Product Development Leader

First Quality was founded in 1989 and has grown to be a global privately held company with over 4000 employees. Its corporate offices are located in Great Neck New York with manufacturing facilities and offices in Pennsylvania South Carolina Georgia and Canada. First Quality is a diversified family of companies manufacturing consumer products ranging from Absorbent Hygiene (adult incontinence feminine care and baby care) Tissue (bath and towel) and Industrial (print and packaging materials) serving institutional and retail markets throughout the world. First Quality focuses on private label and branded product lines.

We are seeking a Product Development Leader for our First Quality Print & Packaging LLC located in Anderson South Carolina. This position will provide leadership in the creation and the development of new technologies for flexible packaging. This role will be a key member of the Print & Packaging business unit leadership team and will collaborate with crossfunctional colleagues to move the business forward. In addition this role will lead a team of Product Development professionals at a variety of levels focusing on their professional growth and development.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Provides oversight for the following: evaluation of existing technologies implementation of new methodologies materials processes etc.; development of new technologies from initial design to market release
• Manage an innovative and diverse consumer goods product portfolio within the flexible packaging industry
• Executes projects in timely diligent safe and professional manner and contribute to the growth of the team and department
• Collaborates with others in PD Engineering Finance Legal Manufacturing Marketing and Suppliers (through Purchasing).
• Support the existing business product cost improvements to meet budgeted business goals through product redesigns
• Coach and develop direct reports to enhance team performance towards department objectives
• Leading teams of product developers to develop base product strategies and executing project plans that align with business vision and solve consumer problems for both branded and private label teams
• Responsible for product life cycle from concept through commercialization cost optimization consumer testing substantiation of product claims and intellectual property strategy
• Collaborating with technical teams to develop multiyear strategies that determine feasibility of new ideas

The ideal candidate should possess the following:

• Bachelors degree in a relevant field required; Masters degree in physical science or engineering preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in flexible packaging with deep expertise in polymer science extrusion lamination printing and recycling
• Minimum of 3 years leading and managing team members
• Excellent communication leadership and teambuilding skills with a strong ability and desire to collaborate with all
• Knowledge of and experience with developing flexible packaging for the retail market preferred
• Experience defining and documenting approved design specifications from concept through commercialization
• Working knowledge of materials and suppliers common to the flexible packaging industry
• Experience with the process of searching evaluating and filing patents
• Experience providing direction for the physical testing of hypotheses resulting in specific conclusions and recommendations
• Solid analytical skills with working knowledge of statistics and good computer skills with Word and Excel
• Crossfunctionally collaborative a true team player
• Able to travel to conferences suppliers or manufacturing plants for product and process trials customer meetings and other business