First Quality was founded in 1989 and, in nearly three decades, has grown to be a global privately held company with over 4,000 employees. Its corporate offices are located in Great Neck, New York, with manufacturing facilities and offices in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Georgia, and Canada. First Quality is a diversified family of companies manufacturing consumer products ranging from Absorbent Hygiene (adult incontinence, feminine care, and baby care), Tissue (bath and towel), and Industrial (print and packaging materials), serving institutional and retail markets throughout the world. First Quality focuses on private label and branded product lines.
Our core business philosophy is built on a proud culture driven by safety and quality, respect, humility, integrity, customer focus, and teamwork. With leading edge manufacturing technologies and processes and visionary leadership, First Quality is positioned to continue significant growth in the coming years. We are seeking an experienced Product Development Manager for our First Quality Products. This position will be located in McElhattan, PA.
This position is responsible for providing the company with products to meet customer/consumer needs and achieve corporate profit margin requirements. Directs and coordinates all product development activities associated with absorbent hygiene products, from Operations through to the Marketplace. Provides technical and market expertise with regards to absorbent hygiene products/markets.
Principal Accountabilities/Responsibilities:
Leads a cross-functional team to plan, develop, and implement product improvements and new product introductions from Operations through to the Marketplace.
Investigates new technologies (materials & equipment) and their applicability to absorbent products.
Works with Purchasing to negotiate price, quality, and service with vendors.
Works with Marketing to plan, conduct, analyze, and interpret consumer/market research studies.
Plans, conducts, analyzes, and interprets product use tests to benchmark competitive product performance.
Works with Patent/Trademark attorney on intellectual property considerations (patentability, infringement searches, right-to-market reviews, etc.)
Prepares preliminary product costing for new products.
Provides market-intelligence to corporation (patents/trademarks/industry news/etc).
Benchmarks competitive products and develops strategies to maintain effective advantages.
Conduct periodic review of technology patents, industry trademarks, as well as keeping abreast of new product introductions into the absorbent hygiene category.
Reviews and provides recommendations on new idea submissions for absorbent products.
Reviews consumer complaint data to identify opportunities to improve product performance and consumer satisfaction.
Support Sales and marketing in presenting to customers.
Education & Experience Requirements:
Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Science or Engineering; MS or PhD preferred
Minimum of 7 years of medical product development or related industry experience preferred, preferably in absorbent hygiene products.
Knowledge of hygiene markets, products, competition, consumers, trends, etc.
Knowledge and use of Probability and Statistical Inference.
Knowledge and use of Design of Experiments.
Knowledge and use of Patents/Trademarks, especially with regards to absorbent products and materials
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to develop and organize multiple projects.
Ability to manage and lead a diverse, cross-functional team of professionals to deliver against key objectives and timelines.
Ability to assess process and raw material impacts on product performance and consumer satisfaction.
Ability to interact with customers on all levels in both technical and sales capacities.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, Minitab, as well as other office systems.
Excellent compensation and benefit package!
For immediate and confidential consideration, please visit our website at www.firstquality.com.
First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.
First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.