[Remote] Fractional Head of Product Design & Development

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Free The Sheep is hiring a fractional product design and development leader to guide and execute its product roadmap. The role covers product research and design, supplier and sample development, product pipeline and launch planning, and creating products that support repeat purchases.

Responsibilities

• Analyze our best-selling products, customer preferences, reviews, sales data, and market trends
• Develop new variations of existing products, particularly our Eden Hoodie and related comfort products
• Create new colorways, patterns, prints, textures, and seasonal designs
• Identify opportunities for limited-edition collections, themed drops, and holiday releases
• Explore variations in materials, functionality, fit, construction, and product features
• Balance creativity with commercial potential, manufacturing feasibility, and profitability
• Research and propose new product categories that complement our existing assortment
• Identify opportunities to increase repeat purchases, average order value, and customer lifetime value
• Explore adjacent categories such as comfort apparel, loungewear, blankets, bedding, accessories, and other lifestyle products
• Develop concepts, mood boards, sketches, designs, and product specifications
• Prioritize product opportunities based on customer demand, brand fit, expected profitability, and speed to market
• Turn approved concepts into actionable development projects
• Continuously study successful brands in comfort apparel, lifestyle products, bedding, and adjacent categories
• Identify winning products, popular design trends, emerging categories, and product differentiation opportunities
• Analyze competitor pricing, launches, product drops, customer feedback, and merchandising strategies
• Identify gaps in our assortment and opportunities to introduce products that drive additional purchases
• Present actionable recommendations rather than simply compiling research
• Develop original prints, patterns, graphics, and product design concepts
• Design seasonal, thematic, and trend-driven collections
• Explore opportunities for collectible product drops and coordinated product families
• Collaborate with the team on potential licensed collections and partner-driven designs
• Ensure every design feels consistent with the Free The Sheep brand while introducing fresh ideas
• Prepare clear design files and specifications suitable for production
• Work closely with our existing technical design contractor to create and finalize production-ready tech packs
• Communicate directly with suppliers and manufacturers to translate designs into physical products
• Coordinate sample requests, material selections, print techniques, specifications, and revisions
• Review product feasibility, costs, quality expectations, and production requirements
• Ensure suppliers have everything necessary to begin sampling quickly
• Own the sample development process from initial request to final approved sample
• Proactively follow up with suppliers to minimize sampling delays
• Review samples for quality, fit, feel, functionality, construction, and design accuracy
• Organize feedback and communicate clear revisions to manufacturers
• Coordinate multiple rounds of sampling when needed, with a strong focus on reducing turnaround times
• Maintain visibility into every product's development status, outstanding revisions, and expected delivery dates
• Build and maintain a centralized product development tracker
• Keep track of concepts, designs, tech packs, suppliers, sampling rounds, approvals, costs, and production readiness
• Collaborate with our founders, marketing team, and operations team on a rolling product launch and drop calendar
• Plan product releases around holidays, seasonal demand, marketing opportunities, and inventory timelines
• Identify bottlenecks early and keep development projects moving
• Provide regular, concise updates on what's being developed, what's delayed, and what's ready to launch
• Think beyond one-time purchases and help build reasons for customers to return
• Develop new complementary products, matching collections, seasonal colorways, and limited-edition releases
• Identify opportunities for bundles, gifting, product extensions, and collectible designs
• Use customer feedback and sales performance to determine which products and variations deserve further investment
• Collaborate with the marketing team to develop product concepts that are visually compelling and easy to market

Skills

• 5+ years of relevant experience in consumer product design, apparel, textiles, accessories, home goods, or product development
• Experience taking physical consumer products from concept through sampling and production
• Strong creative design skills, particularly in prints, patterns, colorways, and product variations
• Experience working directly with overseas manufacturers and suppliers
• Familiarity with tech packs, textiles, materials, manufacturing processes, and sample development
• Ability to manage multiple product development projects simultaneously
• Strong commercial instincts and an understanding of what drives consumer purchasing behavior
• Familiarity with direct-to-consumer brands, e-commerce trends, and product launch strategies
• Proficiency in relevant design software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or comparable tools
• Excellent organization, follow-through, and communication skills
• We need preserve most importantly executor qualification? Explicit applicant attribute under section perhaps current role applicant. Heading Who we're looking for and
• Most importantly, you must be an executor. We are not looking for someone who only builds strategy decks, manages agencies, or delegates work. We need someone comfortable designing products, communicating with factories, chasing samples, reviewing revisions, and keeping projects organized
• Experience designing hoodies, fleece products, oversized apparel, blankets, bedding, or comfort-oriented consumer products
• Experience developing licensed merchandise, character-inspired collections, or limited-edition collaborations
• Experience with high-growth Shopify or DTC brands
• Strong understanding of customer retention and product assortment strategy
• Existing relationships with reliable apparel, textile, or home goods manufacturers
• Experience building seasonal collection calendars and limited-edition product drops

Benefits

• Remote.
• Approximately 15–25 hours per week, with flexibility based on development cycles.

Company Overview