Product Development Project Manager
At Luxor, we create an innovative and forward thinking culture that our employees love, and our products reflect this.
As a manufacturer of innovative workspace product solutions that are sold to the commercial, educational, industrial and other end markets, we are constantly developing functional products that are value priced.
Under our Stand Up Desk Store brand, we create workspace furniture solutions that nurture a healthy and collaborative work environment.
GENERAL PURPOSE:
The Product Development Project Manager (PDPM) is responsible for the cradle to grave management of New Product Development (NPD) projects.
The PDPM will also execute and oversee internal and external design teams in creating new products.
The PDPM will work directly with suppliers in all areas concerning product development.
The PDPM will integrate creative thinking into all aspects of their job responsibilities and provide guidance and recommendations to the cross-functional groups within Luxor.
Given the PDPM s knowledge and experience, projects will be managed with a minimum of functional supervision.
Other responsibilities include gathering and prioritizing product customer requirements, defining the product vision, working closely with Product Management, Sales, Design Consultancies, Marketing Communications, Supply Chain, Suppliers, and Customer Support to deliver winning products that ensure incremental revenue, customer satisfaction, time to market, and margin goals are met.
While involved with the entire product lifecycle, the Product Development Project Manager s main focus is on driving new product development from the point of concept definition through production.
These products will be highly differentiated and deliver meaningful, preferred benefits possessing superior value to the customer to solve their most important needs.
In short, the Product Development Project Manager must initiate, create, capture, nurture, promote, manage, and deliver innovation.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND
Responsibilities:
Functional Duties and
Responsibilities:
- Work with Product Management to define the product though the Business Case Justification (BCJ) forms which contains prioritized features, financial estimates, feasibility analysis, positioning, messaging, packaging design and corresponding justifications
- Proactively develop, maintain, drive and communicate project timelines to broader cross-functional team on a weekly basis
- Be knowledgeable with respect to competitors and their activities to identify product differentiation opportunities
- Understand customer dynamics and Voice of the Customer to make quality product decisions with those in mind
- Identify and evaluate sources of new products in partnership with Sourcing
- Create, communicate, verify and validate product specifications to internal and external designers for all projects
- Consult with and problem-solve technical product design and manufacturing details with domestic and overseas suppliers, industrial designers, and engineering firms
- Create own designs in CAD as needed to support design effort
- Work with Quality Control to translate specifications into Product Quality Plans
- Ensure that current and historical information involved in the development of projects are being properly archived for future reference
- Assist with patent reviews and research as needed
- Facilitate project meetings with the cross-functional and NPD team
- Bring new ideas, concepts, and categories to the NPD team on a regular basis
- Confirm all projects pass each point of the NPD process from concept to production
- Collaborate with Marketing in the completion of sell-sheets, customer-facing specifications, and user instructions
- Work directly with suppliers on quotes and product development
- Support and grow relationships with all suppliers
- Meet all deadlines as established in coordination with the Product Development Manager and continuously ensure alignment of project priorities
OTHER DUTIES AND
Responsibilities:
- Travel to shows and factories as needed
- Assists other department team members where possible
- General business skills including the ability to understand requirements from a strategic perspective and translate those requirements to meet expectations and future needs
- Identifies achievable goals and methods of handling customer requirements/requests with team members.
- Demonstrates strong leadership, interpersonal skills and teamwork
- Improves, streamlines and implements standardized processes and procedures
- Works on projects and tasks requested by the department manager
- Maintains and updates the relevant product information in systems including items, descriptions, costs, etc.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
- Strong creative thinking and brainstorming
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Strong Project Management capabilities
- Strong mechanical aptitude
- Strong research and sourcing skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to interact credibly within management and all levels of functional areas
- Deep understanding of the design process
- Organization of multiple projects across multiple brands
- Ability to sketch ideas and concepts to communicate intent
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
- Work History Requirements:
- At least 8 years' experience in managing complex, long-term, cross-functional projects designing for a wide variety of materials/manufacturing processes as well as products needing compliance with national and industry certifications.
- Experience in working with overseas manufacturers a plus
- Highly skilled and functionally literate on latest project management techniques with specific examples of on-time delivery of cost-appropriate, high-quality goods resulting in market success.
- High attention to detail
- At least 8 years' experience in managing complex, long-term, cross-functional projects designing for a wide variety of materials/manufacturing processes as well as products needing compliance with national and industry certifications.
- Experience with uncovering and translating customer/consumer needs into relevant products
- Excellent teamwork skills coupled with excellent written and verbal communication skills, a polite and approachable demeanor, and a proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without formal authority
- Working hours must be flexible as required by each project, e.
g.
, late-night phone calls to Asian suppliers or early departures for out-of-town meetings are sometimes required.
- Education Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design or Engineering required
- PMP certification a plus
Computer equipment and level of software requirements:
- Expert in 3D modeling software such as Solidworks or Rhinoceros
- Must possess a high competency with common office software such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
- Experience with project management software such as MS Project required
- Experience in rendering software such as Keyshot or 3d Studio Max a plus
- Intermediate Level in Adobe Creative Suite a plus
- Intermediate Level in ERP systems preferred
Intangibles:
To be successful, the individual will need to possess the following characteristics:
- An empathetic perspective for end-users and customers, noticing details that others fail to, and revealing desirable latent unmet needs
- Holistic thinking that does not rely only on the simple analytical solutions, but can recognize all the important components of a challenging problem and create inventive solutions that greatly enhance existing options
- Optimism that assumes that there is one or more unique solution that beats the other known alternatives
- Inquisitive nature that asks questions and challenges constraints in unconventional ways that lead in unexplored directions
- Enthusiastic interdisciplinary collaborator with more than one area of expertise to share with the team
Specific Knowledge, licenses, certifications REQUIRED:
- None
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- None
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:
- None
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Ability to assemble and test products as needed
- Ability to build proofs of concept as needed
- Occasional lifting and assembly in the general office environment up to 40 lbs.
PHYSICAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:
- Occasional use of machines that require basic safety equipment like safety glasses and protective gloves.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Usual office working conditions, with some basic workshop demands.
EBSCO Industries, Inc.
is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws.
EBSCO strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), age, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.
EBSCO complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act, and all applicable state or local law.
.Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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