New Product Development Manager

Location:

• Birmingham – B18 6LT

Salary:

• £40,000-£48,000 depending on experience

Benefits:

• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
• Option to buy or sell 5 days holiday per annum
• Profit related bonus scheme
• Workplace pension scheme
• Life Assurance (4x gross annual salary)
• Private Medical Insurance
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Employee Assistance Programme with access to counselling services
• Access to Sage Benefits platform offering retail discounts
• Loans for parking and travel
• Cycle scheme
• Eye test vouchers
• Staff purchase scheme and discounts

About the role

Reports to: Creative Director

Direct Reports: NPD Administrator(s), NPD Designer(s), CAD Coordinator, 3D Visualisation Executive

In this dynamic and fast paced role, you will be responsible for leading and facilitating all aspects of the Product Development process, developing products to meet committed launch dates. You will be responsible for creating and maintaining project timelines, developing processes, driving execution, identifying, and resolving issues, and communicating to the wider business on project status, risks and changes. You will have strong facilitation skills, manage through ambiguity and complexity, and support multiple projects. Your key responsibilities will encompass project management, business operations & staff management.

Role responsibilities

• Scope and prioritise projects based on business and customer impact.
• Determine the success of projects and strategize where to best put departmental resources.
• Create project timelines and implement schedules with different departments.
• Ensure New Products hit the market at the optimal time.
• Collaborate and share product knowledge with the sales, manufacturing, ops & QA teams.
• Ensure accuracy of master data for all products.
• Work with teams across the Business to manage the life cycle of products.
• Liaise with the marketing manager to ensure all planned comms align with, and support, the product strategy.
• Ensure all products are fit for repeat manufacture; support the design team in approving new resins.
• Resolve product faults in an efficient and effective manner.
• Support the 3D Visualisation Executive to deliver best in class imagery and digital assets.
• Management of NPD budgets and stock.
• Gain understanding of the systems and tools used across the team; recognise inefficiencies and identify potential solutions.
• Identify, test and onboard new suppliers based on project requirements.
• Work with the management team to identify cross-departmental process improvements.
• Staff management; provide direction to prioritise workloads, ensure reporting and project accuracy.
• Develop staff for future growth and capitalise on their strengths; build key skills, assign stretch projects, identify areas for improvement, coach staff through one-on-one and group meetings.
• Completion of all HR documentation; pro-active management of time and attendance, sickness and performance issues across the team.

Candidate requirements

• Prior Product Development experience, preferably in jewellery.
• Ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.
• Capability to be flexible and adapt to changing priorities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Proven project management skills.
• Process-oriented.
• Strategic thinking.
• Accurate and attentive to details.
• Possesses aesthetic sensibility.
• Ability to lead others and function effectively in a team environment.
• Ability to manage and uphold departmental standards and business direction.
• IT literate; proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with readiness to learn new software.
• Fine jewellery knowledge, to include manufacturing processes and techniques, is preferred but not essential.
• Basic diamond and gemstone knowledge desirable.

About our business

Domino Jewellery is a leading bridal and fine jewellery manufacturer, based in the heart of Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter. With an enviable reputation for design excellence, quality, and innovation, we have exciting plans for further growth.