A Product Development Manager (PDM) in a
chemical process industry
is a
Project Manager
coordinating the complete
chemical product lifecycle
from ideation and research through development, validation, commercialization, and continuous improvement. So he is responsible
for bringing ideas from the Research & Development’s activities to reality.
Key Responsibilities
Oversee product development activities across Air Care, Home Care, Personal Care, Soap and Detergent categories.
Supervises the transition of chemical batches from bench-scale lab testing to pilot plants and full-scale factory manufacturing lines. So owns the complete product development lifecycle from research and ideation to launch.
Plan and coordinate internal and external product validation activities to assess product performance, consumer acceptance, and market suitability.
Evaluate raw material costs, manufacturing expenses, packaging costs, and overall product economics.
Ensure that product formulations, specifications, manufacturing processes, and supporting documentation comply with applicable NAFDAC requirements, relevant Nigerian standards, and applicable international standards.
Work closely with R&D, Marketing, Procurement, Quality Control, Production, and Supply Chain teams toensure the seamless transition of products from concept to commercial manufacturing.
Analyze market demand, customer application requirements, and industry trends to identify opportunities for new and improved products.
Conduct competitor research and use customer data to define product features.
Controls development budgets, manages project timelines.
Oversee timelines, project milestones, and development budgets.
Requirements
Education
Bachelor’s degree in fields such as Chemistry, chemical Engineering, Industrial Design, Engineering, Business Administration, or Marketing.
Advanced degrees like an
MBA
or professional certifications in project management, industrial design, etc, can enhance career progression.
Must have a sound knowledge and experience in chemical-product development and production.
Experience
Should have 3+ years managing product lifecycles and cross-functional teams.
Skills
Strong knowledge of Agile methodologies (a flexible approach to project management and software development that break large projects into small, manageable cycles called sprints),
Successful PDMs combine
technical, business, and soft skills
:
Technical skills:
Understanding of product design, engineering principles, and prototyping tools.
Business skills:
Market analysis, project management, budgeting, and strategic planning.
Soft skills:
Leadership, communication, problem-solving, and cross-team collaboration.