Product Development Manager

Position: Product Development Manager
Department: Project Management
Shift: Dayshift- Exempt Position
Reporting To: Director of Engineering & Technical Services

Function Overview:
The Product Development Manager will work directly with cross functional departments, external suppliers, in addition to a broad network of Greiner factories and corporate center, in order to seamlessly execute high complexity and capital intensive projects. The Product Development manager will be responsible for owning and coordinating all aspects of developing thin wall packaging / and high barrier products from initial ideation to commercialization. The function will own Research & Development initiatives, Project Management & client technical support.
The role is key to helping to build a sustainable business model and scaling innovations to ensure business growth.

Subordinate reporting / key interfaces within total organization:
➢ No subordinates for this position at this time but it is planned for the future
➢ Key Company Interfaces: President, Sales Director, Production Director, International Project Management Team, Procurement

Duties
➢ Provide leadership to Product Development department personnel & manage performance through KPI’s and project budget / timeline adherence & accuracy.
➢ Serve as primary interfacing department for customer development / product implementation projects:

• Technical support of sales department from RFQ phase through commercialization.
• Successfully manage relationship with client & cross-functional internal stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain relationships with 3rd parties/ vendors and customers.

➢ Interface with machinery/mold vendors for technical specification/configuration development in conjunction with Engineering / Production Departments.
➢ Provide input as required into the investment budget planning & controlling with coordination with related parties (i.e., finance, purchasing, production, engineering, quality).
➢ Responsible for driving & executing R&D strategic initiatives & budget controlling.
➢ Effectively plan project schedules & budgets with focus of risk mitigation for flawless execution.
➢ Visit customers & vendors as needed to execute product/equipment development & acceptance.
➢ Effectively utilize available tools & GPI standards for project controlling to monitor progress and provide comprehensive overview reports to top level management.

• Resources
• Time
• Budget
• Content

➢ Lead the coordination & analysis of results for trials (including but not limited to: resins formulations, raw materials, packaging, machinery, molds, & process parameters)
➢ Internal training & knowledge-transfer regarding technological developments & processes.
➢ Aid in company research of the market research & investigation of developments in the field of plastics processing/products.
➢ Strive to always look for product improvements, efficiency, & cost savings opportunities.

• Light-Weighting Opportunities, Redesigns etc….

➢ Actively participate in Greiner R&D / Global Technology & Excellence groups.

• R&D Expert Panel Meetings
• Innovation search fields
• Idea generation & submission with GPI Innovation management.

➢ Manage & update product development processes/procedures & records to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies (ie: FDA, SQF, ANSI, ISO..)
➢ Oversee product design & development records / database.
➢ Drive health & safety culture throughout company.
➢ All other assigned duties based on business requirements

Requirements:
See four below area’s that make up the credentials being sought after for this role.
1.) Academic:

➢ Bachelors degree in Polymer / Mechanical / Industrial Engineering, Design, or Project Management

2.) Experience:

➢ Strong Experience within global thin wall packaging manufacturing industry

➢ Fast Moving CPG environment experience

3.) Competencies (hard):

➢ Working experience of SharePoint Based Project management - Philosophy & practices.

➢ Strong knowledge of thin wall packaging mold design, manufacturing, configuration / specification (Injection / Thermoforming / K3 decoration / Ultra-Brilliance Printing)

➢ Expertise in 2D/3D CAD platforms (Solidworks, AutoCAD, Moldflow, Creo)

➢ Understanding of machinery / mold blueprints

➢ Expertise of polymeric resins, colorants, processing aid and their functional affect on product design / performance at end customer production filling lines.

➢ Knowledge of Greiner deployed K3 & Ultra-Brilliance technologies.

Behavioral Drives (Soft):
➢ Focused; and can concentrate on multiple tasks / projects at the same time.

➢ Dependable, consistent, and patiently thoughtful.

➢ Works at a steady, unwavering pace.

➢ Unhurried and deliberate, stable

➢ Will do things using the established processes and procedures.

➢ A focused, uncritical listener

➢ Methodical, steady, and even-paced;

➢ Detail-oriented and precise; follow-through is deep and literal to ensure tasks are completed in accordance with quality and technical standards.

➢ Concise and direct; will ask questions, take time to carefully consider the answers, and use as few words as possible to get their point across

➢ Thinks about the steps necessary for successful implementation; they won’t over-commit or over-promise on what they can deliver

➢ Strong team player with ability to combine hands-on approach to problem solving.