Research and Development Manager (R and D)

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (R&D)
Job summary:
A Research and Development Manager is responsible for leading the research, planning, and implementation of new products, ensuring they meet market needs and company objectives, while also overseeing the development and improvement of existing products.

Job responsibilities:
• Conduct in-depth market research with the sales and marketing group to understand consumer needs, identify emerging trends, and assess competitive products, ensuring alignment with market demands.
• Develop and manage the product development roadmap, aligning all initiatives with broader business objectives and goals, ensuring that products are developed on time and meet market expectations.
• Brainstorm and create innovative new product concepts, focusing on both functionality and cutting-edge design to enhance customer experience.
• Oversee the design, creation, and testing of prototypes, ensuring they meet high standards of quality, usability, and functionality before full-scale production.
• Establish and maintain robust quality assurance protocols throughout the product lifecycle, ensuring that all products meet both internal and external quality standards.
• Ensure that all products adhere to relevant regulatory and safety standards within target markets, reducing legal risk and ensuring consumer safety.
• Manage the full product lifecycle by identifying and resolving design, quality, or usability issues through root cause analysis, in collaboration with Quality Assurance and Manufacturing teams. Implement continuous improvements to enhance product quality and mitigate potential risks to the product or the brand.
• Work closely with design, procurement, and manufacturing teams to translate conceptual designs into tangible, high-quality products ready for market.
• Oversee product development projects, managing timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure successful product launches and minimizing any disruptions in the production process.
Continuously monitor emerging technologies, materials, and design trends in the furniture industry to keep products ahead of the curve and aligned with customer expectations.

Job qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Development, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in furniture product development or manufacturing is preferred.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and project management skills are essential.
• Knowledge of product development processes, manufacturing techniques, and relevant software.
• Ability to analyze market data, consumer feedback, and production costs to make informed decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• An understanding of furniture design principles and aesthetics is beneficial.
• Ability to identify and resolve technical and logistical challenges during the product development process.
• A high level of proficiency in design software (e.g., AutoCAD, SolidWorks) and project management tools.
• Proven track record of managing multiple complex product development projects.
• Demonstrates a proactive attitude with a strong can-do mindset, consistently seeking solutions and taking initiative
• Strategic thinking and ability to align product development with business goals.
• Demonstrates a strong work ethic with the ability to pivot quickly and adapt to changing circumstances, ensuring that project timelines and goals are consistently met, even when unexpected challenges arise
• Physically fit and able to meet the physical demands of the role, including lifting, carrying, and other manual tasks as required during product development and fieldwork.
• Willing and able to travel as needed for fieldwork, including visits to manufacturing sites, supplier locations, or customer interactions to oversee product development and quality assurance.