Project Leader, New Product Introduction | 12 MONTH CONTRACT

Sonova Group; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 91,000 - 114,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

12-month contract

Job summary

Sonova in Kitchener, Ontario seeks an experienced Project Leader, New Product Introduction (NPI) to join the Manufacturing Engineering team. You will lead transfers from R&D into mass production across multiple functions to ensure readiness for launch.

The role requires 4+ years in NPI or manufacturing transfer, strong project management, and excellent communication. Hybrid work with onsite and remote days is offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Engineering.
• 4+ years in New Product Introduction or manufacturing transfer.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) and design-transfer from R&D to manufacturing.
• Coordinate transfer of components and finished products to Sonova sites.
• Drive manufacturing readiness, including cost, quality and yield.
• Lead project plans with timelines and resources.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Master’s degree in Engineering (nice to have)

Tools

Microsoft Project

SAP

Microsoft Office

Job description

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At Sonova, we envision a world where everyone can enjoy the delight of hearing. This vision inspires us and fuels our commitment to developing innovative solutions that improve hearing health and human connection - from personal audio devices and wireless communication systems to hearing aids and cochlear implants. We're dedicated to providing outstanding customer experiences through our global audiological care services, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to engage fully with the world around them.

Guided by a culture of continuous improvement that fosters resilience and self-motivation, our team is united by a shared commitment to excellence and a deep sense of pride in our work, each of us playing a vital role in creating meaningful change,

Here you’ll find a diverse range of opportunities that span both consumer and medical solutions and the freedom to shape your career while making an impact on the lives of others. Join us in our mission to create a more connected world, where every voice is heard and every story matters.

Kitchener, Ontario | Hybrid – 4 Days Onsite / 1 Day Remote | Contract for 12 months

Salary Range: $91,200 – $114,000 CAD

At Sonova, we create innovative hearing care solutions that help people enjoy the delight of hearing. We are looking for an experienced Project Leader, New Product Introduction (NPI) to join our Manufacturing Engineering team in Kitchener.

In this role, you will lead the transfer and introduction of new products from R&D into manufacturing and mass production. You will work across Manufacturing Engineering, R&D, Quality, Marketing, Supply Chain and other technical teams to ensure products and manufacturing processes are ready for successful launch.

This is a highly cross-functional position for someone who knows how to lead through influence, drive accountability, manage project deliverables and move complex manufacturing projects forward.

Responsibilities

Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) and design-transfer activities from R&D into manufacturing.

Coordinate the transfer of components, subassemblies and finished products into Sonova manufacturing sites.

Drive manufacturing readiness, including cost, quality, delivery readiness and production yield.

Lead project planning activities with Manufacturing Engineering teams, including timelines, deliverables and resource requirements.

Partner closely with R&D, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Marketing, Supply Chain and technical subject-matter experts.

Ensure manufacturing requirements are considered early in the product-development process.

Identify manufacturing and testing technologies or processes needed to successfully scale products into mass production.

Coordinate manufacturing equipment, processes and supporting documentation required for product launches.

Facilitate project meetings, establish clear action items and hold cross-functional partners accountable for deliverables.

Provide project reporting and communicate project status, risks, priorities and required actions to key stakeholders.

Support scaling, relocation and manufacturing-transfer activities as required.

Lead or coordinate post-launch manufacturing improvement activities.

Support product and process changes throughout the product lifecycle after market introduction.

Participate in reliability-related activities and manufacturing issue resolution.

Support root-cause analysis, corrective actions, CAPA, change requests and Product Change Notifications (PCNs).

Coordinate first-article inspections and other verification activities associated with manufacturing changes.

Maintain accurate project and manufacturing documentation.

Qualifications

What You’ll Need

Bachelor’s degree, diploma or equivalent education in Engineering, preferably Electronics, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering or a related technical discipline.

4+ years of relevant experience in New Product Introduction, Manufacturing Engineering, product industrialization, manufacturing transfer or launching new products into production.

Experience working with R&D and manufacturing teams to transition products from development into mass production.

Strong project-management skills with demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams.

Ability to lead through influence rather than direct authority and drive teams toward deadlines and deliverables.

Experience facilitating meetings, managing action items and keeping multiple stakeholders accountable.

Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and product-development environments.

Strong problem-solving, analytical and root-cause-analysis skills.

Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines and complex project dependencies.

Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Teams.

Strong English communication skills, both written and verbal.

Nice to Have

Experience with Microsoft Project or similar project-management tools.

Experience with SAP or another ERP system.

Experience within electronics manufacturing, electromechanical products or mechanical design.

Medical device or other regulated-industry experience.

Experience with CAPA, change management and formal product-change processes.

Experience working with embedded software or product test processes.

Master's degree in Engineering or a related field.

Project Management, Lean Six Sigma or other relevant certifications.

Knowledge of manufacturing logistics and supply-chain considerations.

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role

The ideal candidate is comfortable stepping into an established environment and quickly taking ownership. You should be able to bring different functions together, run productive meetings, identify risks before they become problems and ensure commitments turn into completed deliverables.

This role requires someone who is organized, proactive, quality-focused and comfortable influencing teams across multiple functions while keeping projects moving toward successful manufacturing launch.

Work Arrangement: Hybrid – approximately 4 days onsite in Kitchener and 1 day remote per week.

Employment Type: Contract position.

Sonova is an equal opportunity employer.

We team up. We grow talent. We collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds to win with the best team in the market place. We guarantee every person equal treatment in regard to employment and opportunity for employment, regardless of a candidate’s ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientation or marital status, gender, genetic identity, age, disability or any other legally protected status.