At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative product development and shape the future of engineering solutions.
- Company: Join James Fisher, a global leader in engineering services with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, early finishes on Fridays, and a supportive culture.
- Other info: Clear career development pathways and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in safety and innovation while driving commercial success.
- Qualifications: Proven NPD experience, strong leadership skills, and a degree in Engineering.
The predicted salary is between 61408 - 70089 £ per year.
This role is central to shaping and delivering JFD’s New Product Development (NPD) portfolio. It is responsible for creating a clear and compelling pipeline of innovation that will define our future capability, deliver cutting-edge solutions for our customers, and fuel sustainable business growth. By bringing new products to market that align with customer needs and strategic priorities, this role will play a key part in driving commercial success.
What you'll be doing:
- Lead and monitor delivery across the NPD portfolio, ensuring progress aligns with agreed timelines and budgets.
- Drive accountability across project teams to deliver against plans through effective oversight and governance.
- Ensure consistent application of engineering processes and best practices throughout the function.
- Develop and maintain a clear NPD portfolio roadmap aligned to business strategy and priorities.
- Ensure full compliance with safety standards, stage-gate governance, and customer requirements.
- Work closely with NPD Project Managers and Integrated Project Teams to ensure effective portfolio execution.
- Ensure all NPD activities meet regulatory, export control, and cybersecurity requirements.
- Track and deliver against key portfolio KPIs, including schedule, cost performance, and capability maturity.
- Champion continuous improvement in NPD through the use of lean, agile, and systems engineering approaches.
- Support the integration of emerging technologies (e.g. AI, autonomous systems, advanced materials) into product development pipelines.
What we're looking for:
- Proven experience delivering New Product Development (NPD), R&D, or innovation projects.
- Strong technical leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, develop, and guide high-performing teams.
- Commercially astute, with an understanding of how engineering decisions impact business outcomes.
- Collaborative leadership style, with experience empowering teams and driving cross-functional working.
- Experience operating within robust governance frameworks, ensuring compliance while delivering complex programmes.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, able to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Degree-qualified in Engineering (or equivalent), with Chartered Engineer status (or willingness to obtain), and experience within a technical IT environment; defence sector experience would be advantageous.
Why join us?
- Early finish on Fridays.
- Competitive salary and benefits package aligned with experience (Private Medical Insurance, Life Assurance, Cycle to work scheme, Company Pension, etc.).
- Clear pathways for career development and organisational visibility.
- Inclusive and supportive culture that values individual contributions.
- Meaningful work with impact across safety, innovation, and global operations.
Head of New Product Development in Westhill employer: James Fisher and Sons
At James Fisher, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive culture that values individual contributions. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through clear pathways for career development and a competitive benefits package, including private medical insurance and a cycle-to-work scheme. Located in Westhill, Aberdeen or Inchinnan, Glasgow, you will be part of a dynamic team driving innovation in the defence sector, with meaningful work that has a global impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of New Product Development in Westhill
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like James Fisher and Sons.
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like James Fisher and Sons.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of New Product Development in Westhill
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at James Fisher and Sons that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at James Fisher and Sons and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at James Fisher and Sons
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at James Fisher and Sons, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show James Fisher and Sons that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At James Fisher and Sons, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
