New Product Development Manager

JOB PURPOSE
Graphic Packaging International is one of the largest manufacturers of paperboard and paper-based packaging for some of the world’s most recognized brands of food, beverage, foodservice, household, healthcare, beauty, and pet care products. As part of the regulation change for Plastic replacement, customers are looking a privileged partner to propose innovation that can comply with the regulation and strengthen their brands. As a result, the NPD Commercialization Manager – EU Beverage is responsible for overseeing new product and product extension commercialization. The positions will coordinate and manage the commercialization project management team and liaise closely with structural design, packaging machinery as well as the sales team, to execute on key customer initiatives / new product launches (Packaging approval, internal / external trials, pack testing through to market launch). The position will play a critical role to support the sales team as required with technical presentations and enquires

KEY RESPONSABILITIES
Manage all aspects of packaging projects, from packaging solution presentation, customer approval, final testing, machinery approval, and market launch.
Leads and manages the regional commercialization managers - primary role being to, take a project after concept development through market launch, working closely with structural design, machinery and carton manufacturing.
An interface between Customer, Sales, Carton Design, Packaging Machinery and Manufacturing by providing regular project situational reporting, weekly reports etc
Organises and facilitates project meetings of representatives from each group to communicate progress and maintain project timelines for key projects
Develops and implements project plans and schedules for timely project completion and communicates these as required
Create, analyses and evaluate product development timelines and proactively raise concerns/solutions if timelines are impacted
Attends line trials and customer interface meetings to support sales, machinery and manufacturing
Work with NPD Leadership to develop and streamline internal processes for the introduction of new products within design, operations, and packaging machinery
Protects our Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets by managing information and relationships with customers and suppliers.

KPI’S
-Project delivery in time
-Customer satisfaction rate
-Innovation net Sales per year

TECHNICAL SKILLS
- Degree level education with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the packaging industry, packaging machinery or structural design, preferably in a folding carton environment
-Previous Beverage Packaging or project management experience preferred
-A minimum of 3 years of leadership experience
-Languages preferred
-Continuous improvement experience desirable – Sigma certified
-Project Management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines on a continuous basis

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Solution Oriented
Building Effective Teams
Project leadership Skills
Customer Orientation
Innovative thinker
Structured and organised
Ability to take decisions
Organizational Agility