Design Manager

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Design Manager to join a successful manufacturing and product design business. Reporting to the Senior Design Manager, you will be responsible for managing product design projects from initial concept through to manufacture, ensuring designs meet customer requirements, quality standards, cost expectations and agreed timescales.

Working closely with the wider Design, Engineering, Manufacturing and Commercial teams, you will play a key role in developing new products, improving existing designs and ensuring products are designed effectively for manufacture.

• Manage product design projects from initial concept through to production.
• Lead and coordinate design activities, ensuring projects are delivered on time and to specification.
• Work closely with sales & marketing teams to ensure designs are practical, efficient and suitable for manufacture.
• Support new product development (NPD) and product improvement projects.
• Work with suppliers and external partners where required to develop and refine products.
• Support prototyping, testing, validation and product launch activities.
• Identify and resolve design, technical and manufacturing issues.
• Manage design changes throughout the product lifecycle.
• Ensure designs meet relevant standards, legislation and company requirements.
• Contribute to continuous improvement across design processes and product development.
• Provide regular project updates to the Senior Design Manager and relevant stakeholders.

The successful candidate will have:

• Flexible to work demands
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Must be organised and be able to work under pressure to tight deadlines.
• Multitasking / building ranges.
• Quick to pick up new skills/knowledge.
• Analytical skills.
• Advanced IT skills.
• Planning, time management and organisation skills.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced product design professional to join an established manufacturing business, working alongside the Senior Design Manager and wider design team to deliver innovative, commercially viable and manufacturable products from concept through to production.