Rare

Virgin Brands – NPD Implementation Manager

This is a pivotal role working at the heart of our client’s innovation process. You will be responsible for the second (amber) stage, from live trials through to launch and evaluation for all New Product Developments. Reporting to the Director of Innovation, you will manage the co ordination of the required trials with key stakeholders to successful outcome.

Following the live trial stages, you will liaise with NPD team on learnings and co ordinate the final business paper with the relevant NPD team, key stakeholders and necessary support functions. It will be your responsibility to agree final business paper and progress through sign off. You will then project manage the launch plan detailed in your business paper through to successful launch.

Following the launch you will be involved in co-ordinating the launch review, identifying revisions and improvements to the new product/service and outlining strategic recommendations.

You will need to have a ‘can do’ attitude, be very diplomatic and persistent, with strong negotiating skills and the ability to manage multiple projects. It is essential that you can retain the spirit of the original idea.

This fascinating role will clearly stretch your strategic and project management skills. But more than that you will need to be a strong communicator and networker; as you will be liaising with a variety of internal support functions, from market research, marketing and training, through to customer relations and sales.

It is likely that you will have proven risk management skills, including the ability to analyse ata and extract clear insights. It is not essential that you have a NPD background, although you may have some experience of project management and operations. You will have an assistant who will work closely with you.