Product Development Manager

Velocys, Inc.

Graduate in engineering, preferably mechanical or manufacturing: PhD and/or MBA a plus

• Fifteen plus years relevant work experience.
• Track record developing and delivering successful innovative products in a highly technical industry where R&D is key to competitiveness, and where products are the result of multidisciplinary technical efforts. Experience of managing co-development programs with external partners is also a plus.
• Experience of precision manufacturing and manufacturing processes, preferably for static metallic devices. Specific experience with specialty heat exchangers, brazing/bonding/welding techniques and alloy metallurgy in manufacturing environments is also a plus.
• Experience building and managing manufacturing supply chains for innovative products.
• Strong people management and performance management skills. Track record of facilitating groups to overcoming challenging technical and manufacturing problems.
• Able to work with outstanding scientists and engineers, engaging with them on technical matters; grasping concepts quickly, discussing them lucidly, and creating workable pragmatic solutions and plans.
• Track record of facilitating groups to overcoming challenging technical and manufacturing problems. •Track record of organising people and activities, and instigating innovative processes and procedures to create profitable commercial products on time and to budget.

The role of Product Development Manager is to develop and deliver innovative commercial products, based on the Group’s breakthrough microchannel technology, for the smaller scale production of fuels and chemicals that meet market needs, in a timely and cost-effective manner.

The Product Development Manager’s key responsibilities are to:

•  Develop successful commercial products from conceptual definition through to qualification of  manufacturing suppliers for full-scale production;
• Bridge the gap between R&D and Product Delivery teams, with close liaison with and support  from Business Development, to rapidly translate technology breakthroughs into highly innovative, manufacturable commercially competitive products;
• Organize and manage  product engineering staff;
• Establish and maintain innovative product development and engineering processes and procedures;
• Lead and develop the company’s relationships with manufacturing partners.

Critical job functions include all aspects of product development program management, including strategy and planning, assigning and communicating schedules and tasks, and monitoring and reviewing activities and progress. An important aspect of the role is to develop a strong engineering design and development capability through leadership of a focussed, motivated, and aligned product engineering team and by leveraging external partners, qualified suppliers and consultants.

 Oxford Catalysts is a pioneering entrepreneurial business with over eighty staff across 2 sites. This role requires someone who relishes an environment in which change, innovation, urgency and energy are required each day in the pursuit of a world changing mission; a place where there is a need to mold and create rather than simply improve existing processes and products. Given the Group’s aspirations and emphasis on breakthrough innovation, it is anticipated that the Product Development Manager will attract and nurture innovative engineering staff and introduce novel solutions to the processes and procedures of product development, engineering and manufacturing.

Reporting

This position will report directly to the VP of Technology and Product Development.

Line Management

Line management responsibility for product engineering team.

ResResponsibilities

Leadership and Management

Motivate, manage, coach and develop a world-class product engineering resource, combining the capabilities of internal staff (including additional recruitment where appropriate) and external partners, consultants and suppliers.

 Provide inspiration combined with rational optimism and a focussed sense of urgency to meet project deadlines.

 Instil commercial discipline and rigour, and effective use of resources, whilst encouraging breakthrough product concepts and innovative manufacturing approaches.

 Set ambitious goals for individuals and teams, and achieve these to time, budget and quality specifications; delivering improvements year after year.

 Organise resources into a productive team structure fostering high performance standards and effective communication within the team and with other business units.

 Incorporate proven performance management practices, delegating, coaching, supporting and giving feedback, whilst at the same time holding people accountable for performance and delivering a culture of continuous improvement on a consistent basis.

 Developing strong plans and accurate budgets, monitoring and reporting progress and forecasting future performance.

Product Development

The successful candidate will be accountable for delivering manufacturable commercial products to time, budget and specification (including reliability).

 Working closely with other senior managers from Business Development,  R&D and Product Delivery, responsible for defining and implementing the strategy for translating the Group’s technology, market and client needs into product definitions, engineered designs and manufacturing programs and specifications.

Building partnerships with and proactively managing the performance of external partners, qualified preferred suppliers and supply chains; executing and delivering on the product engineering and manufacturing programs, including devices for pilot testing and verification.

Responsible for identifying needs and implementing innovative best-in-class product development, engineering and manufacturing processes and procedures that encourage innovation and breakthrough performance, whilst maximising commercial success and ensuring that time-to-market is kept to a minimum.

Responsible for ensuring technical resources are fully utilised and aligned with the department’s and Group’s objectives.

Health and Safety

Responsible for HSE of the product engineering team, working through the facilities manager and others to ensure the current high standards and impeccable record is maintained.

 Qualified candidates please send resume to Laura Schulman at Schulman@Velocys.com and Bettyann Hale at Hale@Velocys.com