At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a dynamic team to develop and manage innovative skincare products.
- Company: A founder-led skincare brand focused on simplicity and efficacy.
- Benefits: Enjoy a generous employee discount, hybrid working, and 25 days holiday.
- Other info: Collaborate with experienced leaders and gain valuable insights in product development.
- Why this job: Be part of a growing brand and make a real impact in the beauty industry.
- Qualifications: Passion for beauty and skincare, with strong organisational skills.
Founded in 2018 by Dr Sam Bunting, the brand cuts through the complexity of the skincare market—where consumers are overwhelmed by choice and exaggerated claims. By distilling her Harley Street clinic protocols into a streamlined, results-driven range, Dr Sam has created a one-stop solution built on efficacy, integrity, and trust.
About the Role
Working at Dr Sam’s offers a unique opportunity to work in a founder-led, entrepreneurial and dynamic brand at a pivotal stage of its growth. With its strong clinical heritage and clear mission to simplify skincare and deliver real results, the brand combines credibility with creativity in a way few competitors can.
As Assistant Product Development Manager, you will play a key part in the development and execution of new and existing products. Responsibilities include:
- Sample Management (10% of time)
- Track samples for NPD, EPD and re-orders (submission dates, internal approval and feedbacks, clinical and community study samples, gold seal tracking).
- Liaise with the cross functional team to interrogate and manage sample needs at each project milestone (shoot availability, PR, Education etc).
- Product Briefing & Documentation Management (20% of time)
- Populate third party formulation and packaging briefs for NPD & EPD.
- Support the Head of Product Development in managing supplier selection.
- Maintain INCI’s, ingredient data sheets and clinical testing reports.
- Ensure formulas and claims meet required regulatory frameworks.
- Maintain and create master data (barcodes, SKU codes etc).
- Obtain and recommend COG, RRP and margin sign off for NPD.
- Competitor Analysis
- Conduct ongoing competitor analysis across product launches, ingredients, claims, pricing, packaging, and positioning.
- Analyse retailer activity, social media conversations, customer feedback and internal performance data to uncover insights and white-space opportunities.
- Support the creation of insight reports and presentations to inform product strategy and cross-functional decision making.
- Utilise market insight, internal data, and customer feedback to recommend future product initiatives in collaboration with the wider team.
- Support the development of comprehensive NPD toolkits for all product launches, bringing together the strategic rationale, consumer insight, formulation story, ingredient benefits, clinical substantiation, claims, positioning and key messaging to educate and align cross-functional teams.
- CPA Tracking & Vendor Management (35% of time)
- Support the Head of Product Development by setting out key deadlines and milestones to keep the NPD pipeline on track.
- Maintain internal CPA’s for product initiatives, highlighting risk and opportunities.
- Collaborate with internal teams and third-party vendors to keep projects on track.
- Manage weekly vendor calls and provide regular internal updates on project tracking.
- Product Development Administration & Coordination
- Maintains a consistently high standard of accuracy across documentation, data management, sample tracking and communications.
- Prepares and populates clear, complete vendor briefs and internal product documentation - including INCIs, ingredient data sheets, artwork approvals.
- Builds strong working relationships with external suppliers and manufacturers, supporting briefing, sample coordination, approvals and day-to-day communication to drive accountability and on-time delivery.
- Maintains critical path documents across multiple concurrent projects, proactively flagging risks or delays and helping to keep key milestones and launch deadlines on track.
- Shares regular insight into the beauty landscape, conducting ongoing research into competitor activity, market trends, emerging ingredients and consumer insights to support product strategy and identify opportunities for innovation.
- Works effectively with Marketing, Creative, Operations and other internal teams to ensure product information, samples and development updates are shared accurately and in line with business and launch planning needs.
- Has a baseline understanding of formulation and or packaging principles, ingredient functionality and compliance requirements, supporting the Head of Product Development in ensuring products meet quality, safety and regulatory standards.
- Customer Commitment
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to understanding and meeting customer needs - actively seeking feedback, anticipating challenges, and delivering timely, professional solutions that create positive customer experiences and long-term value.
- Responding proactively to customer concerns and continuously seeking opportunities to improve service standards.
- Taking ownership of responsibilities, proactively identifying opportunities for improvement, and persevering through challenges to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes in a fast-paced environment.
- Building trust with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders by consistently following policies, honouring commitments, maintaining confidentiality, and demonstrating ethical decision-making.
- Challenging existing approaches constructively, and applying new knowledge to improve performance and drive innovation.
Additional Benefits:
- Product allowance and generous employee discount for family and friends
- Discretionary Annual Company Bonus Scheme
- 25 days holiday (plus UK statutory holidays)
- Free lunch twice a week
- Hybrid working structure
- Summer Fridays
Assistant Product Development Manager in City of London employer: Dr Sam's Skincare
Dr Sam’s Skincare is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and entrepreneurial work environment, perfect for those passionate about beauty and wellness. With a strong commitment to employee growth, the company offers generous benefits such as a product allowance, hybrid working options, and a discretionary annual bonus scheme, all while prioritising a culture of integrity, curiosity, and customer obsession. Joining Dr Sam’s means being part of a mission-driven team dedicated to simplifying skincare and delivering real results, making it an exciting place to grow your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Product Development Manager in City of London
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Dr Sam's Skincare!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Dr Sam's Skincare would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Dr Sam's Skincare through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Product Development Manager in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Assistant Product Development Manager, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Assistant Product Development Manager position at Dr Sam's Skincare. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dr Sam's Skincare
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
