TITLE:  PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

REPORTS TO:  Vice President - Custom Design

ABOUT BLU DOT: 

Blu Dot is a successful and innovative fast growing company that designs and produces award-winning furniture for our Blu Dot collection (visit www.bludot.com) and custom designs furniture for leading national retailers.

SUMMARY: 

 The Product Development Manager is responsible for making sure the right product gets into stock at the right time. While the senior management team will determine product direction and oversee the issuing of the product brief, it will be the PDM who marshals the resources, both internal and external, necessary to bring the product to life and get it into the market.Once a new product brief is issued, the PDM assembles an overall schedule and begins working with a cross-functional team within Blu Dot that includes Design, Engineering, Sales and Supply Chain Management. While these specialists do not report to the PDM, the PDM coordinates all of their efforts to meet the program objectives. In most cases the PDM works very closely with the VP-Custom Design and our customers to ensure the customers' schedules and objectives are met and their expectations are exceeded.

GENERAL DUTIES:

• Responsible for coordinating internal and external resources to meet all in-stock dates for products in development. (Internal resources include Design, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, VP-Custom Design and Finance. External resources include customers, third party testing facilities, sourcing agents, factories and freight companies);
• Ensure that new products meet all company-defined objectives, as well as industry standards and customer requirements;
• Communicate schedules, objectives, requirements and critical next steps to the cross-functional product team on a timely basis;
• Responsible for managing the costing and quoting process and ensuring the validity and accuracy of all costs from suppliers;
• Provide timely information and support to Supply Chain Management as necessary during sourcing and quoting;
• Proactively identify threats to the product (schedule, quality, cost, etc) and lead the effort to mitigate or eliminate these threats;
• Establish and track budgets for each new product or program;
• Development, implement and manage new processes and documents as needed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the product development process.

REQUIREMENTS:

• 5 years of experience in product development or product management, preferably working with furniture or home goods;
• Experience with large national retailers (e.g. Target) is a plus;
• BA degree;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Excellent attention to detail;
• Sense of urgency;
• Willingness and desire to take ownership of projects and outcomes;
• Excellent proficiency with Microsoft Excel and proficiency in all other Microsoft Office applications;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to manage, motivate and work well with others and be a Team Player;
• Strong negotiating skills;
• Enthusiastic, friendly demeanor;
• Some domestic and international travel is required.