Product Development Manager at Stova Industries Ltd

 A Product Development Manager (PDM) in a chemical process industry is a Project Manager coordinating the complete chemical product lifecycle from ideation and research through  development, validation, commercialization, and continuous improvement. So he is responsible 

for bringing ideas from the Research & Development’s activities to reality. 

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee product development activities across Air Care, Home Care, Personal Care, Soap and Detergent categories. 
• Supervises the transition of chemical batches from bench-scale lab testing to pilot plants and full-scale factory manufacturing lines. So owns the complete product development lifecycle from research and ideation to launch.
• Plan and coordinate internal and external product validation activities to assess product performance, consumer acceptance, and market suitability. 
• Evaluate raw material costs, manufacturing expenses, packaging costs, and overall product economics. 
• Ensure that product formulations, specifications, manufacturing processes, and supporting documentation comply with applicable NAFDAC requirements, relevant Nigerian standards, and applicable international standards. 
• Work closely with R&D, Marketing, Procurement, Quality Control, Production, and Supply Chain teams toensure the seamless transition of products from concept to commercial manufacturing.  
• Analyze market demand, customer application requirements, and industry trends to identify opportunities for new and improved products. 
• Conduct competitor research and use customer data to define product features.
• Controls development budgets, manages project timelines. 
• Oversee timelines, project milestones, and development budgets.

Requirements                                                                                                                        

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in fields such as Chemistry, chemical Engineering, Industrial Design, Engineering, Business Administration, or Marketing. 
• Advanced degrees like an MBA or professional certifications  in project management, industrial design, etc, can enhance career progression.  
• Must have a sound knowledge and experience in chemical-product development and production.       
• Experience: Should have 3+ years managing product lifecycles and cross-functional teams.

Skills:                                                                                                                                           

• Strong knowledge of Agile methodologies (a flexible approach to project management and software development that break large projects into small, manageable cycles called sprints),  
• Successful PDMs combine technical, business, and soft skills:
• Technical skills: Understanding of product design, engineering principles, and prototyping tools.
• Business skills: Market analysis, project management, budgeting, and strategic planning.
• Soft skills: Leadership, communication, problem-solving, and cross-team collaboration.