Senior Project Manager - New Product Development

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement savings

Hybrid work in East London

Career progression

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Project Manager to lead new product development initiatives in East London. You will drive ideation through market launch, coordinating R&D, manufacturing, marketing, and sales to ensure timely, high-quality products.

You will guide scope, timelines, budgets, and vendor relationships, with a strong emphasis on PLM, agile practices, and stakeholder management. This role offers a hybrid work setup in the Eastern Cape.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in project management, with focus on new product development.
• Proven track record of successfully launching new products in consumer goods.
• Strong understanding of product lifecycle management and agile methodologies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills.
• Experience managing budgets and cross-functional teams effectively.
• Proficiency in project management software (MS Project, Jira, Aha!) and product development tools.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment, with experience in hybrid settings.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Passion for innovation and understanding consumer needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and execution of new product development projects from ideation to market launch.
• Define project scope, objectives, deliverables, timelines, and resource requirements.
• Manage cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment and effective collaboration throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Oversee project budgets, track expenses, and manage vendor relationships.
• Identify and mitigate project risks, including technical challenges, market risks, and resource constraints.
• Coordinate with R&D, engineering, design, marketing, and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless product integration.
• Ensure product quality, regulatory compliance, and adherence to safety standards.
• Manage the go-to-market strategy and launch planning in coordination with marketing and sales teams.
• Track project progress, key milestones, and KPIs, reporting to senior management regularly.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in the NPD process.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Agile methodologies

Product lifecycle management

Budget management

Cross-functional teams

Problem-solving

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field

MBA preferred

Tools

MS Project

Jira

Aha!

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading innovator in consumer goods, is seeking an experienced and visionary Senior Project Manager to lead new product development (NPD) initiatives. This role is critical to bringing groundbreaking products from concept to market successfully. You will manage cross-functional teams across R&D, marketing, manufacturing, and sales to ensure timely and high-quality product launches. The ideal candidate possesses a strong understanding of product lifecycle management, agile development, and market dynamics, coupled with exceptional leadership and project management skills. This position, based in East London, Eastern Cape , offers a hybrid work arrangement, providing a balance of essential in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. Join us in shaping the future of consumer products.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and execution of new product development projects from ideation to market launch.


• Define project scope, objectives, deliverables, timelines, and resource requirements.


• Manage cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment and effective collaboration throughout the product development lifecycle.


• Oversee project budgets, track expenses, and manage vendor relationships.


• Identify and mitigate project risks, including technical challenges, market risks, and resource constraints.


• Coordinate with R&D, engineering, design, marketing, and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless product integration.


• Ensure product quality, regulatory compliance, and adherence to safety standards.


• Manage the go-to-market strategy and launch planning in coordination with marketing and sales teams.


• Track project progress, key milestones, and KPIs, reporting to senior management regularly.


• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in the NPD process.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, or a related field; MBA or relevant Master's degree preferred.


• Minimum of 7 years of experience in project management, with a significant focus on new product development.


• Proven track record of successfully launching new products in the consumer goods or related industry.


• Strong understanding of product lifecycle management and agile methodologies.


• Excellent leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills.


• Experience managing budgets and cross-functional teams effectively.


• Proficiency in project management software (e.g., MS Project, Jira, Aha!) and product development tools.


• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment, with experience in hybrid settings.


• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.


• Passion for innovation and understanding consumer needs.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, performance-based bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package, including medical aid and retirement savings.


• We are dedicated to your professional growth, providing opportunities for advanced training, industry certifications, and attendance at relevant conferences.


• The hybrid work model in East London supports a healthy work-life balance.


• Our client fosters an innovative and collaborative culture, encouraging creativity and team synergy.


• Excellent career progression opportunities exist within our dynamic and growing organization.


• Join a team committed to delivering exceptional products to the market.