Head of NPD

JOB TITLE:                     Head of NPD

LINE MANAGER:          Chief Product Officer

LOCATION:                  Aylesford, Kent

WORKING HOURS: 8am - 4.30pm

A bit about the role

As the Head of NPD, you will play a pivotal role in steering our innovative product portfolio. Focusing on non-furniture categories that will include bathroom, lighting, medical beds and acute care design. You will build and lead a talented team of Design Engineers and Product developers and collaborate cross-functionally to design and develop groundbreaking new product innovations and solutions.

Some of the key responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a cross-functional team of product designers and engineers to ensure cohesive and efficient product development processes.
• Responsible for workload distribution across team members and support with managing priorities.
• Ensure timely delivery of products to market, coordinating with manufacturing and supply chain teams to meet launch deadlines.
• Communicate and manage our external prototype makers, tool makers and factory partners to develop new designs within agreed deadlines.
• Maintain regular communications with internal departments to ensure all aspects of the design requirement are included in the development process.
• Articulation of necessary modifications or adjustments to designs and prototypes as needed.
• Create and agree new product range selling prices and costing sheets with Senior Management.
• Ensure all our products are sufficiently protected with patents and or design registrations.
• Liaise with QC and aftersales to ensure that the products developed conform to the required quality standards.
• Attend design and manufacturing trade shows to keep up to date with industry trends, competitor offerings, and innovations.
• Attend customer/client meetings to discuss new product requirements, needs, and product feedback as needed.
• Ensuring all stage gate tasks have been completed in preparation for the planned new product launch date.
• Responsible for workload distribution across team members and support with managing priorities.
• Ensure team members keep a log of daily work timings to offer accurate work costings.
• Confidently manage the team, offering support & guidance with any issues that may arise, manage performance, and drive the department in meeting and exceeding set goals.

Requirements

• You are qualified in Industrial/Product/furniture design to degree level or equivalent Design engineering qualifications with experience working in a similar Design Engineer role.
• Experience leading, managing, and motivating a team.
• Confident in conducting appraisals and performance management, including disciplinaries and grievance meetings.
• Experienced in producing detailed drawings and designs for manufacture.
• Excellent experience with CAD packages—SolidWorks (essential), Fusion 360, and Autodesk Inventor (advantageous).
• Excellent IT skills with competent use of Microsoft Office (mainly Outlook and Excel).
• Good manufacturing knowledge in furniture or lighting.
• Excellent technical and engineering experience.
• Evident commitment to be an inspiring role model who encourages collaboration and constantly striving for business improvement.

• Comfortable managing multiple projects and working to tight deadlines.
• Confident, pro-active, approachable, and happy to turn your hand to anything required.
• Happy to work to tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• You embody our company people values:
  • Teamwork - Collaborate effectively with humility, appreciating and integrating individual skills and perspectives to achieve collective goals.
  • Committed - Dedicate yourself fully to your role, going above and beyond with self-motivation and loyalty to achieve individual, team, and company goals.
  • Ownership - Take full responsibility for your work, performance, and conduct, acting with integrity, staying organised, and learning from feedback and mistakes.
  • Positive - Approach tasks with optimism and innovation, viewing challenges as opportunities, and bringing energy and enthusiasm to inspire and motivate others.
  • Responsive - React quickly and effectively to needs and feedback, prioritising tasks with urgency, embracing change, and maintaining a proactive approach.

Why work for us

Pineapple is a leader in designing and manufacturing innovative furniture solutions for challenging environments. A family run company started in 1975, Pineapple is now a global business with headquarters in Kent (UK) and offices in France, Germany and the USA.

Pineapple still runs by its original ethos of creating mindfully designed furniture that not only works effortlessly and looks great but also helps foster a calm and supportive environment. Join Pineapple and be part of a team that is dedicated to making a difference through quality, innovation, sustainability and exceptional customer care.

Benefits

What we offer you

• Proudly featured in The Sunday Times as one of the Best Places to Work 2024
• Competitive pay
• Pension scheme
• Healthcare Cash Plan – You can claim for medical expenses, dentist or optical services, as well as access to 100s of deals and discounts
• 23 days annual leave + UK bank holidays
• Extra day’s leave for your birthday
• Workplace nursery scheme
• On joining we'll plant a tree in your honour
• Regular team socials and events
• Monthly pizza Friday
• Fruit and snacks are provided daily
• Employee referrals bonus scheme
• Recognition of excellence/Employee rewards schemes
• Company volunteering day
• High quality office environment
• Sustainability focused business
• Free onsite parking / walking distance from train station

We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons.  We look forward to hearing from you

Agencies we know where you are if we need any support, thank you for your interest in working with Pineapple.