At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage the entire product development process from concept to launch in a dynamic team.
- Company: Fast-growing, design-led furniture brand with an exciting expansion phase.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, bonus schemes, and exclusive employee discounts.
- Other info: Great opportunity for career growth and work-life balance.
- Why this job: Join a creative team and make a real impact on innovative furniture products.
- Qualifications: Experience in product development and strong supplier management skills required.
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. You will ensure critical paths are managed effectively, development milestones are achieved and all product and launch requirements are delivered on time, and coordinate product development with manufacturing partners in China.
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 Development Exec in Stevenage employer: Strive Supply Chain
Join a fast-growing, design-led furniture brand in Stevenage as an NPD Product Development Exec, where you'll be part of a dynamic team driving innovation and expansion. Enjoy a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing with hybrid working options, competitive salary, and comprehensive benefits including exclusive discounts and an Employee Assistance Program. This role offers significant opportunities for professional growth and collaboration with international suppliers, making it an exciting place to develop your career in product development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land NPD Product Development Exec in Stevenage
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Strive Supply Chain!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Strive Supply Chain would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Strive Supply Chain through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace NPD Product Development Exec in Stevenage
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like NPD Product Development Exec, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the NPD Product Development Exec position at Strive Supply Chain. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Strive Supply Chain
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
