Design & Development Manager - Cookware (m / w / d)

Yourfirm; Kirchheim unter Teck; Vor Ort; EUR 65.000 - 95.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading company is seeking a Group Design & Development Manager to oversee the Core Cookware category. This pivotal role involves driving new product development, collaborating with internal teams, and optimizing manufacturing processes to enhance product offerings. A successful candidate will combine strategic insight with creativity and project management expertise to deliver market-ready solutions that align with customer needs.

Qualifikationen

• 5+ years' experience in a brand-led consumer product business.
• Demonstrated knowledge in product development processes.
• Fluency in English required.

Aufgaben

• Responsible for new product development from idea to market.
• Monitor production processes for efficiency and quality.
• Develop product strategies in line with corporate goals.

Kenntnisse

Project Management

Communication

Strategic Thinking

Creativity

Technical Understanding

Ausbildung

Degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

MS Office

MS Project

Jobbeschreibung

Our French heart pulses through our international brand. With 100 years of heritage, we are future focused as we push ourselves and each other to connect every cook with personal stories and our rich legacy of food lovers to a lifestyle that inspires. Building beautiful products of the best quality that bring joy to people's lives for generations. We want to ensure that the heart of every home beats from the kitchen. Through our values of PASSION, INTEGRITY, INNOVATION & EXCELLENCE, TEAMWORK we make Le Creuset a great place to work, celebrating our rich diversity.

Main Purpose of the Role

Since 1925, product has been at the heart of Le Creuset. As the Group Design & Development Manager (m / w / d) of the Core Cookware category, xou are responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of NPDs in line with our manufacturing capabilities / partnerships and commercial requirements. You will influence and achieve success through extensive collaboration with internal and external partners, and rigorous adherence to the process milestones and KPIs that achieve results. The ideal candidate is an adaptive and forwardthinking individual focused on the achievement of shared goals. Working in New Product Development, you ´ll be responsible for the development of new products from the idea to market launch. A successful Design & Development Manager needs technical understanding, creativity, strategic thinking and strong project management skills to develop innovative and commercially viable products.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Product Development

Identify current market trends and customer needs.

• Develop product strategies in line with corporate goals.
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Sales teams to define product requirements.

Generate ideas and conception of new Le Creuset products.

• Conduct program performance analytics to support successful program evaluation and optimization.
• Develop prototypes and initial designs for new products and designs.
• Project Management & Coordination

Create and monitor the development of schedules, and ensure they are accurately reflected and tracked against manufacturing capabilities and constraints with respect for customer and / or consumer launch dates.

• Liaise and maintain communication with internal departments (research & development, production, marketing, purchasing).
• Ensure compliance with milestones and budgets align with Le Creuset requirements.
• Technical Implementation & Production

Work with internal teams and designers to optimize products and ensure category specific color development is in line with lead brand color standards are cataloged and consistently achieved throughout the production life cycle.

• Select suitable materials and manufacturing methods.
• Regularly check production processes for efficiency and quality, and ensure they are in line with Le Creuset's sustainability mission.
• Market Launch & Lifecycle Manageme

Plan market launch strategies in collaboration with the marketing and sales teams.

• Support with product testing and certification.
• Continuously optimize products in line with our brand image, based on customer feedback.
• Cost Management & Profitability

Calculate the development costs and profitability analyses for new product ranges.

• Optimize manufacturing processes for cost reduction.Ensure compliance with the product budget.

Knowledge Required

• Degree or higher degree in engineering or related field
• 5+ years' experience in a brand led consumer product business with specific experience in new product development processes
• Demonstrated knowledge in a direct or related product field with respect to material properties and manufacturing processes
• Ability to gauge technology and product trends in the cookware space, proactively recommending solutions for incorporation into the development pipeline
• Competency in collaborating with design and engineering agencies / individuals
• Consumer centric mindset with an ability to leverage insight into decision making
• Ability to work autonomously, and multi-task in an agile environment
• Excellent project management and communication skills
• Strategic and tactical planning experience supported with analysis
• Strong cross-cultural, interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
• Fluency in English is required
• Proficient in MS Office, working knowledge of MS Project will be a plus
• Sourcing and procurement experience
• Flexibility : Is able to modify approach in order to achieve a goal or task. Is open to change and has a positive approach to work with colleagues. Able to work “outside the norm" and “multi task” to ensure business demands are met.
• Initiative : Self-starter that needs minimal supervision in motivating himself / herself, always looking for opportunities to contribute to the team.
• Resilience : Is able to maintain high performance levels under pressure and / or opposition and is able to maintain composure in the face of disappointments, criticism and / or rejection. Remains cooperative, calm, even tempered and polite at all times.
• Task Orientation : Focuses efforts and measures own performance against the completion of a series of tasks. Focuses on detail.
• Teamwork : Can build relationships and interact effectively across functions, seniority levels, and cultures with confidence. Actively listens. Displays accuracy and quality in his / her written work.
• Time Management : Is able to plan and organise own use of time, meets deadlines, and does not have to rely on the last minute.

Our recipe is equal parts passion, hard work and fun with a culture as vibrant as our products. We constantly stretch ourselves and encourage our team mates to do the same. When you join Le Creuset, you become part of a dynamic team that focuses on innovation and collaboration. You are part of something bigger...from your first day to every moment thereafter, you're going to love what you do as part of the Le Creuset family!

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Reference number : YF-22134 (please state in your application)