Product Development Manager
- Auckland
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Lead a team of nine structural and graphic technicians - delivering accurate artwork and product samples to customers, with the goal of being our customers' best supplier.
- Team development & performance, fostering a collaborative team culture; driving continuous improvement in customer service, team productivity and quality of output.
- Innovation, Design and Technical Development - translate customer briefs into executable design projects, ensuring alignment with production capabilities, materials, and manufacturing constraints.
- Partner with key customers and suppliers - project manage new product innovations, from concept to commercialisation (including patent registration where applicable), to further Oji Fibre Solutions market growth strategy.
- Stay informed on market trends, new materials, sustainability initiatives, emerging product, print and design technologies, packaging/packing equipment etc with our customer needs front of mind.
- Customer and Supplier Engagement - providing proactive & clear communication to external & internal customers of production timelines and expectations.
- Deliver consistent, high-quality service and technical support that enhances customer satisfaction and builds long-term customer relationships.
- Manage Oji Fibre Solutions Design product, material and software suppliers & contracts.
- Financial, Planning and Operational Excellence - a focus on improving productivity & customer service through digitisation of the Design function, manage and approve all quotes and invoices, oversee customer-facing digital platforms ensuring system performance, data security, and user experience are optimised.
- Financial metrics - track and report key metrics.
- Ensure data integrity across all customer and production interfaces and maintain proper version control, access management, and audit trails.
- Environment, Health, Safety and Risk - Lead, develop and maintain a safety-first culture through visible leadership and ensuring the adherence to safe practises
- 3+ years Management within packaging technology or manufacturing or art and design area
- A proven understanding of health and safety management.
- Print industry training in Flexographic and/or Lithographic processes.
- Packaging knowledge - raw materials, products, machinery, preprint, post print etc.
- Understanding of engineering principles in packaging functionality.
- Experience with intellectual property / patents.
- Computer literacy across MIS, SAP, Microsoft Office, and design platforms. Experience with WorkflowMax and other job management tools.
- Commercially savvy whilst focusing on customer service excellence.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, experience in managing internal and external stakeholder relationships.
- Continuous improvement mindset.
- Self-driven, highly organised with strong problem-solving skills.