New Product Introduction Manager

James Hardie•Wilmington, OH

7d•$130,000 - $160,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced NPI (New Product Introduction) Manager to lead the successful development and launch of new products across multiple manufacturing sites and product lines. In this strategic leadership role, you will drive cross-functional teams through the Stage-Gate process, ensuring products move efficiently from concept to commercialization while meeting quality, cost, performance, and business objectives. As a key member of the Engineering organization, you will collaborate closely with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to deliver successful product launches, optimize manufacturing readiness, and continuously improve the NPI framework to support innovation and speed to market.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial, Materials, or related discipline).
5+ years of leadership experience managing engineering, manufacturing, or other technical teams.
2+ years of experience in product development, process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or New Product Introduction within a manufacturing environment.
Proven success leading large-scale NPI projects through a Stage-Gate or similar product development process.
Strong understanding of Design for Manufacturability (DFM), FMEA, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and process validation methodologies.
Excellent project management, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related discipline.
Experience within the building products manufacturing industry.
Experience presenting project updates and recommendations to senior leadership teams.

Responsibilities

Lead multiple New Product Introduction (NPI) projects through the Stage-Gate process, ensuring milestones, deliverables, and launch objectives are achieved.
Manage cross-functional project teams spanning Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Commercial functions.
Drive product commercialization efforts from concept development through full-scale production.
Lead project reviews and provide executive-level updates on project status, risks, timelines, and key business decisions.
Identify and mitigate technical, operational, and supply chain risks using structured problem-solving and risk management tools.
Ensure Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles are incorporated early in the product development process.
Oversee production trials, validation activities, and manufacturing ramp-up across multiple sites.
Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to develop scalable production processes and define capital investment requirements.
Establish and monitor key performance indicators including quality, cost, manufacturability, and time-to-market.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the NPI process utilizing Lean, Six Sigma, FMEA, and other data-driven methodologies.
Ensure compliance with applicable safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
Promote effective knowledge transfer, documentation, and best practices across the organization.