New Product Development Manager - Quality
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Job Description
New Product Development (NPD) Quality Manager
Location: Needham MA HQ
Department: Product Development
Reports To: Director or Sr. Director of Quality
FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Summary:
The NPD Quality Manager is responsible for ensuring that all new products developed by the organization meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and compliance. This role supports the full product development lifecycle - from concept through commercialization - and acts as a critical liaison between Quality, R&D, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure that quality is built into new products from the start.
The successful candidate will have deep experience in quality systems, risk management, and product development processes, ideally within a consumer goods environment.
Key Responsibilities:
New Product Development Support
Lead quality assurance activities during all phases of new product development (concept, design, scale-up, launch).
Participate in cross-functional product development teams to ensure design for quality and compliance.
Ensure product requirements, specifications, and validations are documented and meet applicable standards.
Quality Planning & Risk Management
Develop and implement quality plans, including Design Controls, Risk Assessments (FMEA), and validation protocols.
Lead Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and Process FMEA sessions.
Identify potential quality and compliance risks early in development and drive mitigation strategies.
Cross-functional Collaboration
Collaborate with R&D, Regulatory, and Operations to ensure seamless design transfer and manufacturability.
Partner with Procurement and Supplier Quality to qualify and validate new suppliers or materials.
Provide quality input during stage-gate reviews and ensure appropriate documentation is in place.
Compliance & Documentation
Ensure new products comply with relevant quality and regulatory standards (e.g., FDA, GMP, ISO, or other depending on industry).
Oversee the creation and review of technical documentation including Design History Files (DHF), Product Requirement Documents (PRD), and Test Protocols.
Support internal and external audits related to new product development.
Continuous Improvement
Drive continuous improvement initiatives within NPD quality systems and processes.
Use root cause analysis and CAPA processes to resolve issues identified during validation or launch.
Monitor and analyze quality KPIs related to new products and post-market feedback.
Qualifications:
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field.
Advanced degree (MS or MBA) preferred but not required.
Experience:
6-10 years of experience in quality assurance, ideally with a focus on new product development.
Experience in consumer goods, cosmetics, personal care, medical devices, food & beverage, or other regulated industries.
Demonstrated knowledge of quality tools (e.g., FMEA, DOE, SPC) and quality management systems.
Skills:
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
Ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proficient with quality systems software and Microsoft Office; experience with eQMS a plus.
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Submit 10x as many applications with less effort than one manual application.