Product Director

At OX Tools, we’re not just about tools, we’re about building something bigger. At OX Tools, our vision is to bring the strength of the OX to every tradesperson through passion, design, and relentless pursuit of innovation. Our tools are instinctively recognised as Tough, Dynamic, Different and so are our people. THE ROLE The Product Director is responsible for defining and executing OX's global product strategy, ensuring the business continues to deliver industry-leading products that drive sustainable revenue growth, market leadership, and customer loyalty. Leading the Product function, the Product Director oversees product strategy, portfolio management, innovation, new product development, and lifecycle optimisation across global markets. By combining customer insight, market intelligence, commercial acumen, and technical understanding, the role identifies opportunities that drive revenue growth, improve profitability, and strengthen the OX brand. The Product Director works collaboratively with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to translate business strategy into actionable product initiatives, ensuring disciplined investment decisions, efficient product development, and successful product launches. Through strong leadership, governance, and continuous improvement, the role builds organisational capability and creates a high-performing product function that delivers sustainable competitive advantage. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES Strategic Product Leadership • Define and execute the company's global product vision. • Develop multi-year product strategies aligned with corporate objectives. • Identify market opportunities, customer needs, and future industry trends. • Build and maintain a product roadmap that supports sustainable growth. • Recommend strategic investments across existing and emerging categories. • Ensure product decisions support long-term business objectives. Portfolio Management • Establish the innovation strategy for the organisation. • Lead the global new product development pipeline. • Promote innovative thinking across all product teams. • Own the product lifecycle strategy, ensuring products remain competitive and commercially viable from launch through end-of-life. • Drive portfolio profitability by evaluating product performance, margin improvement opportunities, and investment priorities. • Oversee end-of-life planning and product transition strategies to maximise customer value while minimising business risk. Commercial Performance • Develop and execute product strategies that drive revenue growth, market share, and long-term profitability. • Lead product investment decisions through robust business cases, financial analysis, and market opportunity assessments. • Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and customer insights to inform commercial strategy and product direction. • Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Finance to develop pricing strategies, product positioning, and go-to-market plans. • Drive product portfolio performance, ensuring commercial objectives and return on investment (ROI) targets are achieved Innovation & New Product Development • Lead the global NPD process from concept through commercial launch. • Drive product innovation by delivering solutions that balance functionality, durability, user experience, and commercial viability. • Partner with Industrial Designers and cross-functional teams to develop innovative, practical, and commercially successful products. • Establish and continuously improve NPD processes that accelerate innovation without compromising quality, cost, or time to market. • Evaluate materials, manufacturing methods, ergonomics, and construction techniques to optimise product performance and manufacturability. • Review prototypes and testing outcomes to refine product performance. People Leadership & Capability • Build, lead, and develop a high-performing Product team, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. • Coach and mentor Product Managers, Product Designers, and other team members to strengthen capability and support career growth. • Establish clear roles, performance expectations, and development plans aligned with business objectives. • Drive talent development, succession planning, and capability-building to ensure the long-term success of the Product function. • Foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and best practice across global Product teams and cross-functional stakeholders. • Lead the recruitment, and retention of high-performing Product talent. Cross-Functional Leadership • Align Product with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service. • Facilitate strategic decision-making across departments. • Resolve competing priorities while maintaining business objectives. • Ensure products are commercially, operationally, and technically ready for market. Product Quality & Continuous Improvement • Evaluate product performance and recommend design improvements. • Maintain accurate product specifications, CAD files, drawings, and technical documentation. • Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the product development process. SKILLS/EXPERIENCE Essential • Bachelor's degree in Product Design/Management, Industrial Design, Engineering, Business or related discipline. • 7+ years experience in Product Management, Product Development or Product Leadership. • 5+ years leading high-performing product teams. • Demonstrated success managing global product portfolios. • Strong commercial and financial acumen. • Experience developing product strategies. • Proven experience launching commercially successful products. • Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and global sourcing. • Excellent stakeholder management skills. • Experience working with international suppliers and factories. • Exceptional communication and presentation skills. • Strategic thinker with strong analytical capability. Desirable • MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification. • Experience within hand tools, construction, industrial equipment or manufacturing. • Experience working across multiple international markets. • Knowledge of LPD principles and methodologies. • Experience with Stage-Gate product development. KEY DELIVERABLES • Global product strategy successfully executed • Sustainable innovation pipeline • Increased revenue from new products • Improved portfolio profitability • Strong product roadmap aligned to business strategy • Successful global product launches • High-performing Product team • Improved customer satisfaction • Enhanced competitive positioning • Cross-functional alignment across all product initiatives WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU? • The opportunity to be part of a growing, ambitious global brand • The chance to grow and develop within the business • 23 days holiday + birthday + volunteer leave • Flexible hybrid working (4-5 days in the office) • Company pension scheme • A vibrant, supportive team culture