Head of Product – Sustainable Eyewear & Materials Innovation

HEAD OF PRODUCT

Role

Head of Product – Sustainable Eyewear & Materials Innovation

Location

Lisbon, Portugal (Relocation required and supported)

Reports to

CEO & Founder

About REGENESIS

Regenesis is a sustainable materials innovation deep-tech company developing advanced

recycled materials for the fashion and plastic industries. It was born as a spin-off after 6 years of

sustainable product development with Pangea Movement.

We are developing high-performance recycled composites made from ocean-bound plastic waste

and captured CO2, using nanotechnology and AI, starting with eyewear, through a vertically

integrated global partnership model.

The company initially launched with a direct-to-consumer model producing sustainable outdoor

products and recycled eyewear, selling products to thousands of customers in over 80 countries

while removing more than 120,000 kg of plastic waste from the environment.

We are now successfully transitioning to a B2B materials platform model to enable the same level

of circularity and regenerative impact at a global industrial scale. We supply advanced recycled

eyewear produced with our proprietary materials to global brands.

Through our Regenesis 360 program, we provide a one-stop integrated ecosystem enabling

eyewear companies to transition to a certified, low-carbon, circular-economy model compliant with

current and upcoming EU regulations.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and entrepreneurial Head of Product to lead our eyewear

product development activities and become a key member of our leadership team.

This role combines product strategy, customer-facing product development, showroom

management, and team leadership. The successful candidate will work closely with global fashion

and eyewear brands, translating customer requirements into commercially viable and sustainable

products powered by Regenesis materials.

The Head of Product will lead product development teams across Europe and Asia, oversee the

creation of showroom and award samples, support business development efforts, and ensure the

successful execution of client projects from concept through production.

This position requires relocation to Portugal and frequent interaction with customers, suppliers,

manufacturing partners, and trade show audiences.

Key Responsibilities

Product Leadership

• Lead the end-to-end product development lifecycle for B2B eyewear projects.
• Translate customer requirements into detailed Product Development Agreements (PDAs).
• Define product specifications, timelines, development milestones, and delivery plans.
• Drive product innovation leveraging sustainable materials and circular design principles.

Customer & Commercial Support

• Work directly with prospective and existing clients to understand technical and commercial

requirements.

• Present products, materials, and innovations during showroom visits, customer meetings,

and trade shows.

• Support the sales team in converting opportunities into successful development projects.
• Contribute to revenue growth through customer engagement and product-driven sales

initiatives.

Team Management

• Lead and mentor the Product Development Program Manager (PDPM) and other product

development resources.

• Coordinate cross-functional teams across Europe and Asia.
• Establish objectives, workflows, and accountability structures.
• Drive continuous improvement of product development processes.

Product Development & Operations

• Oversee prototype development, sample creation, testing, validation, and industrialization.
• Manage supplier relationships and manufacturing coordination.
• Ensure product quality, cost efficiency, and timely project delivery.
• Support award submissions and innovation showcases.

Sustainability & Innovation

• Promote circular economy principles across product development activities.
• Collaborate with material scientists and innovation teams to integrate new materials into

commercial products.

• Stay informed on sustainability trends, regulatory requirements, and industry innovations.

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in eyewear product development and/or product

management.

• Strong understanding of eyewear manufacturing processes and supply chains.
• Experience working with factories and suppliers in Asia.
• Proven experience managing product development projects from concept to production.
• Previous leadership or team management experience preferred.
• Experience in packaging development is highly valued.
• Exposure to sustainable products, materials, or circular economy initiatives is a plus.

Skills & Competencies

Leadership

• Strong people management and coaching capabilities.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary and international teams.

Commercial Mindset

• Comfortable interacting with customers and supporting sales activities.
• Ability to identify opportunities and convert customer needs into product solutions.

Problem Solving

• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced startup environment.

Communication

• Excellent stakeholder management and presentation skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication in English.

Adaptability

• Entrepreneurial mindset with a hands-on approach.
• Comfortable working with evolving priorities and rapid decision-making.

Process Ownership

The Head of Product will own:

• Product Development Agreements (PDAs)
• Customer product development projects
• Prototype and sample development processes
• Product industrialization roadmap
• Supplier and manufacturing coordination
• Showroom product portfolio
• Product development team performance
• Product innovation and sustainability integration

Qualifications

Education

• Degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Product Development, Engineering,

or a related field.

• Specialized training in eyewear design is highly preferred.
• Sustainability-related education or certifications are a plus.

Experience

• 5+ years in eyewear product development.

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• Experience working with international manufacturing networks.
• Experience managing complex product launches.

Technical Skills

• Product lifecycle management.
• Prototype and sample development.
• Supplier and manufacturing management.
• Costing and project planning.
• Product documentation and specifications.
• Sustainability and circular design principles.
• Proficiency with common product development and project management tools.

Working Conditions

• Full-time position.
• Based in Lisbon, Portugal.
• Relocation assistance provided, including housing and legal support.
• International travel required for trade shows, supplier visits, and customer meetings.
• Hybrid flexibility depending on business needs.
• Startup environment requiring autonomy, initiative, and ownership.

Outcomes (First 6–12 Months)

First 3 Months

• Successfully onboard and take ownership of active product development projects.
• Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and internal teams.
• Review and optimize existing product development workflows.

First 6 Months

• Establish a scalable product development framework.
• Successfully launch new customer projects and showroom collections.
• Improve development timelines and execution efficiency.

First 12 Months

• Become the primary product leader for all B2B eyewear programs.
• Drive growth through successful client engagements and product innovation.
• Build a high-performing international product development team.
• Contribute significantly to revenue growth and market expansion

KPIs

Product Development

• On-time project delivery rate (%)
• Prototype-to-production conversion rate
• Product development cycle time
• Product quality and approval rate

Commercial

• Number of successful client development projects launched
• Revenue generated from product-led opportunities
• Trade show and showroom conversion rate
• Customer satisfaction and retention metrics

Operational

• Supplier performance and lead-time adherence
• Cost optimization against project budgets
• Team productivity and project throughput

Leadership

• Team engagement and retention
• Achievement of departmental objectives
• Process improvement initiatives implemented

Sustainability

• Number of projects utilizing Regenesis materials
• Circularity and carbon-reduction impact metrics
• Compliance with sustainability and regulatory standards

Compensation:

Competitive fixed salary + relocation package + performance-based sales commission