Santoro is an award-winning design house which creates and distributes a broad variety of gift, stationery and lifestyle collections including 3D pop-up greetings cards, character brands and luxury interiors lines. We are seeking a highly organised and detail-oriented New Product Development Assistant to support our product lifecycle processes — taking concept development through regulatory compliance processes to a successful market launch.
This role combines hands-on product support with administrative and regulatory responsibilities. You will help ensure our products not only are commercial and meet performance and quality standards, but also comply with all relevant legislation, certifications, and international trade requirements.
This role would suit either:
- An experienced product development or compliance professional looking for a diverse and challenging role, or
- A bright, motivated graduate with strong organisational skills, initiative and a creative eye, looking to build a career in product development, purchasing and compliance.
We are particularly interested in individuals who are hard-working, resilient and engaged, who will relish the challenge of working across a critical path full of a variety of demanding projects.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development Support
- Assist the production team in turning creative concepts into fully realised stationery and gift products.
- Coordinate new product development projects with international suppliers, with a particular focus on APAC suppliers.
- Develop product concepts from a variety of sources, combining online research with in-store comp shopping, to identify trends, opportunities and points of difference.
- Track multiple projects simultaneously, monitoring cost, schedule, and quality requirements.
- Manage supplier sourcing activities, including identifying and vetting potential suppliers and obtaining initial quotations to assess product viability.
- Conduct sample quality control checks and document required improvements.
- Manage and monitor production schedules to ensure timely delivery.
- Liaise with suppliers to obtain technical data, samples, and declarations.
- Set packaging briefs to meet legislative labelling requirements and cross check conformity.
- Maintain product specifications and technical files.
- Drive improvements in the use of materials to improve sustainability.
- Support fulfilment of FOB orders and special customer accounts, including processing manuals, communicating instructions, and managing outcomes.
- Provide ad hoc support to our product development, marketing and sales teams.
Technical, Compliance & Regulatory Support
- Maintain compliance documentation including declarations of conformity, technical files, and risk assessments to fulfil obligations for traceability and demonstrate due diligence.
- Research and monitor relevant legislation and regulatory requirements, ensuring product compliance with applicable UK, EU and USA standards and directives.
- Coordinate product testing with accredited external laboratories where required.
- Monitor and research regulatory updates and communicate changes to relevant teams.
- Maintain certification records and support customer enquiries.
- Compile, review and monitor supplier audit records to aid selection of reliable partners.
- Prepare and provide compliance documentation for exports.
Role Requirements
- Top grades throughout education including a high degree grade in a relevant subject
- Ideally 2+ years’ experience in a relevant role but open to ambitious graduate applications
- Strong organisational skills and a meticulous eye for detail
- Ability to work accurately and efficiently under pressure
- Capable of analysing and presenting technical information clearly and concisely
- Great interpersonal skills and a clear, concise communication style
- Proactive, logical and solution-focused mindset
- The ambition and confidence to develop a specialism within this role
- A good level of proficiency in Microsoft Office programs
- Good understanding of regulatory frameworks and product standards (desirable)
- Familiarity with import/export documentation processes (desirable)
- Flexitime
- On-site parking
- Supportive and collaborative working environment
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New Product Development Assistant employer: Santoro Ltd
Santoro is an exceptional employer that fosters a creative and supportive work environment, perfect for those looking to kickstart their career in sales and customer relations. With a focus on personal development, employees are encouraged to enhance their skills while working with beautiful, innovative products and building meaningful relationships with customers worldwide. The close-knit team culture ensures that every member feels valued and empowered to contribute to the company's success.
