Product Development Manager - Manufacturing Firm

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Program Leadership:

- Lead and manage all NPD programs from concept through production for global clients.

- Act as the single point of contact for program planning, execution, and delivery.

- Align product development goals with business, manufacturing, and client expectations.

Cross-Functional Coordination

- Collaborate with Product Design, Engineering, Tooling, Sourcing, QA, and Manufacturing teams.

- Ensure integration of design, prototyping, validation, compliance, and ramp-up processes.

Client Engagement:

- Engage directly with international clients/OEM partners to manage expectations, timelines, and deliverables.

- Support technical discussions and program status reviews with clients and internal stakeholders.

Process & Governance:

- Implement standardized program management frameworks and stage-gate processes.

- Develop KPIs, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms for program visibility and decision-making.

Risk & Change Management:

- Proactively identify program risks and implement mitigation strategies.

- Manage change requests, product iterations, and scope control without compromising timelines or cost.

Key Qualifications:

Education - BE/B.Tech in Mechanical, Industrial, or Production Engineering (mandatory)

- MBA/PGDM in Operations or General Management

Experience:

- 15-20 years of experience in program management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.

- Proven track record in managing end-to-end NPD programs in high-volume manufacturing and seasonal environments

- Experience in toy manufacturing, consumer electronics, plastics, FMCG or precision assembly is a strong advantage.

- Exposure to global compliance standards (ASTM, EN71, CPSIA, etc. ) is desirable.

Skills:

- Strong program management and stakeholder alignment skills

- Deep understanding of product development life cycles, tooling, prototyping, and DFM/DFA in Toys

- Excellent communication, leadership, and team-building capabilities

- Familiarity with PLM, ERP, and project management tools (MS Project, Asana, Jira, etc