Kempton Park: Product Development Manager posted by 3L Consulting (Pty) Ltd

About the Role

The Product Development Manager at 3L Consulting (Pty) Ltd will drive the organisation’s tissue product portfolio and oversee the full lifecycle of product development from concept and design through to commercialization and market launch. The role requires a combination of technical expertise, commercial awareness, and innovation capability to ensure products meet performance, quality, cost-efficiency, and market requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end New Product Development (NPD) process, including concept generation, product design, prototyping, testing, and commercial launch.
• Conduct market research and consumer trend analysis to identify opportunities for product innovation and differentiation.
• Manage product testing processes including sensory testing such as softness and absorbency.
• Ensure new products are successfully transitioned from development into pilot production and full-scale manufacturing.

• Optimise product design attributes including fibre composition, ply structure, embossing patterns, perforations, and packaging solutions.
• Improve product functionality, durability, consumer experience, and shelf appeal.
• Apply data-driven analysis to enhance product performance, sustainability, and manufacturing efficiency.

• Conduct detailed cost analysis and value engineering initiatives to optimise production costs while maintaining product quality.
• Identify opportunities for raw material optimisation, energy efficiency improvements, and waste reduction.

• Support SHEQ teams in implementing and maintaining quality control standards and testing protocols.
• Ensure compliance with relevant SABS standards, ISO 9001 requirements, FSC certification, and hygiene regulations.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to drive continuous improvement.

• Drive sustainability initiatives including eco-friendly product innovations, biodegradable materials, and reduced plastic packaging.
• Contribute to environmental performance tracking aligned to the organisation’s ESG objectives.

• Work closely with manufacturing, procurement, marketing, and supplier partners to ensure alignment on product development projects.
• Facilitate project meetings and workshops to drive progress across departments.
• Provide updates and presentations to senior leadership on project progress and outcomes.

• Monitor competitor products, emerging technologies, and consumer trends.
• Identify opportunities for product differentiation and market growth.

• Manage product development project budgets, timelines, and resource allocation.
• Conduct risk assessments and ensure projects are delivered efficiently and within approved budgets.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Paper Science / Technology, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical field.
• Postgraduate qualification such as MSc, MBA, or Diploma in Pulp and Paper Technology would be advantageous.
• Project management certification such as PMP, PRINCE2, or Agile would be advantageous.
• 10-15 years experience in product development, R&D, or technical roles within FMCG manufacturing.
• Experience in tissue, paper, or hygiene product manufacturing environments would be highly advantageous.
• Demonstrated success managing New Product Development projects from concept through to commercialization.

Qualifications

• None mentioned

Salary & Benefits

• Not specified