NPI & Product Delivery Manager

NPI & Product Delivery Manager

Hastings, East Sussex | Circa £55,000 + Bonus & Benefits

Join a growing consumer electronics business behind an iconic brand and take ownership of innovative new products from the design and development phase through to volume far-east manufacture and successful market launch.

This is a varied and influential position combining new product introduction, technical project delivery, overseas manufacturing and operational coordination. Based at the company's UK head office in Hastings, you will work closely with internal design and commercial teams while coordinating international engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and logistics partners.

You will ensure new products are delivered on schedule, within budget and ready for reliable volume production. For the right individual, the position offers scope to develop into a broader role with increasing operational responsibility.

The opportunity could suit an experienced NPI Manager, Product Delivery Manager, Technical Project Manager, Product Development Manager, Engineering Project Manager or Hardware Project Manager seeking greater ownership and long-term career development.

The NPI & Product Delivery Manager Role

You will take responsibility for the successful delivery of consumer electronics products from the post-concept development stage through to manufacturing, production readiness and launch.

Working across electronics, mechanical engineering, software, quality, manufacturing and commercial functions, you will provide the structure, coordination and leadership needed to keep complex development programmes moving forward.

You will play an active role in resolving delivery challenges, coordinating overseas partners, reviewing costs, managing changes and ensuring products can be manufactured successfully at the required quality, volume and commercial cost.

Responsibilities

As NPI & Product Delivery Manager, your responsibilities will include:

• Taking ownership of NPI (New Product introduction) programmes from post-concept development through to volume manufacture and launch
• Creating and maintaining detailed project plans, delivery schedules, milestones and resource requirements
• Coordinating cross-functional teams across commercial and manufacturing activities
• Working closely with overseas engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and logistics partners
• Prioritising engineering activities and helping internal teams and external partners resolve project blockers
• Coordinating the transition of new products from development into reliable and repeatable volume production
• Ensuring manufacturing partners are prepared for tooling, pilot builds, product testing, production ramp-up and full manufacture
• Managing engineering change processes, requests for information, requests for quotation and product development documentation
• Reviewing supplier quotations, tooling costs, development expenditure and product cost information
• Monitoring project budgets, timescales, risks and dependencies
• Identifying delivery risks at an early stage and implementing practical mitigation plans
• Supporting supplier selection, engagement and ongoing performance
• Ensuring products meet relevant quality, regulatory, compliance and commercial requirements
• Providing clear progress updates to senior management and other key stakeholders
• Contributing to process improvements that strengthen future product development and operational performance

About You

You will be an organised, commercially aware and tenacious product delivery professional with experience managing complex projects within an engineering or manufacturing environment.

Be comfortable working across multiple technical disciplines and coordinating people who may be based in different countries, companies and time zones.

You can ideally demonstrate:

• Experience delivering physical products through development, NPI and manufacture
• An understanding of product development, engineering and manufacturing processes
• Experience working with offshore manufacturers, or contract manufacturers, external development teams or international supply chain partners
• Strong project planning, scheduling and resource coordination skills
• Experience creating and managing detailed plans using recognised project-management tools
• Commercial awareness, including experience reviewing supplier quotations, development costs, tooling expenditure and product costs
• An understanding of prototype, pre-production and volume-manufacturing processes
• The confidence to challenge delays, establish priorities and hold internal and external stakeholders accountable
• The ability to balance technical, commercial and operational priorities
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build productive relationships with suppliers, engineers and senior stakeholders
• A practical and solutions-focused approach to resolving project and manufacturing challenges

You do not need to be the technical authority in every engineering discipline. However, you must be comfortable working with electronics, software and mechanical engineering teams, asking informed questions and driving actions through to completion.

Desirable Experience

Experience in any of the following would be advantageous, although it is not essential if you have a proactive and tenacious approach:

• Consumer electronics, audio products, music technology, electronic instruments or related hardware products
• Managing complex hardware development or NPI programmes
• Electronics manufacturing and assembly
• Tooling, pilot builds, production ramp-up and manufacturing transfer
• Product testing, quality assurance and production-readiness processes
• CE marking, product certification, compliance and approval requirements
• Working with manufacturers or engineering partners based in Asia
• Engineering change control and structured product documentation
• A degree, HNC or HND in electronics, software engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering or a related discipline
• A recognised project-management qualification, such as PRINCE2, PMP or Agile certification

Career Development

This is an opportunity to join the business at an important stage in its growth and make a visible contribution to its future product and operational capability.

Although the initial focus will be on NPI and product delivery, the responsibilities may broaden as the business develops. For the right individual, the position offers scope to develop into a broader role with increasing operational responsibility. This could include greater involvement in:

• International manufacturing operations
• Supply chain and logistics
• Supplier performance
• Product costing and commercial delivery
• Operational processes and systems
• Business-wide planning and performance

Why Apply

• Join a growing consumer electronics business behind a highly recognisable and iconic brand
• Take ownership of innovative hardware products from development through to manufacture and launch
• Work closely with international engineering and manufacturing partners
• Influence how new products are developed, introduced and delivered
• Join a business with an exciting product roadmap and ambitious growth plans
• Gain exposure to overseas manufacturing, supply chain and logistics operations
• Benefit from the scope to take on broader operational responsibilities as the business develops
• Receive a competitive salary, plus bonus and benefits