Product Development Directors
Overview
Introduction
Product development directors are responsible for directing the development of products and services from the concept and design phase to the implementation. They work closely with product designers, engineers, marketers, sales managers, and others to oversee the development of the product or service through the phases of its life cycle, from idea generation to development, to market testing, to product launch. They also manage updates, changes, and improvements to ensure their products or services remain competitive in the market a...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Product development directors earned an average salary of $123,263 in May 2020, according to PayScale.com. Salaries ranged from $88,000 to $167,000 or more. Job location and years of experience affect salary levels. Those with many years experience and who are employed in a large city usually receive top salaries. The Department of Labor does not provide data on product development directors bu...
Work Environment
Product development directors work full-time business hours, although the workday may run into evenings and weekends when deadlines are approaching and when development problems arise. They spend time on computers, reviewing data and creating reports. They also spend part of their time in meetings with product development team members, such as analysts, researchers, marketing managers, among ot...
Outlook
The outlook for product development directors is bright. Market research technologies and methodologies continue to be improved, making it easier for companies to better understand how their current products are performing and where there are gaps in the marketplace. Product development directors will continue to be in demand to help companies improve on their existing products and develop new ...