Senior Product Development Manager

Our client is one of the most respected names within the UK Protective Workwear Industry and they pride themselves on their great products, competitive pricing and outstanding customer service. Established in 1996, they have been designing, manufacturing and supplying protective workwear and PPE to businesses across the UK and Ireland and their products are trusted across many industries such as, construction, manufacturing, food production and healthcare, and are supplied through a national network of specialist distributors with whom we have forged long lasting relationships. They own and operate their own factory, giving us direct control over quality, materials, and how we take responsibility for what we make.

They are now looking for a Senior Product Development Manager to join their team.  This role ensures that all products meet market needs, regulatory standards, and brand expectations while driving forward a culture of innovation, quality, and commercial awareness. The role has responsibility for ensuring that product development decisions are commercially viable, from initial concept and sourcing through to final production, with a strong understanding of product costing, margin requirements, pricing strategy, and supplier negotiations. This role offers progression for the right candidate.

Senior Product Development Manager - The Role:

• Define and deliver the product design and development strategy across all categories. Identifying market trends, customer needs, competitor activity, and emerging technologies.
• Lead innovation initiatives, including new materials, sustainable options, ergonomic improvements, and performance-enhancing features.
• Identify opportunities for new products, range extensions, product improvements, and cost optimisation.
• Oversee the full design lifecycle from concept through to delivery.
• Guide the creation of technical drawings, specifications, size charts, and construction details.
• Ensure designs are developed with consideration for target costs, manufacturing capabilities, material availability, and production efficiencies.
• Work closely with the Technical Manager to ensure all products meet relevant UK/EU standards. Lead fit testing, wearer trials, material testing, and performance validation.
• Work closely with and manage the Product Development team to ensure accurate technical files, specifications, and product documentation.
• Manage critical paths and PLM processes to ensure products progress efficiently from concept through to production.
• Ensure technical and compliance requirements are considered from the earliest stages of product development.
• Develop and maintain target costs and cost benchmarks across product categories.
• Assess the commercial impact of design and specification changes and identify opportunities for cost engineering without compromising product quality, performance, compliance, or brand positioning.
• Review product margins and pricing throughout the product lifecycle and recommend pricing adjustments where required.
• Understand market pricing and competitor positioning to ensure products are appropriately positioned within the market.
• Evaluate and support the onboarding of new suppliers based on capability, quality, capacity, compliance, lead times, MOQ, pricing, and technical expertise.
• Work with suppliers to resolve development, quality, costing, production, and delivery issues.
• Monitor supplier performance and identify opportunities to improve quality, efficiency, lead times, and cost.
• Support factory audits, supplier reviews, development meetings, and production visits as required.
• Travel internationally, including to Pakistan and China, to visit manufacturing facilities and suppliers

Senior Product Development Manager - The Candidate: 

• Innovative thinker with a practical, solutions-focused mindset.
• Confident decision maker who balances creativity, technical requirements, and commercial reality.
• Commercially astute, with a strong understanding of cost, margin, pricing, and profitability.
• Collaborative leader who inspires trust and drives high standards.
  Strong negotiator and relationship builder with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Comfortable working across different cultures and international supply environments.
• Passionate about product excellence, user safety, and continuous improvement.

Senior Product Development Manager - The Package:

• Competitive salary
• A genuine path to grow the role and the department
• Company Pension Scheme
• EV charging on site
• The chance to work for a family business where your work directly supports people out of poverty, into education and towards better health

Please note, this role is for permanent UK-based applicants only

Please note that due to the anticipated interest in these roles only short listed

candidates will be contacted

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