Senior Product Development and Design Manager

Michael Page; Guildford; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits with a premium Consumer Goods brand, seeking a Senior Product Manager to lead the product development process. This role involves managing the entire lifecycle of product development, from ideation to commercialization, ensuring high-quality and market-leading products. You will work closely with various teams to align product strategies with business goals, mentor direct reports, and drive continuous improvement in product design. This innovative firm offers a hybrid working environment and a competitive salary, making it a great place for career progression and personal growth. If you have a passion for product development and a proven track record, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Pension Contribution

25 days holiday

Career progression opportunities

Hybrid working

Qualifications

• 7+ years in new product development with a strong track record.
• Experience in managing multiple projects and leading teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end product development process for high-quality products.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop innovative product solutions.

Skills

Leadership Skills

Project Management

Problem-Solving

Communication Skills

Strategic Thinking

Education

Degree in Business, Marketing, or Design

Job description

• Exciting Senior Product Management Opportunity
• Hybrid Working: 2-3 days in Dorset

About Our Client

A premium Consumer Goods brand based in Dorset.

Job Description

• Lead and manage the end-to-end product development process, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, market-leading products, within the agreed timescales
• Work with the Management Team to define the NPD strategy. Develop and manage product roadmaps, ensuring alignment with company objective
• Deliver the annual financial NPD budgets as part of the 3 year rolling NPD roadmap and understand their end-users
• Identify market opportunities and lead research to gather insights into end-user needs, market trends, and competitor activity. Use this knowledge to develop new product ranges.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including sales, other marketing functions, finance, purchasing, and operations, to develop innovative product solutions that meet end-user needs, trade customer requirements and align with business goals
• Create and present business cases for new product ideas as part of the commercial approval process Commercial proposals will include pricing recommendations, product profitability analysis, competitor bench-marking, end-user and trade customer propositions, estimated launch costs, potential risks, and any other strategic benefits
• Manage the product development lifecycle, including concept ideation, prototyping, testing, and commercialisation. Included in this lifecycle approach are annual recommendations for discontinued skus
• Drive continuous improvement in product design, functionality, and user experience to ensure products remain competitive and meet evolving market demand
• Review existing portfolio performance on a quarterly basis to identify performance trends and identify any issue
• Work with other functions to make recommendations
• Mentor and lead one direct report, fostering a cross-business collaborative and entrepreneurial team culture
• Support Sales & Demand Planning to agree new product launch forecasts. This will be a monthly sales forecast for the first 12-18 months of launch
• Measure performance against these monthly forecasts
• Ensure all product development activities comply with relevant regulations, quality standards, and industry best practices including ESG
• Build and maintain relationships with various sourcing teams, external suppliers, and key partners, to facilitate the smooth execution of product development projects
• Lead supplier negotiations for NPD projects working in collaboration with the purchasing function. Drive for continual improvement from suppliers regarding ethical and sustainable best practices

The Successful Applicant

• Proven experience (typically 7+ years) in new product development with a demonstrated track record of successfully bringing products to market. Design experience also key
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and guide teams across the business toward achieving shared goals
• Excellent project management skills, with experience in managing multiple projects simultaneously and meeting deadlines
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think strategically and creatively.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organisation
• A degree in Business, Marketing, Design, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience)
• Experience working within Consumer goods is a key requirement
• Premium Brand experience desirable

What's on Offer

• Competitive basic salary
• Pension Contribution
• Hybrid working
• 25 days holiday
• Great place to work with career progression beyond this role