New Product Development Manager (NPD Manager)

Job description

About the Role We are looking for an experienced and driven NPD Manager to lead our New Product Development function at our Saki Naka facility. The ideal candidate is a Mechanical Engineer with a strong track record in product development within the consumer products, home furnishings, mattress, furniture, or related manufacturing industry. You will own the end-to-end NPD process — from concept to launch — while building systems, SOPs, and a high-performing team. Key Responsibilities Product Development & Innovation - Lead end-to-end new product development from ideation, prototyping, and testing to final launch - Define product specifications, material selection, and design validation processes - Collaborate with design, production, procurement, and quality teams to ensure smooth product launches - Benchmark products against competitors and identify gaps and opportunities for innovation Systems, Process & SOP Setup - Design, document, and implement NPD SOPs and stage-gate processes from scratch - Build and maintain a structured NPD pipeline with clear timelines, milestones, and accountability - Establish review mechanisms, sign-off protocols, and change management processes - Ensure all product development activities are tracked, documented, and audit-ready Team Leadership - Lead and mentor a team of NPD engineers and executives - Assign tasks, review progress, and ensure timely delivery across all active projects - Build team capability through structured knowledge-sharing and on-the-job coaching Dashboards, MIS & Reporting - Create and maintain NPD dashboards using Power BI / Tableau / MS Excel - Track project status, timelines, milestone adherence, and product performance metrics - Present concise, data-driven NPD progress reports to senior management - Use advanced Excel functions (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, SUMIFS) for analysis and reporting Cross-functional Collaboration - Work closely with sales, marketing, and production teams to align product roadmap with business needs - Coordinate with vendors and suppliers for material trials, costing, and development timelines - Ensure products meet quality, compliance, and cost targets before launch Requirements - B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering (mandatory) - Years of experience in New Product Development or Product Engineering - Prior experience in companies in the consumer products, mattress, furniture, foam, or home goods space strongly preferred - Proven experience setting up NPD systems, SOPs, and stage-gate processes - Proficiency in Power BI, Tableau, and advanced MS Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, dashboards) - Experience leading and managing a team of engineers - Excellent written and spoken English communication skills — mandatory - Strong structured thinking, documentation discipline, and stakeholder management skills - Candidates residing nearby or willing to commute to the office location will be preferred. Pay: ₹1,200,000.00 - ₹1,500,000.00 per year Benefits: - Provident Fund Application Question(s): - Do you have a B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering? - Have you set up NPD SOPs or stage-gate processes in a previous role? Work Location: In person