NPI Engineering Manager in Cheltenham

Salary up to £70K (subject to skills and experience) + fantastic benefits including company bonuses, car cash allowance, private medical cover and generous pension scheme.

Designing award‑winning products for our market‑leading brands – Mira Showers, Rada, and Recoup – is our lifeblood. We focus on investment in the best technology and resources available, and in each individual. Whether you arrive at our factories in Cheltenham or Hull, have a visit from a Service Engineer or pick up the phone to our Customer Service team, you’ll instantly see that, no matter our department or location, we all share the same values at Kohler Mira. From day one you’re part of the Kohler Mira community – a collaborative, forward‑focused team with a shared pride in our work and commitment to delight our customers, develop innovative products and services and inspire our people.

The Role

A senior leader position accountable for the effective leadership and management of an entire support function covering the Cheltenham site. Member of the senior leadership team for the Manufacturing function.

New Product Integration (NPI)

Accountable for New Product Integration focused on:

• Supporting the Business Manufacturing Strategy over a 3‑year rolling timeline.
• Delivering senior leadership focused initiatives and strategic improvements.
• Proactive compliance and development of new product operational capability to achieve Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery and People (SQCDP).
• Manufacturing readiness through pilot build, production ramp‑up, and handover to Production.
• Working cross‑functionally with NPD, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end NPI activity from manufacturing concept through to production handover.
• Ensure all new products are introduced in line with the company NPI governance process (e.g. gated development frameworks).
• Own pilot builds, production ramp‑up, and early life support to ensure stable manufacture.
• Create manufacturing systems that deliver competitiveness for the Cheltenham site against cost, quality, and delivery.
• Provide manufacturing input into product design, ensuring robust DFMA.
• Ensure manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, and documentation are fully validated prior to release to production.
• Identify, assess and manage manufacturing risks throughout the NPI lifecycle.
• Communicate project status, risks, and readiness clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Define equipment, tooling, fixtures, and control system requirements for new products.
• Lead the design, specification, and functional testing of manufacturing systems and packaging solutions.
• Work closely with Assembly Manufacturing Engineering, Production Improvement and Production teams to deliver scalable, repeatable manufacturing solutions.
• Develop and manage manufacturing cost models for new products.
• Define and control capital expenditure associated with new product integrations.
• Support and/or lead continuous improvement and Kaizen activity linked to new introductions.
• Ensure effective transfer of processes, documentation and ownership to Production and Assembly Manufacturing Engineering teams.
• Support shopfloor teams during early production to embed stable processes.
• Support site reviews, leadership walkthroughs, and global NPI engagement as required.
• Deliver successful, stable on‑time new products into production.
• Deliver against approved capital and product costs.
• Lead, inspire, coach and develop the skills of direct reports.
• Manage reports in line with company standards and policies.
• Set objectives and monitor performance of direct reports in line with the Kohler Co Maximising Performance process.
• Represent Kohler co. in working groups; contribute to local discussions on implications of new initiatives.
• Ensure appropriate resourcing aligned to project complexity and portfolio demand.

Skills & Requirements

• Proven competence and previous success in an engineering leadership role, with significant exposure to New Product Introduction, typically 8+ years experience within a manufacturing/assembly environment.
• Experience and application of lean principles, manufacturing processes, automation, labour efficiency, capital planning, operations finance, and industrialisation.
• Experience working within gated NPI/NPD frameworks, and knowledge of DFM/A principles.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to assess risk and make balanced decisions under time and cost pressure.
• Confident decision maker with strong delivery focus.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Comfortable operating between strategic intent and hands‑on execution.
• Collaborative leadership style with ability to influence across functions.
• Bachelor and/or Masters Degree in manufacturing engineering, operations or related technical field.

Benefits

We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation.

Equal Opportunity

Kohler Mira is committed to diversity and inclusion to drive our business results and create a better future every day for our diverse associates, consumers, partners, and global communities. As an equal opportunities employer, it is Kohler Mira’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified people in all job classifications without prejudice.