We are not your ordinary plastics Company. We are innovators. We are environmental stewards. We are a passionate team proudly creating a better future. C.R. Plastic Products did not become the first company in North America to develop and supply superior outdoor furniture using 100% recycled plastic by following others. We achieved this through leadership, innovation, and a team with unwavering commitment to sustainability.
Awarded Canada's Greenest Employers 2023!
C.R. Plastic Products Inc. (an Ice River Sustainable Solutions Company) located in Stratford, Ontario is currently hiring a Product Development Specialist.
POSITION SUMMARY
This position is responsible for leading the development of innovative, high-quality outdoor furniture collections. This role blends trend research, consumer insights, and hands-on development to bring compelling products to market that balance form, function, and durability. You’ll work cross-functionally with design, sourcing, marketing, and supply chain to manage the entire product lifecycle — from concept through launch.
As a Product Development Specialist, you can expect:
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Compensation Range: $80,000 - $100,000
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RRSP Program
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Dental Care
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Extended Health Care
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Life Insurance
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Employee Assistance Program
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Company Events
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On-site parking
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Paid time off
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Store Discount
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Wellness Program
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a member of our Engineering team, your responsibilities will include:
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Develop seasonal product strategies aligned with brand positioning, market trends, and customer preferences.
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High level of creativity to drive unique product designs
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Translate insights into innovative product concepts and collections tailored to outdoor living and lifestyle trends.
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Own the end-to-end product development process: from ideation, design briefs, material selection, prototyping, sampling, to final production sign-off.
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Partner with sourcing and manufacturing teams to ensure product feasibility, quality, and cost targets are met.
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Conduct competitive analysis and monitor industry trends to identify product opportunities and white space.
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Help ensure on-time product delivery across multiple product lines.
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Work closely with design, engineering, quality, and supply chain teams to align on materials, construction, packaging, and performance standards.
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Ensure products meet outdoor durability standards (e.g., UV resistance, weatherproofing, material performance).
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Explore and implement sustainable materials and practices.
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International travel may be required (less than 10%).
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Perform other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE
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Bachelor's degree or diploma in Product Design, Industrial Design, Business, or relevant work experience in a related field.
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2-5 years of experience in product development or product management, ideally in furniture, home goods, or consumer durables.
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Strong understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and design principles relevant to outdoor furniture.
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Excellent project management and communication skills.
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Proficient in tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, SolidWorks, Adobe Creative Suite, or 3D modeling software
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
Must observe and practice all safety regulations, up to and including wearing personal protective equipment when necessary.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
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While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and stand; use hands to fingers, handle, or feel; and talk and hear.
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The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms.
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The employee is occasionally required to walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
The work environment and physical demands detailed above are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed.
Please let C.R. Plastics know if you require accommodation during the hiring and selection process and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements. C.R. Plastics is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, we welcome applications from women, racially visible individuals, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and LGBTQ2S+ persons.
Note to Recruiting Agencies
C.R. Plastics does not respond to unsolicited emails from third party recruiters acting on behalf of job seekers. All candidates are encouraged to create their own online profile, allowing us to reference resumes effectively and advise when opportunities match your knowledge and skills. Any profiles created by recruiters on behalf of job seeking candidates will be deleted. This practice threatens future interactions between third party recruiters and C.R. Plastics recruitment.
