Brites Management is recruiting an NPD Production Manager position for a client. The salary for the role is Ksh 100,000 monthly. Proficiency in new product development, production management, and quality compliance is required.

To lead and manage the development, trial production, and successful commercialization of new products by coordinating cross-functional teams, optimizing production processes, and ensuring products meet quality, regulatory, and commercial requirements.

Responsibilities or duties

New Product Development

• Lead the end-to-end NPD process, including concept evaluation, production trials, sampling, and commercial launch.
• Coordinate pilot runs and scale-up activities to ensure successful transition from development to full production.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality, manufacturability, and production efficiency.

Production Planning and Process Optimization

• Develop production plans, manufacturing processes, and resource requirements for new product introductions.
• Optimize production methods, equipment utilization, and workflow to improve efficiency and minimize production costs.
• Monitor trial production performance and implement corrective actions before commercial rollout.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Collaborate with R&D, Quality Assurance, Procurement, Supply Chain, Sales, and Marketing to ensure seamless product commercialization.
• Coordinate raw material sourcing, packaging readiness, and production scheduling for new products.
• Provide technical guidance to production teams during product implementation and scale-up.

Quality and Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure all new products comply with quality standards, food safety requirements, and applicable regulatory guidelines.
• Develop and maintain product specifications, production procedures, and technical documentation.
• Monitor adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP, and company quality management systems.

Cost Management and Reporting

• Support product costing, budget planning, and cost optimization initiatives to ensure commercial viability.
• Track NPD project timelines, production milestones, and performance indicators, providing regular progress reports to management.
• Identify operational risks and recommend solutions to ensure timely and successful product launches.

Qualifications or requirements

• Degree in Food Science, Production Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Proficiency in new product development, production management, and quality compliance is required.
• Strong understanding of production processes, quality management systems, GMP, HACCP, and cost optimization techniques.
• Strong project management and product commercialization skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and process improvement abilities.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency in production planning, ERP systems, and Microsoft Office applications.

Experience needed

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in production management, product development, or manufacturing operations.
• Experience in FMCG manufacturing and new product commercialization is highly desirable.

• Lead the end-to-end NPD process, including concept evaluation, production trials, sampling, and commercial launch.
• Coordinate pilot runs and scale-up activities to ensure successful transition from development to full production.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality, manufacturability, and production efficiency.
• Develop production plans, manufacturing processes, and resource requirements for new product introductions.
• Optimize production methods, equipment utilization, and workflow to improve efficiency and minimize production costs.
• Monitor trial production performance and implement corrective actions before commercial rollout.
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality Assurance, Procurement, Supply Chain, Sales, and Marketing to ensure seamless product commercialization.
• Coordinate raw material sourcing, packaging readiness, and production scheduling for new products.
• Provide technical guidance to production teams during product implementation and scale-up.
• Ensure all new products comply with quality standards, food safety requirements, and applicable regulatory guidelines.
• Develop and maintain product specifications, production procedures, and technical documentation.
• Monitor adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP, and company quality management systems.
• Support product costing, budget planning, and cost optimization initiatives to ensure commercial viability.
• Track NPD project timelines, production milestones, and performance indicators, providing regular progress reports to management.
• Identify operational risks and recommend solutions to ensure timely and successful product launches.

• Proficiency in new product development
• Production management
• Quality compliance
• Production planning
• ERP systems
• Microsoft Office applications
• Project management
• Product commercialization skills
• Analytical skills
• Problem-solving abilities
• Process improvement abilities
• Leadership skills
• Communication skills
• Stakeholder management skills

• Degree in Food Science, Production Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in production management, product development, or manufacturing operations.
• Experience in FMCG manufacturing and new product commercialization is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of production processes, quality management systems, GMP, HACCP, and cost optimization techniques.