Manager - New Product Development - Manufacturing

We are looking for a dynamic and driven Senior Manager - New Product Development (NPD) to lead end-to-end product innovation and development initiatives across our portfolio. This role requires a blend of creativity, technical expertise, industrial design understanding, and strong vendor management skills to bring high-quality, consumer-centric products to market.

Key Responsibilities:

1. New Product Development & Innovation:

- Lead the end-to-end NPD lifecycle from ideation, concept development, prototyping to commercialization.

- Identify market gaps, consumer needs, and emerging trends to drive innovation.

- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain) to ensure product-market fit.

- Drive speed-to-market while maintaining product quality and cost efficiency.

2. Industrial Design & Product Engineering:

- Work closely on industrial design aspects including product aesthetics, ergonomics, usability, and packaging.

- Coordinate with internal/external designers to create functional, scalable, and visually appealing products.

- Ensure design feasibility with manufacturing constraints and cost targets.

3. Vendor Management (Preferred):

- Identify, onboard, and manage domestic & international vendors/manufacturers.

- Negotiate pricing, timelines, and quality standards with suppliers.

- Drive vendor performance through regular reviews, audits, and relationship management.

- Ensure smooth transition from development to mass production.

4. Cross-functional Collaboration:

- Work closely with Procurement, Quality, Supply Chain, and Marketing teams for seamless execution.

- Align product specifications with brand positioning and pricing strategy.

- Ensure regulatory and compliance adherence for all products.

5. Quality & Process Excellence:

- Establish quality benchmarks and oversee product testing and validation.

- Implement continuous improvement in product development processes.

- Troubleshoot product-related issues post-launch and drive enhancements.

Key Requirements:

- Experience: 6-10+ years in New Product Development, preferably in D2C, FMCG, consumer goods, or manufacturing sectors.

- Proven experience in industrial design coordination / product design exposure.

- Strong experience in vendor management and sourcing (preferred).

- Demonstrated track record of successfully launching products in the market.

- Good understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and costing.

- Strong project management and stakeholder management skills.

- Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.