Director, Product Development & Commercialization

About Us

Connected International, Inc. (Connected Cannabis Co.) is a leading vertically integrated cannabis company based in Sacramento and operating in California, Arizona, and Florida. With over 15 years experience, Connected specializes in breeding, growing, manufacturing, and distributing top-shelf cannabis through its state-of-the-art facilities and proprietary genetics.

With over 300 employees across the United States, Connected maintains a strong presence in the industry across multiple markets. The company has recently expanded into Arizona and Florida with ambitious national expansion plans underway. Connected's mission has always been to breed, grow, and sell the best cannabis in the world, setting high standards for its products, people, and partners wherever we go.

We currently have 300+ employees across ten locations and we are in a high growth phase expanding rapidly. If you are interested in joining a world class team and working in an exciting new industry with a leader in genetics, innovation, career opportunities and growing practices, we encourage you to apply!

About the Job

Reporting to the VP, Marketing, this role will be own the product, portfolio, category, and innovation strategy for our manufactured goods. The Director will lead a cross-functional and collaborative team to drive development and commercialization of new inhalable manufactured products. They will evaluate and manage our current product portfolio with consumer obsession and operating income being the guiding lights. This position is based in California, with in-state travel and regular travel to Arizona, Florida, and future expansion markets. This is an excellent opportunity to shape new and growing cannabis markets with a premium brand at the forefront of the cannabis industry.

What You Will Do

• Lead the product strategy for non-flower inhalable categories such as vape, jarred concentrates, and pre-rolls
• Lead the launch and management of new product lines and line extensions.
• Utilize consumer insights, market research, and industry trends to identify new product opportunities
• Develop and own the product roadmap and communicate with executive staff, board members, and other stakeholders
• Develop budgets, forecasts, and metrics
• Collaborate closely with marketing, R&D, operations, senior management, compliance, and sales teams to ensure seamless execution of product development projects
• Research, vet, and manage third-party manufacturers and vendors to ensure on-time, on-scope, and on-budget delivery of best-in-class premium products
• Relentlessly pursue ways to improve and decrease the product development timeline
• Use Project Management Software (Asana) to drive execution and achieve targeted launch dates
• Conduct competitive market analysis and market research to identify emerging trends, consumer preferences, and competitive threats. Use insights to inform development strategies and maintain a competitive edge in the market
• Implement a comprehensive reporting framework to measure campaign success against established performance indicators and sales objectives

What We Are Looking For

AUTHORITIES FOR POSITION

• Lead cross-functional and diverse teams toward the achievement of company innovation and category management objectives
• Proactively identify, document, and address any challenges or opportunities within the product development framework.
• Initiate and drive solutions, constantly seeking methods to refine and enhance product development.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrable experience in operations and operational issues
• Demonstrated experience managing a network of third-party manufacturers to develop vape technology or products.
• Direct experience with Project Management Software and ability to drive adoption across diverse teams, departments, and senior leadership
• Production and processing knowledge and expertise in the cannabis industry is preferred
• Exceptional project management abilities, with a track record of delivering complex projects on time and budget.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, able to inspire and lead a team towards achieving ambitious targets.
• Understanding of syndicated consumer data, how it interacts with internal data, and experience using diverse and sometimes ambiguous data sources to formulate winning strategies
• Experience in consumer-driven design. Must be able to identify consumer need-states and translate them into finished products
• Creative and passionate about ideation and new product development

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Excellent planning and organizational skills
• Innovative and entrepreneurial, eager to explore and capitalize on new market opportunities.
• Highly collaborative, with proven interpersonal skills to influence and drive cross-functional team success.
• Adaptable, with the ability to pivot strategies in response to market dynamics and organizational changes.
• Ability to clearly communicate ideas, both verbally and in writing in a fashion appropriate to various levels of the organization
• Strong problem solver and solutions-oriented
• One who embodies the phrase "Quality over Everything"

Compensation Description (annually): The salary range for this position in the selected city is $150,000.00 - $190,000.00 annually.

Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the total compensation package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for variable compensation or additional incentives.

Why Connected?

Connected is an exciting, innovative workplace with an inclusive culture that offers rare career opportunities, and a chance to make a real-world impact in a new start-up industry! We are looking for exceptional people to join our team as we transition into the next phase of our business ventures and become a leader in the cannabis industry.

• Competitive Pay and Stock Options

• 401 (k), Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program

• PTO, Flexible Schedules, Work-Life Balance

• Career Growth and Internal Advancement Opportunities

• Chance to work in an exciting new start-up industry with awesome people!

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