New Product Innovation Manager - for manufacturing Job

Arkema•Milwaukee, WI

32d

About The Position

The New Product Introduction (NPI) Manager is responsible for leading cross-functional efforts to ensure successful launches of new products across the organization. This role manages the end-to-end process from concept to commercialization, ensuring alignment, readiness, and execution excellence, working collaboratively with the entire Marketing Team and R&D. The NPI Manager is responsible for project planning, risk mitigation, data readiness, and post-launch evaluation, ensuring that new products meet customer expectations and business goals.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in product development, commercialization, or project management
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Marketing, or related field, MBA a plus
Strong understanding of ERP systems and product lifecycle management.
Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
Understanding of Stage Gate style processes
Able to effectively organize, prioritize, and delegate work effectively within a team in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision
Must be able to act independently, while collaborating with a variety of internal and external teams
Leadership skills with experience and comfort in owning cross-functional projects
Ability to move projects from concept to completion
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Strong experience with MS Office: Excel and Powerpoint
Highly collaborative and have a strong sense of teamwork
Must be able to navigate a matrix organization serving multiple segments to optimize engagement in projects to drive results
Must be able to travel up to 20% of time
Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time

Nice To Haves

PMP or similar project management certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage major transitional projects including CAPEX and product transitions
Lead cross-functional teams through the product development lifecycle ensuring quality work outputs form all functions
Manage timelines, budgets, and deliverables to ensure on-time and on-budget launches.
Ensure the quality of marketing executables including 360 degree launch activation plans, pricing strategy, and needs based marketing
Effectively communicate project status and progress to North America and Global Leadership
Identify risks and develop mitigation plans.
Manage changes in scope, design, or timelines and communicate impacts to stakeholders.
Conduct post-launch evaluations to assess performance, gather feedback, and identify improvement opportunities for future launches.
Own and optimize the NPI process, including stage-gate reviews, documentation, and approvals.
Gather team input to build the business case for new products and champion through stage-gate process
Drive the new product and service ideas generation and selection process
Ensure compliance with internal standards and external regulations.
Work in tandem with leadership and category management to develop (3-5 year innovation plans) by product category / segment
Act as the central point of contact between departments to align product specifications, packaging, pricing, and go-to-market strategies
Facilitate communication and resolve roadblocks during development and launch phases.
Support market sizing and develop shopper / end-user insights to ensure that we’ve appropriately scoped the market opportunity
Complete post-launch assessment and next steps (assessing if we achieved the benchmark revenue, secured the planned customers, etc)
Supplement Category Manager Voice of the Customer work to frame up innovation opportunities and end user unmet needs
Link to the global team on the product roadmap and represent the region on global product developments
Through collaboration with Category Managers, maintain a product development roadmap that drives market share growth and channel expansion
Drive product portfolio management processes
Oversee or coordinate product setup in ERP systems, including SKUs, BOMs, pricing, and supply chain parameter
Ensure data accuracy and readiness for commercialization.
Ensure SKU management and launches align with product lifecycle
Supports the site HES policy and complies with all regulatory and internal requirements
Participates in HES activities provided by site management and Arkema Inc. (e.g., Behavioral Base Safety, SafeStart, etc.)
Supports and promotes the reporting of all health, safety, environmental, near-miss, accident or injury incidents