who naturally creates order from complexity, embraces change before everyone else, and sees challenges as opportunities to innovate, we think you'll fit right in.

What You'll Do

• Exemplify Stampin' Up!'s core values: We Care About People First, We Act with Courage, We Better Our Best, and We Own It.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop the Research & Development team while establishing clear expectations and accountability.
• Drive the end-to-end product development process, including research, sourcing, development, item setup, documentation, ROI creation, and SWOT analyses.
• Develop scalable product development processes that improve consistency, efficiency, and collaboration.
• Build and maintain strong global supplier partnerships while negotiating costs, lead times, tooling, minimum order quantities, and overall product value.
• Ensure sustainable product cost structures while maintaining exceptional quality standards.
• Partner cross-functionally to evaluate supplier performance and identify future sourcing opportunities.
• Collaborate with Legal and key stakeholders to negotiate contracts and ensure agreements protect the company's best interests.
• Lead multiple concurrent product initiatives while ensuring projects remain on time, on budget, and aligned with overall business strategy.
• Coordinate R&D efforts across multiple product lines and business initiatives.

Requirements

We're Looking For Someone Who...

• Has a bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent experience) with 3+ years of Research & Development experience.
• Brings proven leadership experience with a passion for developing people and building collaborative, high-performing teams.
• Is exceptionally organized and able to balance the big picture with the smallest details.
• Communicates confidently and professionally with teammates, executives, and global supplier partners.
• Can successfully manage multiple priorities, competing deadlines, and changing business needs.
• Is an early adopter of change who embraces new ideas and business direction with enthusiasm.
• Demonstrates initiative, creative problem-solving, sound judgment, and strategic thinking.
• Has experience within the international direct-selling industry (a plus, but not required).

Why You'll Love It Here

• Here's just a glimpse of what makes Stampin' Up! a pretty amazing place to work:
• A wicked-awesome benefits package (go ahead and compare)
• A Friday dress code every day of the week (dust off those jeans)
• Extreme crafting experiences (totally optional...but we highly recommend it)
• Paid personal time off...like, a lot of it (because work/life balance matters)
• Tuition assistance and a 401(k) with company match (future you says thanks)
• A collaborative culture where creativity, innovation, and continuous improvement are celebrated every day

Ready to Help Create What's Next?

If you're excited by the idea of leading talented people, developing products customers love, building meaningful supplier partnerships, and helping create experiences that strengthen community, we'd love to hear from you.

Come help us imagine what's next...and then bring it to life.