NPD Project Manager: From Concept to Production

Vibe Recruit; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Rugby-based? Not specified. Cardiff-based manufacturing firm seeks an experienced NPD Project Manager to own multiple product development projects through to production readiness and final release.

The role requires leadership of cross-functional teams and a disciplined stage-gate process to ensure milestones, approvals and documentation are in place. The candidate will coordinate Design, Technical, Production and Quality teams, manage risks, and report progress to senior management.

Qualifications

• 10+ years' relevant experience within manufacturing, engineering, product development, NPD, NPI or similar.
• Strong project management experience within a manufacturing or technical setting.
• Previous people management experience is essential.
• Experience managing several projects simultaneously.
• Experience with structured development processes such as stage-gate, NPD, NPI or APQP.
• Strong planning, organisation and documentation skills.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams.
• Understanding of prototype development, testing, validation and production readiness.
• The ability to challenge delays, follow up actions and hold stakeholders accountable.
• A delivery-focused approach.
• Strong communication across technical and operational teams.
• A relevant qualification in project management, engineering or manufacturing would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Managing multiple NPD and product introduction projects from development through to production readiness and release.
• Creating and maintaining project plans, milestones, priorities and responsibilities.
• Coordinating internal resources and monitoring progress against agreed timescales and budgets.
• Managing project risks, issues, dependencies and outstanding actions.
• Leading regular cross-functional project meetings and ensuring actions are followed through.
• Coordinating prototype builds, product trials, internal testing and external testing.
• Working closely with technical teams to ensure testing and validation requirements are completed.
• Liaising with external testing and certification partners.
• Ensuring test results, failures and corrective actions are properly documented and resolved.
• Managing the stage-gate process and ensuring projects only progress once the appropriate approvals are in place.
• Maintaining clear project documentation and traceability throughout the development process.
• Coordinating the handover of approved products into Production.
• Managing and prioritising the workload of a small team of technicians.
• Providing direction, support and performance management to the team.
• Reporting project progress, risks and key decisions to senior management.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional teams

People management

Stage-gate process

Documentation

Risk management

Education

Project management qualification

Job description

Rugby-based? Not specified. Cardiff-based manufacturing firm seeks an experienced NPD Project Manager to own multiple product development projects through to production readiness and final release.

The role requires leadership of cross-functional teams and a disciplined stage-gate process to ensure milestones, approvals and documentation are in place. The candidate will coordinate Design, Technical, Production and Quality teams, manage risks, and report progress to senior management.