At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage the entire product development process from concept to launch in a dynamic team.
- Company: Join a fast-growing, design-led furniture brand with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid working, bonuses, and exclusive employee discounts.
- Other info: Great career growth opportunities and supportive work-life balance.
- Why this job: Be part of an exciting expansion and make a real impact on innovative products.
- Qualifications: Experience in product development and strong supplier management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 45000 £ per year.
Our client is a fast-growing, design-led furniture brand. Working at the centre of a small, dynamic team including the founders, you will be joining them at the start of a period of expansion in the UK following huge success abroad. Sitting within the Supply Chain team, the role will be responsible for managing the New Product Development (NPD) pipeline from approved concept through to successful launch.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage end-to-end NPD critical path from approved concept through to launch, ensuring key milestones and deliverables remain on schedule.
- Maintain a clear and accurate rolling pipeline of all products in development, including timelines, actions, dependencies and launch dates.
- Coordinate prototypes, samples, revisions, specifications, testing and approvals throughout the development process.
- Work backwards from agreed launch dates to ensure production, samples, photography, product information and Marketing requirements are completed at the right time.
- Identify risks or delays early and coordinate recovery plans with factories and internal teams to protect launch dates.
- Coordinate with factories to ensure product photography, imagery, dimensions, specifications and product information are completed accurately and supplied on time.
- Manage the handover of factory imagery and product information to Marketing for website renders, CGI, retouching and other customer-facing assets.
- Ensure samples and product information required by Marketing, Operations and other teams are available in line with the launch critical path.
- Provide clear and regular updates to stakeholders on pipeline status, upcoming milestones, risks and launch readiness.
- Support post-launch reviews and incorporate relevant learnings into future product development and launches.
China Factory Supplier Management:
- Manage day-to-day product development relationships with factories and suppliers in China.
- Lead regular development meetings to review the NPD pipeline, progress against critical paths, outstanding actions and upcoming deadlines.
- Provide factories with clear briefs, specifications, feedback and approval requirements.
- Coordinate factory deliverables including samples, revisions, costing, testing, product information, photography and production requirements.
- Work with factories to resolve issues relating to product development, quality, manufacturing, cost and lead times.
- Identify supplier or production risks that could impact launch dates and escalate where appropriate.
- Use customer feedback, returns, product reviews and quality data to identify opportunities for product improvement.
- Ensure products meet relevant regulatory, compliance and internal quality requirements.
Experience Needed:
- Previous experience in product development, NPD, sourcing or a related product role, ideally within furniture, homewares, interiors or physical consumer products.
- Experience working directly with factories and suppliers in China is highly desirable.
- Strong understanding of physical product development from concept and sampling through to production and launch.
- Excellent critical path and pipeline management skills, with the ability to manage multiple products and launch dates simultaneously.
- Strong supplier management skills, with the confidence to follow up, challenge and escalate where required.
- Highly organised, with excellent attention to detail and follow-through.
- Proactive in identifying risks and resolving issues before they impact the critical path or launch date.
- Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to coordinate effectively across internal teams and international suppliers.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary
- Free onsite parking
- Hybrid working (3 days Office/ 2 days WFH)
- Bonus Schemes
- Annual leave entitlement + bank holidays, tailored to support work-life balance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Wellbeing support
- Exclusive employee discounts across a wide range of well-known retailers and brands
A fabulous opportunity awaits; we look forward to your application.
NPD Product Develpment Executive in Slough employer: Strive Supply Chain Services Ltd
Join a fast-growing, design-led brand as a Demand Planning Analyst in Stevenage, where you'll be at the heart of an expanding supply chain team. With a strong focus on employee growth, this role offers hybrid working, a competitive salary, and a 10% bonus scheme, alongside opportunities for progression within a dynamic environment. Experience a supportive work culture that values analytical thinking and collaboration across departments, making it an excellent place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in their careers.
Contact Details:
Strive Supply Chain Services Ltd Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land NPD Product Develpment Executive in Slough
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We think you need these skills to ace NPD Product Develpment Executive in Slough
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✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
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