Product Development Manager
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What you'll do
- Develop and maintain strategic product roadmaps aligned with business goals.
- Conduct market research to identify opportunities, trends, and competitive insights.
- Define product requirements, specifications, and functional briefs.
- Lead concept development sessions to generate and evaluate new product ideas.
- Validate concepts through prototypes, customer testing, and internal reviews.
- Build business cases including cost targets, volume projections, and ROI.
- Collaborate closely with Engineering to ensure technical feasibility and manufacturability.
- Guide Creative teams on design direction and product intent.
- Partner with Sales and Account Management to translate customer needs into product solutions.
- Manage the end‑to‑end product lifecycle from concept through launch and post‑launch optimization.
- Monitor product performance and drive continuous improvement or value‑engineering initiatives.
- Ensure alignment across Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Operations for successful commercialization.
What they're looking for
- Proven experience in product development, product management, or innovation within manufacturing, industrial design, retail fixtures, or related fields.
- Strong understanding of product lifecycle management, product strategy, and concept-to-launch processes.
- Familiarity with design and engineering workflows; ability to read drawings and collaborate on technical requirements.
- Skilled in market research, customer insight discovery, and competitive analysis.
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams without direct authority.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling abilities.
- High level of creativity, problem-solving, and strategic thinking.
- Strong organizational and prioritization skills.
- Bachelor’s degree in Product Development, Industrial Design, Engineering, Business, or related field.
- 5+ years of progressive experience in product development or product management roles.
Nice to have
- Experience developing products involving wood, metal, plastics, or modular systems highly preferred.
- Experience supporting go‑to‑market planning and commercialization.
Summarised by NextRaise from the employer’s description, which follows in full below.
Full description from employer
It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing!
We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Product Development Manager leads the strategy, planning, and execution of new product initiatives from concept validation through commercialization. This role is responsible for identifying market opportunities, shaping product roadmaps, establishing product requirements, and ensuring successful launch and lifecycle management. The ideal candidate is a product‑minded strategist who excels at blending customer insights, market research, and manufacturing capabilities to deliver innovative, scalable solutions aligned with VIRA Insight’s business objectives. This role requires strong leadership, a deep understanding of retail fixture/manufacturing trends, and the ability to drive cross‑functional alignment across Creative, Engineering, Sales, and Operations.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and maintain strategic product roadmaps aligned with business goals.
- Conduct market research to identify opportunities, trends, and competitive insights.
- Define product requirements, specifications, and functional briefs.
- Lead concept development sessions to generate and evaluate new product ideas.
- Validate concepts through prototypes, customer testing, and internal reviews.
- Build business cases including cost targets, volume projections, and ROI.
- Collaborate closely with Engineering to ensure technical feasibility and manufacturability.
- Guide Creative teams on design direction and product intent.
- Partner with Sales and Account Management to translate customer needs into product solutions.
- Manage the end‑to‑end product lifecycle from concept through launch and post‑launch optimization.
- Monitor product performance and drive continuous improvement or value‑engineering initiatives.
- Ensure alignment across Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Operations for successful commercialization.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
This role may oversee or mentor Product Designers, Product Analysts, or cross‑functional contributors, depending on project scope.
(No direct reports required.)
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
- Proven experience in product development, product management, or innovation within manufacturing, industrial design, retail fixtures, or related fields.
- Strong understanding of product lifecycle management, product strategy, and concept-to-launch processes.
- Familiarity with design and engineering workflows; ability to read drawings and collaborate on technical requirements.
- Skilled in market research, customer insight discovery, and competitive analysis.
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams without direct authority.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling abilities.
- High level of creativity, problem-solving, and strategic thinking.
- Strong organizational and prioritization skills.
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree in Product Development, Industrial Design, Engineering, Business, or related field.
- 5+ years of progressive experience in product development or product management roles.
- Experience developing products involving wood, metal, plastics, or modular systems highly preferred.
- Experience supporting go‑to‑market planning and commercialization.
Company
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