Manager, Product Development R&D

Newell Brands - Sandy Springs, GA

Full-time - Senior

Sandy Springs, GA

10,001+ employees

Miscellaneous Manufacturing

About the position

Newell Brands is a leading consumer products company with a strong portfolio of iconic brands such as Graco®, Coleman®, Oster®, Rubbermaid®, and Sharpie®. The R&D Manager will play a pivotal role in leading front-end innovation and product sustaining efforts for the Writing business unit. This position requires operating within a cross-functional team to ensure that the product innovation funnel meets consumer needs while adhering to a structured stage-gate process. The R&D Manager will champion engineering efforts from initial ideation through to final product launch, collaborating closely with Marketing, Industrial Design, and Consumer Insights to develop technology roadmaps that align with brand strategies. In this role, the R&D Manager will negotiate with Brand Development, Sourcing, and Supply Chain organizations to balance the needs of new product development (NPD), productivity, and product sustaining, ensuring optimal business outcomes. The manager will incorporate consumer and market insights to drive innovation and project execution, collaborating with support organizations to develop program Profit and Loss (P&L) and key drivers to meet established objectives regarding time, costs, and quality. A foundational understanding of product specifications, material selection, manufacturing processes, cost constraints, and the regulatory landscape is essential to drive high-quality, sustainable, and efficient new product development. The R&D Manager will also influence department budget development to ensure an appropriate balance of resources across projects, demonstrating an expert level of understanding of manufacturing processes and technologies. Monthly innovation funnel meetings will be facilitated to encourage a culture of curiosity and problem-solving, with a systematic approach to root-cause analysis and solution implementation. The manager will develop and manage the implementation of emerging and disruptive technologies to meet program objectives and will be responsible for preparing Invention Disclosure Forms to provide counsel on Intellectual Property (IP). Leading cross-functional workshops and design studies will be key to generating and evaluating concepts for feasibility and business alignment, while also being open to input from a diverse creative team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical product development team to sustain and deliver a product innovation funnel that meets consumer needs while managing through a stage-gate process.
• Champion the engineering efforts from front-end ideation to final product launch.
• Partner with other disciplines including Marketing, Industrial Design, and Consumer Insights to develop and deliver technology roadmaps that drive brand strategies.
• Negotiate with Brand Development, Sourcing, and Supply Chain organizations to balance the needs of NPD, productivity, and product sustaining.
• Incorporate consumer and market insights to act as a driver of innovation and project execution.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with support organizations for developing both program Profit and Loss (P&L) and key drivers to ensure projects meet established objectives (time, costs, quality).
• Investigate and champion program success requirements that achieve objectives in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Incorporate a foundational understanding of product specifications, material selection, manufacturing processes, cost constraints, and regulatory and legal landscape IP to drive high quality, sustainable, and efficient new product development.
• Influence department budget development to ensure appropriate balance of resources across projects (people and bought costs).
• Demonstrate an expert level of understanding of manufacturing processes and technologies to produce a product and influence technology choices.
• Facilitate monthly innovation funnel meetings for the functional team.
• Tackle problems and conduct root-cause analysis to implement solutions using a systematic approach.
• Develop and manage the implementation of emerging and disruptive technologies to meet program objectives.
• Recommend and prepare Invention Disclosure Forms submissions to provide Intellectual Property (IP) counsel.
• Lead cross-functional workshops and design studies to generate and evaluate concepts for feasibility and business alignment.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or similar required.
• 10 years of product development experience.
• 2 years management experience preferred.
• Demonstrates ability to effectively lead, mentor and develop employees.
• Demonstrates a proven track record of leading successful launches of durable consumer goods (on-time, on-cost, on-budget, and on-specification).
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills with evidence of systematic approach for identifying problems, root-cause analysis, and implementing corrective action.
• Demonstrates experience with intellectual property and the patent process.
• Demonstrates effective planning/organizational skills with an ability to multi-task and set priorities.
• Demonstrates strong rapid prototyping/design validation model building skills.
• Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of relevant manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills - verbal and written.
• Demonstrates history of working as a leader and as a member of a team.
• Demonstrates proficient computer skills (Excel, Word, Outlook, Project, and PowerPoint).

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with Technology Research or Technology Roadmapping.
• Excellent people skills demonstrated and aligned with Newell Values and culture.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to positively influence others and create a passion for winning.