Director, Product Development

The Director of Product Development is responsible for organizing, planning, and directing the efforts of a multi-discipline engineering team to introduce company defined strategic products to the market. In addition, the Director of Product Development is responsible for the entire life-cycle of the strategic product line. This includes routine maintenance of a product as carried out in the Engineering Change Process, design to cost efforts, all the way to product sunsetting and eventual replacement.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Directs the activities of the Product Development Department which include New Product Introduction as well as the Engineering Change Process.
• Collaborates with cross-functional global teams, participates in strategic product roadmap discussions and planning with Global/Local Product Management
• Selects, develops, trains and supervises staff.
• Plans and formulates aspects of development proposals such as applications that can be used from feasibility findings, costs of a project, return on investment, and strategic resource staffing.
• Leads cross-functional project teams in the design and development of products through a phase-gate project development process from concept to launch.
• Communicates effectively with multidisciplinary teams to monitor project progress, manage critical path activities, and to ensure adherence to project milestones and timelines.
• Communicate regularly project status, budget and schedules through verbal and written reports to Global/Local Management.
• Works with Quality to support regulatory activities related to the introduction of new products, responds to QA issues raised either by internal or external sources, as well as responding to internal and external process audits (i.e., FAA, ISO, other regulatory bodies).
• Works with production to support production line setup with the introduction of new products, and also supports production during periods of irregular operations which include BOM, assembly, and test questions.
• Works with the Supply Chain to help validate vendors’ ability to produce parts as designed as well as assist in the effort to find alternate parts and vendors to ease availability and delivery issues.
• Participates with Global/Local managers to interpret strategic plans and objectives and to implement them in tactical solutions.
• Plans and implements the establishment of product specifications, manufacturing improvements, test equipment, and introduction of new products to the market.
• Acts as the technical liaison with management staff
• Plans project and department budgets
• Recommends and implements changes to processes, budgets, and schedules.
• Assists in developing, modifying, and executing company policies which affect immediate operations and may also have company-wide effect.
• Acts as technical champion of the Product Lifecycle Management process including the phase-gate design strategy

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Directly supervises several management level employees as well as manages several non-exempt level employees in the Product Development Department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

COMPETENCIES:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Budgets/Cost Control Plans for and uses resources efficiently, always looks for ways to reduce costs, creates accurate and realistic budgets, tracks and adjusts budgets, contributes to budget planning.

Communication Communicates well both verbally and in writing, creates accurate and punctual reports, delivers presentations to both internal and external customers, shares information and ideas with others, has good listening skills.

Decision Making/Judgment Recognizes problems and responds, systematically gathers information, sorts through complex issues, seeks input from others, addresses root cause of issues, makes timely decisions, can make difficult decisions, uses consensus when possible, communicates decisions to others.

Initiative Tackles problems and takes independent action, seeks out new responsibilities, acts on opportunities, generates new ideas, practices self-development.

Job Knowledge Understands duties and responsibilities, has necessary job knowledge, has necessary technical skills, understands company mission/values, keeps job knowledge current, is in command of critical issues.

Product Knowledge Knows and explains product features/benefits, understands/sells the full product line, understands customer’s business operations and needs, understands/responds to the competition, applies market knowledge.

Technical Skills Technical understanding of products and Engineering Disciplines ( Hardware, Mechanics, and Software) so as to be the key technical resources for others, keeps knowledge up-to-date, follows technology practices and standards.

Managing Performance Applies clear/consistent performance standards, handles performance problems decisively and objectively, is direct but tactful, provides guidance and assistance to improve performance.

People Development Provides feedback and coaching, rewards hard work and risk taking, takes mentoring role, challenges and develops employees, accepts mistakes, provides visibility/opportunity.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
• At least 7 years’ experience in product development with at least 5 years’ experience leading a team of Engineers
• Demonstrated project management skills
• Possess strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Hands on manager with outstanding leadership, teambuilding, and problem solving skills.
• Ability to recruit and retain high caliber staff. Must be a developer of people through professional and personal mentoring.
• Strong results orientation and possess ‘get the job done’ attitude.
• Excellent communication skills including an ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams to meet product development objectives.
• Ability to work effectively with all levels of the organization and across all functions.
• All candidates must have legal authorization to permanently live and work in the United States without visa or employer sponsorship.
• Requires approximately 10% – 20% of travel both domestically and internationally.