Head of Product Design - Marine Defence Products
This role is responsible for creating everything from the initial concept to the final product design, developing new ideas for new products and prototypes, as well as evolving the design details of established ranges. From deeply understanding the safety needs of their customers, deliver innovation that captures design strategy and brand values.
This role reports to the Director of Engineering and Quality. It leads all aspects of the creative product development process for Marine Defence products, ensuring innovation is delivered at pace to support business goals, customer and market needs and brand values. They contribute to strategic product development decisions and ensure processes and practices for realising the future product vision are applied effectively to deliver product development and innovation at pace. They are responsible for ensuring that the business has Design processes, methods of working and competent people to deliver on the requirements of a highly regulated industry.
Duties and responsibilities
- Manages budget plans for a specific engineering team and across Marine Defence Products
- Implements formal development frameworks for the product team, providing informal coaching and mentoring as needed to ensure the team achieve the desired level of competence. Manages the process for ensuring the team remains current in terms of development and the records to demonstrate this
- Initiates, formulates and implements new business practices within a specific area of Design Engineering, whilst developing and leading on the change management activity needed to communicate, launch and support product developments and innovation for Marine based Defence products
- Manages both the team and their portfolio of BAU design support work and new product development projects, in line with overall project management strategy and delivery milestones
- Manages the strategic product development and innovation planning process for their product class, from ideation, through to development and delivery
- Communicates the actions needed to implement the function's strategy and business plan within the team; explains the relationship to the broader company mission, vision and values; motivates people to commit to these and to doing extraordinary things to achieve local business goals
- Contributes positively to creating an inclusive environment where our people feel valued, appreciated and free to be who they are at work
- Understands, upholds and contributes to creating a safety-first culture within the company
- Develops own capabilities by participating in assessment and development planning activities as well as formal and informal training and coaching; gains or maintains external professional accreditation where relevant to improve performance and fulfil personal potential. Maintains an in-depth understanding of technology, external regulation, and industry best practices through ongoing education, attending conferences, and reading specialist media.
Skills
- Plans and prioritises work to meet commitments aligned with company goals
- Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments
- Optimises work processes - knows the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement
- Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
- Builds strong customer relationships and delivers customer-centric solutions
- Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems
- Financial acumen - interprets and applies key financial indicators to make better business decisions
- Engages effectively by creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the company achieve its objectives and celebrating success
Values
Drives safety culture
- Is a reliable source of reference on relevant safety standards and where these standards are at risk. Provides important insight into the root cause and corrective actions for such safety risks and issues. Raises issues and highlights own mistakes without fear. consistently to improve safety and wellbeing of self and others
Demonstrates commitment to delivering real value and confidence to our customers
- Understands the importance of being the representative of both internal and external customers. Demonstrates respect for those customers and is open and transparent about the delivery of service - only promises what they can deliver and delivers what they promise.
Care for our people, investing in the development of teams and individuals
- Understands own role within the team and takes accountability for delivery - is good at closing out actions and proactively asks for help when issues arise. Communicates appropriately, shares knowledge (coaching, mentoring and supporting others to develop skills as appropriate). Works collaboratively with own team and others to meet business goals
- Takes time to listen and treats others with dignity, accepting and respecting other people's points of view or individuality. Understands how own behaviours impact others.
Aim for excellence in everything we do
- Takes personal responsibility for ensuring excellence, getting the task done on time and to the right standard. Consistently achieves targets, even when timescales are tight
- Committed and passionate about continuous improvement, looking to solve problems and avoid workarounds. Takes the initiative and acts with confidence
Seek to innovate at every opportunity
- Takes an entrepreneurial approach to change, being comfortable and willing to try out new methods, processes, ways of working or techniques to make improvements
- Takes time to