This international Company is a People Leader that will achieve results through engaging, motivating, inspiring, coaching, leading and managing day to day running of the Product Development Team and the R&D project portfolio including but not limited to the development and management of new and enhanced products and support existing products for the Company. This involves close partnership and support to the Sales and Marketing Teams in their activities towards our customers, enabling them to bring innovations to the market and to our Procurement to integrate solutions from our suppliers. Manage budgets, set targets and contribute to and implement overall business strategy. This role will also ensure communications/representations to inside groups and external contacts including suppliers, customers, trade associations, universities/development houses, consultants.
Duties & Responsibilities
Responsible for reporting and monitoring product development pipeline, project prioritization and project selection
❑ Identify new concepts and develop them into profitable, highly qualitative products that correspond to customer/market needs
❑ Overall project management responsibilities to include manufacturing requirement are met, targets are set, projects are on schedule and positive customer relationships remain strong with single market stream
❑ Develop and or determine the strategy for innovation and R&D that has the aim to improve existing market value proposal
❑ Drive sustainability agenda in line with the Group
❑ Innovate on processes, products, working methods, continuously detect where there is potential for improvement and apply new and better applications
❑ Manage and map out the Transfer of Company Technology map
❑ Intellectual Property-Develop and manage intellectual property and confidentiality agreements. Coordinate the approval process by legal parties
❑ Efficient execution of trial developments and on time delivery to customers
❑ Technical support to the manufacturing plant for process and product optimization
❑ Source new developments in raw materials & support Procurement in the validation process for alternative sources of raw materials
❑ Develop, motivate, coach the team and nurture an innovative spirit
❑ Performance Management & Manpower Planning Training and Development of technical staff as well as maintain technological intelligence which include the Field Technical Service
❑ Engage with industry bodies & Trade association to influence positive goodwill in favor of the Group
Desired Experience & Qualification
Tertiary qualification in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering or Material Science
❑ Business Management degree will be an added advantage
❑ Minimum of 5 years technical/manufacturing management experience in a packaging conversion environment at a senior level with extensive exposure to customers and suppliers
❑ Excellent knowledge of raw materials related to packaging specific plastics applications
❑ R&D product management portfolio management
❑ R&D stage gate process management
❑ Comprehensive understanding of technical terms in the packaging environment
❑ Strong Management and Leadership Capabilities
❑ Ability to make logical decisions and adapt quickly to change
❑ Able to work independently with minimal supervision in cross functional teams
❑ Excellent communication skills
❑ Excellent Computer literacy
❑ Effective project management capabilities
❑ Effective execution of unplanned demands from the market
❑ Keep up to date with global packaging developments
❑ Building talent and effective teams
