Dubai, UAE
Head of product development and innovation
at Kidzink
Kidzink is looking for a head of product development and innovation to join its team in Dubai, UAE.
About Kidzink
At Kidzink, we are pioneers in creating educational spaces that inspire and empower the next generation. As a leading furniture and interior design company specializing in educational projects across Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Europe, we work closely with our sister company, Koda, to provide comprehensive architectural solutions. We believe education transforms lives, which is why we are dedicated to crafting environments that support evolving teaching methods and technology, fostering communities of lifelong learning.
Our commitment is to deliver top-tier design solutions on time and within budget, perfectly addressing our clients’ goals. We strive to meet the diverse needs of all educational stakeholders—from students and teachers to support staff and the wider community they serve. As we build our brand and communication team, we aim to elevate our visual storytelling to new heights.
Role description
The head of product development and innovation is a key leadership role responsible for driving the strategic product development road map for Kidzink’s furniture division. This role focuses on market innovation, cross-functional collaboration, and leading the entire product life cycle from concept to production. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, R&D, and supply chain, to identify product gaps, explore new opportunities for innovation, and establish development road maps. You will ensure that product criteria are clearly defined, supporting the product development process and driving efficiency, speed, and alignment across the organization.
Responsibilities:
- product strategy and innovation
- drive the long-term vision and strategy for the furniture division, focusing on market trends, client-driven product development and innovation
- identify and prioritise opportunities for product innovation, ensuring alignment with Kidzink/Köda’s business objectives
- lead efforts in material innovation, sustainable practices, and production efficiency to create value for customers and support Kidzink’s commitment to environmental responsibility
- product roadmap development
- develop and manage a product roadmap aligned with Kidzink/Köda’s strategic goals, identifying new products and improvements to meet evolving market demands
- translate market research, client feedback, and competitive analysis into actionable development plans
- team leadership and development
- oversee the product development team, including managing engineers, R&D specialists, and other professionals involved in product innovation
- mentor and develop team members through ongoing training, leadership development, and performance reviews
- foster an environment of creativity and accountability, encouraging the team to take initiative in driving product innovation
- cross-functional collaboration
- work closely with sales, marketing, R&D and supply chain teams to ensure that new product concepts are feasible, marketable, and aligned with customer needs
- facilitate cross-functional communication to drive alignment and efficiency throughout the product development lifecycle
- ensure smooth transitions from product concept to production by collaborating with the Head of Furniture Design and manufacturing teams
- market research and analysis
- conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify emerging trends, new opportunities and potential product gaps
- use insights from market research to guide product strategy and ensure Kidzink remains a leader in educational furniture solutions
- innovation in materials and sustainability
- lead initiatives focused on material innovation and sustainable practices, ensuring all products meet environmental standards and customer expectations
- explore and test new materials to enhance product offerings and promote internal knowledge of material capabilities
- operational coordination and product Launch
- coordinate with production and technical documentation teams to ensure that product concepts are manufacturable at scale
- oversee the product launch process, ensuring seamless roll out to internal teams and external stakeholders
- establish rigorous review processes to enhance product accuracy and reduce inefficiencies during development.
Qualifications:
- experience: minimum of 15 years in furniture design and product development, ideally in a large European or British furniture manufacturing company, with at least five years in a leadership role
- education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in product design, industrial design, or a related field.
- product development expertise: strong portfolio showcasing expertise in product development, including familiarity with materials, production processes and sustainability practices
About Archibucks
Archibucks is a professional design and engineering talent recruitment firm in China founded in 2009. We recruit designers including architects, landscape architects, urban planners/designers, interior architects and engineers (including structural engineers, MEP engineers and building engineers) for over 100 leading design and engineering firms all over the world. Our clients include Zaha, BIG, SOM, MAD, Aedas, Arup, CallsionRTKL, Valode & Pistre, Chapman Taylor, HPP and other leading international design and engineering firms.
Please submit your application package including a CV and portfolio both in English using the ‘apply for job’ button below.
Qualified applicants will be invited for a tele-interview arranged by Archibucks or employers.