Product Development Manager - Absorbent Hygiene Products

For more than 35 years, The company has grown from a small, family-owned business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania, into a group of companies employing over 5,000 team members across the U.S. and Canada. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and eight manufacturing campuses, we produce high-quality personal care and household products for major retailers and healthcare organizations. Our portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, dishwashing solutions, and various raw materials including flexible print and packaging solutions.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Product Development Manager for our Retail Services division in Lewistown, PA, which manufactures adult incontinence protective underwear and feminine pads for our retail partners. This role is responsible for leading the development of new products, improving existing products, and identifying technologies that enhance product performance and consumer satisfaction.

The Product Development Manager works closely with Business Units, Operations, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Marketing, suppliers, and customers to ensure successful product commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams in planning, developing, and launching new or improved products from concept through commercialization.
• Investigate new materials, equipment, and technologies applicable to absorbent hygiene products.
• Partner with Marketing to design, execute, and analyze consumer and market research.
• Conduct and interpret benchmarking and product-use testing to evaluate competitive performance.
• Work with patent and trademark counsel on IP matters including patentability, infringement, and right-to-market reviews.
• Prepare preliminary costing for new product concepts.
• Monitor and communicate market intelligence including patents, trademarks, and industry trends.
• Review competitive and industry product introductions to maintain category leadership.
• Develop product specifications, prototypes, and scale-up processes in collaboration with customers and internal teams.
• Work closely with Engineering, Process, and Quality teams to optimize product performance and cost efficiency.
• Collaborate with customer and supplier technical teams to present and align on technical capabilities.
• Maintain strong relationships with raw material suppliers, academic institutions, and external laboratories to expand technical capabilities.

Candidate Profile

Target Background

We are specifically looking for candidates with deep experience developing one or more of the following product lines:

• Adult incontinence products
• Baby diapers
• Feminine pads
• Adult or baby wipes

Candidates with a nonwoven manufacturing background will also be considered.

Experience & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science required; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of product development experience in absorbent hygiene products, preferably adult incontinence.
• Strong understanding of absorbent hygiene markets, products, materials, competition, trends, and consumers.
• Proficiency with Probability & Statistical Inference and Design of Experiments (DOE).
• Working knowledge of patents, trademarks, and IP as they relate to absorbent materials and products.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to draw valid conclusions from data.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and lead cross-functional teams.
• Ability to assess raw materials and process impacts on product performance.
• Effective communicator able to engage customers and suppliers at all technical levels.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, Minitab, and related systems.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally for plant visits, conferences, suppliers, product trials, and customer engagements.

Work History Expectations (per hiring team)

To be considered, candidates must demonstrate:

• Stable, consistent work history
• No significant employment gaps
• No short-term consulting patterns
• No frequent movement in and out of roles

Role & Facility Details

• Supports a 24/7/365 manufacturing environment
• Facility operates 25 production lines
• Oversees 3–4 direct reports
• Requires strong leadership, technical expertise, and adaptability

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary: $100,000–$130,000, depending on experience
• 10% annual performance-based bonus
• 5% quarterly incentive plan
• Relocation assistance available (case-by-case)
• Minimum three weeks Paid Time Off
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits starting day one
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid parental leave
• Dependent Care FSA with employer match (up to $2,500)
• “Bundle of Joy” benefit – one year of free diapers for new parents
• Tuition assistance
• Wellness program with up to $4,000 in premium savings
• And more