JOB TITLE: New Product Development Manager REPORTS TO: Sales & Marketing Manager DEPARTMENT: Technical RESPONSIBLE FOR: Product Development Chemists (shared responsibility) JOB PURPOSE: · Highly creative, development of new, innovative commercially viable 'sustainable products for the business in a timely manner to support the long term business development strategy.· Lead the innovation pipeline through creative thinking, customers request or with external partnerships, joint ventures or university research.· To support business development by looking at current trends and turning identified opportunities into commercial prospects through customer interaction, by thoroughly understanding the customer’s application and by providing solutions to their issues.· Manage commercial stakeholders across the wider business. KEY ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES: Product Development· Work with the Business Managers and Sales & Marketing Manager to develop the product development strategy.· Link in to central R&D and the wider global R&D teams.· Develop long term innovation plans aligned to the growth of the business.· Build a strong technical relationship with potential customers and suppliers and partner with them.· Support technical demands from the customer.· Work with potential customers to meet their demands for technical information about our product and the application.· Accompany the Sales & Marketing Manager and/or the Business Managers on visits to potential customers and business growth accounts in order to provide technical information, updates on projects and discuss performance issues and how they can be improved.· Support the Sales team with technical information for new products.· Develop new products to enter new markets · Ensure optimum balance of application performance with product cost.· Prepare for and attend customer trials and meetings.· Review relevant documents to support sales, manufacturing and quality activities.· Test new products products to ensure market understanding.· Evaluate raw materials and new materials to support the development and innovation pipeline.· Manage the development of test methods for products to transfer through to the quality team.· Manage the process for the development of new products through to scale up in to production trials. SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: Product Development· Work with the Business Managers and Sales & Marketing Manager to develop the product development strategy.· Link in to central R&D and the wider global R&D teams.· Develop long term innovation plans aligned to the growth of the business.· Build a strong technical relationship with potential customers and suppliers and partner with them.· Support technical demands from the customer.· Work with potential customers to meet their demands for technical information about our product and the application.· Accompany the Sales & Marketing Manager and/or the Business Managers on visits to potential customers and business growth accounts in order to provide technical information, updates on projects and discuss performance issues and how they can be improved.· Support the Sales team with technical information for new products.· Develop new products to enter new markets · Ensure optimum balance of application performance with product cost.· Prepare for and attend customer trials and meetings.· Review relevant documents to support sales, manufacturing and quality activities.· Test new products products to ensure market understanding.· Evaluate raw materials and new materials to support the development and innovation pipeline.· Manage the development of test methods for products to transfer through to the quality team.· Manage the process for the development of new products through to scale up in to production trials.· Liaise with local Teams to support QC & manufacturing to ensure the continuity of the formulations. Team Leadership· Shared leadership of direct reports and their teams to ensure the Product Development team is working efficiently and effectively.· Improve the performance, results and the development of the team through all aspects of the employee life cycle: recruitment, induction, appraisals, goal and objective setting, 1:1s, personal development planning, training, coaching and attendance management.· Ensure that the Product Development team engages productively with other business functions and sites.· Undertake any other tasks and duties as required by the Company QUALIFICATIONS · Batchelor’s degree in a physical science (e.g. chemistry, materials science, polymer science, physics, chemical engineering) · Significant proven experience in the development and on time delivery of the innovation pipeline· Dynamic, hands on approach to development projects· Working with external partners; trade associations, universities and suppliers· Researching the relevant markets and identifying trends· Production processes relevant to our business and those of our customers· Formulation management· Product development and presenting the benefits to customers· Working with suppliers to develop technical benefits to the products· Demonstrable experience in a relevant customer facing role· Managing internal and external stakeholders· Raw materials and their application in products· Internal and external customer relationship building· Understand formulations· High level of literacy and numeracy · IT literacy including Excel· Time management · Research· Interpersonal skills · Commercial awareness· Inquisitive and curious· Ability to build good working relationships KEY COMPANY RESPONSIBILITIES: · Promote and adhere to the Company’s core values: Integrity, Collaboration and Excellence.· Operate within the Company’s formal Limits of Authority at all times.· Contribute to and engage in continuous improvement and initiatives.· Maintain a high standard of housekeeping in line with 6 S practices. · Adhere to Health and Safety, Quality, Environmental and PPE policies and procedures recognising a personal ‘Duty of Care’ to themselves, their colleagues and the wider environment.· Ensure high quality standards are maintained, adhere to the Company vision and standards and operate in a safe and ethical manner at all times.
Job Title
New Product Development Manager