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SalaryThe Director of Product Development will be responsible for developing best-in-class products that deliver superior functional performance and great value to their customers. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Director will collaboratively synchronize product initiatives with the marketing, global sourcing, and merchandising groups. The highest levels of product functionality, quality, and speed to market are critical components in the success of this role.
The Director will be responsible for managing testing and development processes of our testing team. Key areas of focus include managing daily activities and metrics of the QA lab team to improve process and testing throughput, as well as coordinating activities with our sister labs, suppliers, global sourcing, category management, and overseeing the QA test bucket.
The Director will review and approve product designs based upon the test results. This person will also continually push for the expansion of capabilities within our labs, manage resource needs, identify equipment growth opportunities, and collaborate with cross functional teams to enhance our abilities to test product and ensure customer satisfaction.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The Director will be responsible for managing testing and development processes of our testing team. Key areas of focus include managing daily activities and metrics of the QA lab team to improve process and testing throughput, as well as coordinating activities with our sister labs, suppliers, global sourcing, category management, and overseeing the QA test bucket.
The Director will review and approve product designs based upon the test results. This person will also continually push for the expansion of capabilities within our labs, manage resource needs, identify equipment growth opportunities, and collaborate with cross functional teams to enhance our abilities to test product and ensure customer satisfaction.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Maintain WorkFront and manage team test bucket sizes and schedule.
- Oversee testing teams and make key decisions regarding test location and scope.
- Identifying root causes and provide viable solutions to improve throughput of testing through US and China QA labs.
- Filter incoming test requests and prevent unnecessary testing.
- Ensuring timeliness, clarity and accuracy of all technical documentation and correspondence.
- Support weekly product review and workcell activites.
- Coordinate bi-weekly meeting with China QA lab and compiles schedule of topics for discussion.
- Provide Product Development support to internal customers such as Global Sourcing, Category Management, Marketing, Customer service, Store Operations, etc.
- Extensive tool knowledge across all categories.
- Ability to interpret and develop test protocols based upon ANSI, UL, or other standard agencies to ensure best-in-class products that meet independent lab certifications.
- Independently evaluate and review test methods, while providing feedback to engineering team
- Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
- Oversee fixture and test setup design to optimize testing duration and ensure accuracy.
- Keep up with the latest changes in the tool industry including new products and designs.
- Ability to contribute to business discussions regarding appropriate amounts of testing, ways to optimize processes, and broader scope product line and assortment decisions.
- Coordinate testing with 3rd party labs including UL, CSA, Intertec, TUV to ensure our products are tested in a timely and appropriate manner.
- Ensure all lab equipment is safe, up to date, and calibrated. Bring visibility to any additional equipment needed for testing.
- Ability to compile large amounts of testing results for executive presentations and to enable the leadership team to make key business decisions.
- Deliver best in class product features that increase top line sales, reduce returns, and drive brand equity.
- Ensure compliance with core company values and consistently drive improvement while championing transparent collaboration with other key stake holders in the business.
- Lead initiatives to develop preventative action plans and catch-all processes to keep quality and performance levels consistent.
- Lead the development process for existing product performance improvements and quality enhancements to compete with market leaders.
- Direct, review, and approve product design and changes.
Scope (Required):
- Staff supervision and development — Yes - Direct
- Decision making - Creates policy and resolves problems
- Travel – 10%
- Location— On-site Camarillo, CA Lab
- Flex Designation – In Office
Requirements
Education, Experience, and Key Characteristics:
Physical Requirements:
Safety:
- BS Engineering or similar undergraduate degree.
- Understands how development engineering and testing fits in the manufacturing business (Quality, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Sales, and Marketing).
- 8-10 years of related Product Development experience including a solid understanding of testing standards and regulatory compliance standards: UL, CSA, ANSI, etc.
- Willingness to travel and work in China with excellent cultural sensitivity as well as genuine appreciation and respect for cultural differences
- Experience leading global development teams, and a proven history of creating processes that deliver winning products to market
- A track record of successfully partnering with multiple cross functional key stakeholders, and ability to work in a highly collaborative environment
- Extensive problem solving experience
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Experience evaluating tools, offshore factories, and manufacturing processes in order to perform root cause analysis and implement sustainable solutions to improve product quality and performance
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor and develop employees
- Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to travel within China to various supplier manufacturing sites
- Ability to walk factory manufacturing operations and spend considerable time on the factory floor
- General office environment requiring ability to:
- Stand, walk, sit for extended periods of time
- Speak and listen to others in person and over the phone
- Use keyboard and read from computer screen and report
- Lift up to 15 lbs.
Safety:
- The candidate must be able to perform this job safely in accordance with standard operating procedures and good manufacturing practices, without endangering the health or safety of self or others.
About Harbor Freight Tools
We’re a family-owned business with over 45 years as a national tool retailer, and with the energy, enthusiasm, and growth potential of a start-up. We are a $7 billion company with over 1,450 stores in 48 states, 27,000+ Associates, and one of the fastest-growing retailers in the country.
