Product Innovation & Development Lead

UFP Industries, Inc.; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

UFP Industries, Inc. seeks an experienced Senior Industrial Designer / Product Development Manager to lead from concept to commercialization. You will drive product concepts, prototypes, and designs aligned with customer insights and business goals, collaborating with engineering, manufacturing, and marketing to accelerate innovation.

The role emphasizes applying Design Thinking and Lean Innovation, facilitating workshops, and guiding Stage-Gate processes to build organizational capability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or closely related field (Required).
• 5-7 years of product development experience.
• Experience developing physical products from concept to commercialization.
• Experience collaborating with engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and commercial teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of new physical product concepts from opportunity identification through launch.
• Translate customer needs, market insights, and business objectives into compelling product solutions.
• Create and evaluate product concepts, prototypes, and design specifications.
• Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing teams to ensure design feasibility and commercialization success.
• Lead projects through structured Innovation and Stage-Gate development processes.
• Facilitate ideation sessions, design sprints, and innovation workshops.
• Apply Design Thinking, Lean Innovation, and customer discovery methodologies to identify unmet market needs.
• Conduct concept testing and consumer validation activities.
• Support portfolio management and prioritization activities.
• Build strong relationships and influence decision-making across multiple levels of the organization.
• Present concepts, recommendations, and project updates to senior leadership.
• Conduct customer interviews, ethnographic research, usability studies, and competitive assessments.
• Translate consumer insights into actionable design and development opportunities.
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, materials, and manufacturing innovations.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Design thinking

Lean innovation

Customer discovery

Workshop facilitation

Project leadership

Prototype development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design or related field

Job description

UFP Industries, Inc. seeks an experienced Senior Industrial Designer / Product Development Manager to lead from concept to commercialization. You will drive product concepts, prototypes, and designs aligned with customer insights and business goals, collaborating with engineering, manufacturing, and marketing to accelerate innovation.

The role emphasizes applying Design Thinking and Lean Innovation, facilitating workshops, and guiding Stage-Gate processes to build organizational capability.