Global Product Development Director in Croydon

This is a career-defining role for an ambitious leader who wants to make their mark on the global beauty industry. As our Global Product Development Director, you’ll take the reins at the very start of Tropic’s international growth journey. You will lead our Product Development (PD) team across multiple categories from skincare and haircare to makeup, body care, and fragrance, while collaborating with our world-class scientists, designers, writers, and marketeers to deliver breakthrough products. This is your chance to shape the future of a £100m+ business as we expand worldwide. You’ll set the global product vision, innovate across categories, and ensure every launch resonates with international markets and makes our customers feel truly amazing in their own skin.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the PD team across all categories, fostering innovation, creativity, and commercial excellence.
• Collaborate with in-house experts, from scientists to designers and marketeers, to deliver world-class, sustainable, and ethical products.
• Develop product strategies tailored to international markets, ensuring relevance across diverse cultures and customer needs.
• Obsess over our customers, creating products that not only work but also transform how people feel in their own skin.
• Drive commercial success: balance creativity with business impact, ensuring products fuel sales growth and global brand equity.
• Track trends and insights globally to stay ahead of consumer expectations and competitors.
• Champion sustainability, ensuring every product launch is mindful of environmental impact.
• Report directly to the Founder/CEO, playing a pivotal role in Tropic’s global leadership journey.
• Drive the global Innovation-to-Launch process, embedding data-led insights and streamlined systems to scale efficiently.
• Champion the digital transformation of our PD platforms and tools to support international growth.
• Influence and align senior stakeholders across regions to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

What we’re looking for

• 15–20+ years of product development experience in beauty/personal care, with proven international market experience.
• Demonstrated success in growing product ranges internationally, from concept through to launch.
• A commercially sharp leader with deep knowledge of sales dynamics, customer behaviours, and global market trends.
• A true innovator with an obsession for creating exceptional beauty products and making customers feel amazing.
• Experience working with marketing to ensure product strategies align with brand and market success.
• A people-focused leader, able to inspire, mentor, and push a talented NPD team to break boundaries.
• Highly organised, visionary, and resilient in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment.
• Passionate about ethical, sustainable beauty and committed to using business as a force for good.

What We Offer

• Employment Type: This role is offered full-time, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
• Location: Tropic HQ is a short walk from Beddington Lane Tram stop, with direct links to East Croydon and Wimbledon.
• Hybrid Working: Enjoy a blend of office (4 days) and remote (1 day) working.
• Salary: Competitive.
• Benefits: Hybrid working, up to 33 days’ holiday. Enhanced family leave, Private Medical Insurance, Medicash plan, life insurance (All available after a qualifying period). EAP through the Wisdom App, generous product allowance and 50% discount for family and friends, access to retailer discounts, Cycle to Work and Electric Car schemes, free breakfast bar, dog-friendly HQ with a chill zone and pool table, on-site parking, regular social events, and plenty of well‑being treats throughout the year.

About Tropic

Susie, our Founder and CEO, started Tropic Skincare as a teenager, selling homemade body scrubs at Greenwich Market to help her mum pay the bills. She sold out on her first day, and the incredible response made her realise she had started something quite special. We still sell that iconic body scrub, and it sits alongside an extensive range of award-winning skincare and beauty products that have made us one of the UK’s fastest-growing beauty businesses. Our brand is certified vegan, cruelty‑free and CarbonNeutral®, and our infinite purpose is to create a healthier, greener, more empowered world. And that’s where you come in! We’re looking for creative and ambitious people who share our vision and get excited about beauty that’s both innovative and sustainable. If you’re passionate about skincare and have a genuine desire to empower communities across the globe, you could be a great fit. Apply now if you’re ready to join a vibrant team who believes beauty knows no bounds!

Tropic's Commitment to Equal Opportunities

Our team is as diverse as it is talented because at Tropic, we go the extra mile to cultivate a culture of respect and belonging. We value every candidate, respect protected characteristics and never discriminate. We also provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities at every stage of the hiring process, so if this is something you need, please let our recruitment team know at the earliest opportunity! Ultimately, the most important thing for us is hiring the best person for the job, so we focus on skills, experience, and qualifications to ensure our process is fair and that our candidates always have a great experience with Tropic.