Product Development Manager

Who we are

Directed Electronics is one of Australia’s leading developers and distributors of innovative consumer and mobile electronics products. Having over thirty brands and thousands of products sold both through major national retailers and direct to the consumer, our products create excitement, bring convenience, and add to the quality of life for all Australians.

Over the last few years, we have grown our brands and product range significantly and are poised for our biggest year to date as we continue to expand into new categories. So, if you’re seeking to join a company that is a market leader, offering opportunities for growth and a focus on your development and success, now is the time to join Directed!

About the role

We’re determined to further grow the product range and categories across our own brands and to support this, we’re seeking an agile Product Development Manager with proven expertise across new Product Development (NPD) in consumer and mobile electronics, to join our team. This role will see you partnering closely with leading global suppliers, to identify else develop and source innovative new products whilst also working with multiple internal teams to ensure all product related info and content is available and shared, to successfully launch new products to market. Able to launch 20+ new SKU’s a year often within new categories, this is an exciting challenge for a proven Product Development specialist.

Meet your new team

Our Product Development team leads innovation and ideation within Directed Electronics, building successful and trusted relationships with leading global suppliers to develop and source new products that are sold through both retail and ecommerce channels across Australia and New Zealand. This team works at pace, is at the forefront of what is either in demand or able to create demand through successful NPD, working with our brand management and sales team to help drive the success of Directed’s own brands and new products that delight our customers.

How you will make an impact

As our Product Development Manager in this exciting new role, some of your responsibilities will include to:

• Identify suppliers/factory partners for the development and supply of new products for an ongoing Product Development roadmap.
• Develop supplier relationships to support the development of multiple brands and products in consumer electronics categories.
• Create prototypes of a new product to remove flaws in the final design.
• Undertake research to determine the best way to produce a particular product.
• Presents new ideas to the brand management and sales teams to gain insight to develop product lines.
• Act as the SME for all aspects of Product Development for that product, category or brand.
• Lead and contribute to the new Product Development process, identifying new areas of development, investment, and innovation.
• Work with our suppliers/factory partners to commercialise products, working throughout the entire new Product Development process.
• Test, evaluate and configure new products throughout the development process, working with the Product Compliance and Quality teams to ensure new products meet both Directed’s and our customers’ high standards.
• Support the products to life through detailed briefs to the marketing and brand teams for product, packaging and collateral design.
• Attend overseas trade shows and visit factory partners to ensure Directed have access to the latest products and technologies.

Your skills and experience

This role creates a unique opportunity to make a significant impact not only within Directed, but for our multiple retail channels and to our end customers across Australia and New Zealand. The ideal candidate we seek is someone who can demonstrate:

• Managing the new Product Development lifecycle to have successfully launched 20+ new products a year, from identifying new product opportunities, sourcing the suppliers/factories to build the product, testing and evaluating products, supporting product compliance, packaging design and user manuals, to sourcing all product materials needed to launch the product to market.
• Strong commercial and analytical skills for product evaluation and feasibility, backed with effective negotiation skills to bring the product to our DC’s on time and within budget.
• Relationship management - forming authentic and trustworthy connections with both internal and external stakeholders to help bring new products to market.
• An expert level understanding of NPD in the bigger picture of brand management, sales and marketing in the evolving consumer product market.
• Working successfully with multiple internal systems e.g. ERP, collaboration and project management tools.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to be a trusted NPD advisor within the business.

Perks & Benefits

Why Directed? You'll be part of a company that puts your personal development, growth and success first. Our team is made up of a diverse and inclusive group of individuals who are dedicated to helping one another achieve our goals. We love to have fun, regularly organize company-wide social events to connect and collectively celebrate our wins. As a member of our team, you'll also enjoy great benefits such as free onsite parking, significant product discounts, and salary packaging perks. There's so much to look forward to when you join our team!

This role will be based onsite at our modern Tullamarine corporate head office, offers a great salary package, the ability to make a visible difference and plenty of opportunities to further your skills and grow, all whilst being part of a supportive, and collegiate team.

Next steps

Like what you’ve read so far? Keen to progress your new Product Development career within our team? APPLY NOW as we would love to see your application to discuss this, or other potential future roles.