Director – Product Development

Thank you for your interest in becoming part of the team at Legrand!

GENERAL PURPOSE

This position is responsible for optimizing product development to meet product specifications in the following areas: reliability, availability, maintainability, scalability and profitability.

Position is responsible for determining the strategic direction and effectively determining and communicating project priorities.

This leadership position provides encouragement, problem-resolution support and motivation to produce creative, innovative, cost-effective, reproducible and industry-leading products within the established deadlines. 

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Oversee the product development process, approving project plans, allocating resources, test plans, and writing test reports; assist with creating, maintaining, and revising product project plans and effectively communicate project deadlines
• Collaborate with Product Management, Operations, and Marketing teams on planned products and timelines.

  Ensure that clearly defined Marketing Requirement Documents (MRD) and effectively translated into Product Requirement Documents (PRD).

• Approve the development of and changes in the documentation processes and procedures
• Work with the Engineering department to define testing and certification requirements
• Assist Marketing team members by providing leadership, guidance and education to both internal and external customers on product features, advantages and benefits stemming from the designs
• Utilize experience and communication skills to interface with senior management and sales management
• Participate on the ProAV Business Team contributing fully to broader business decisions, planning, etc.
• Effectively interface with managers, supervisors, engineers, designers, technicians, manufacturing engineers, and suppliers to meet project commitments
• Effectively influence and communicate between internal departments to facilitate projects
• Maintain a current knowledge of the industry, the competitors and the customers through trade show attendance, direct and indirect customer interaction, online data mining, to gain competitive and consumer information to enhance and grow the Company’s product capabilities.

  Be a thought-leader in the organization relative to developing and sustaining competitive advantage.

• Maintain a keen understanding of how our products are accepted by customers and the trade.

  Develop corrective action to resolve quality, performance, competitive issues.

• Actively identify and pursue valuable Intellectual Property filings while maintaining keen knowledge on the competitive Intellectual Property landscape.
• Represent Company at trade shows, trade association and client meetings to promote products and services
• Effectively manage, develop, and motivate direct and indirect reports
• Responsible for all aspects of performance management including interviewing, hiring, training, performance evaluations, and recognition
• Provide effective, constructive and appropriate feedback and leadership to direct reports to foster positive, team atmosphere; ensure personal and professional development of direct reports
• Initiate and assist with the creation, development, and implementation of processes and procedures
• Consistently support compliance by maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of information, protecting the assets of the organization, acting with ethics and integrity, reporting non-compliance, and adhering to applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, and the Company’s policies and procedures
• Understand workplace hazards and take steps to proactively prevent and report hazards or injuries in the workplace.

  Cooperate in Safety Programs, initiatives, and investigations.

• Demonstrate our five core values of Integrity, Customer Responsiveness, Innovation, Passionate Contribution & Empowerment and Continuous Improvement 

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent collaboration and interpersonal skills
• Effective project planning and execution skills
• Ability to interpret standards, specifications, procedures, drawings, etc.; mechanical aptitude
• Excellent product vision and effective product planning skills
• Skills in managing full life cycle development projects, and end to end (including multi-year) product development processes leveraging classical phase-gates processes.
• Ability to multi-task and manage several projects at one time
• Proven ability to make sound decisions within established guidelines
• Must be able to function in a deadline driven environment
• Must have the ability to make recommendations to effectively resolve problems or issues, by using judgment that is consistent with standards, practices, policies, procedures, regulation or government law
• Ability to demonstrate flexible and efficient time management and to appropriately prioritize workload based upon organization or department needs
• Proven ability to manage supervisors and individual contributors; train and motivate employees at all levels, as well as delegate effectively.

  Demonstrated ability to manage performance improvement within the organization.

• Ability to read, write and speak English fluently
• Be detail-oriented and have excellent follow-through skills
• Proven ability to work independently and as a member of a team
• Must possess high degree of professionalism and ability to handle confidential information

Minimum Education and Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or other related technical degree with a minimum of ten (10) years of experience as a mechanical engineer, with a minimum of five (5) years in a position managing engineers or other technical personnel; or combination of relevant education and experience
• Experience working with and resolving issues involving design and manufacturability of sheet metal, metal castings, plastic moldings and precision machined parts

Special Job Requirements:

• Requires frequent availability and communication during non-standard business hours to communicate with global team members
• Must be available for international travel

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.B.A.

  or M.S.

  in Engineering

• FEA experience
• Experience with SolidWorks
• Electrical or controls experience
• Experience working with multiple disciplines, including electrical and mechanical design, layout, manufacturing, external suppliers and service providers
• UL, TUV and/or CE experience

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required (for the majority of the working day) to sit and make coordinated movements of the fingers for data entry on a keyboard.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds for product testing and tradeshow set-up purposes
• General office environment
• May require regular ground travel to other company facilities within local metropolitan area
• Long-distance or air travel (including international) as needed – not to exceed 25% travel

Note: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Milestone is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If you’d like to work in a fun, creative, business-casual environment that offers a comprehensive benefit package, we encourage you to apply!

Legrand is an equal employment opportunity employer.

For California residents, please see the link for the Privacy Notice for Candidat es .

California law requires that we provide you this notice about the collection and use of your personal Information.

A career at Legrand gives you the chance to make a meaningful contribution to a company where we believe everyone’s input makes a difference.We believe in career development and providing a fun and engaging environment where employees can demonstrate their passion for our customers.Join the Legrand team who share the Core Values of Integrity, Innovation, Passionate Contribution & Empowerment, Customer Responsiveness, and Continuous Improvement.