What are the responsibilities and job description for the Product Development Manager position at Laminating Services Inc?
Position Overview
The Product Development Manager manages assigned wallcovering product lines and initiatives within Versa’s commercial and residential product portfolio. This role provides cross-functional linkage between Design, Technical, Operations, Finance, and Sales/Marketing by focusing on testing and functional performance, manufacturability, domestic and international product introduction, sales performance, lifecycle management, and select customer support. Key skills include preparation and interpretation of analytics, project tracking and management, financial performance determination, and presentation skills.
Key Responsibilities
- Work closely with Design and site Operations teams in execution and oversight of Master Lineplan, for both domestic and international production.
- Collaborate with Design and Operations to improve manufacturability of products by process validation, and conformance to agreed-to design parameters.
- Schedule, track, and summarize results of all trials for tooling, design, and process validation.
- Lead Product Assurance Function by scheduling, interpreting, and maintaining an organized library of all 3rd party and internal performance testing.
- Coordinate/communicate technical performance product specifications internally, on web site, and to customers.
- Provide product development support to international regional facilities as required.
- Assist Marketing/Sales with product training, customer presentations and key account support as required.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams on determining packaging options for new product types/categories.
- Interact with Finance to interpret analytics measuring product ROI, sales, mix, margin, inventory and SKU productivity performance across individual products, product types, categories and customers.
- Collaborate with Ops/Finance/Sales teams in development of and adherence to finished goods inventory strategy/plan.
- Identify opportunities for redeployment of discontinued and/or under-performing designs/colors
- Conduct ongoing market and competitive research across materials, product categories, design trends, pricing, performance attributes, etc.
- Work closely with Design, Global Business Development & R&D teams and customers on defining product needs and opportunities.
- Provide support to Executive Vice President as required.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from accredited 4-year college in Business, Design, Engineering, Technical or related field.
- 3-5 years’ experience in product management, product development, materials science, operations, or related field.
- Solid analytical skills with ability to create and interpret complex reports.
- Advanced Excel/SQL knowledge with ERP experience preferred.
- Team player able to work well across cross-functional teams, both domestically and internationally.
- Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
- Passion for design, materials and customer experience.
- Highly organized, detail oriented and comfortable managing multiple complex projects .
- Desire for advancement to Senior level position.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are the representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
**The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.