Product Development Manager (Core)

Drive Product Innovation, Sustainability & Continuous Improvement

At D&D Technologies, we are committed to delivering industry-leading hardware solutions through innovation, quality, and exceptional customer value. We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Product Development Manager (Core) to lead the ongoing enhancement, performance, and profitability of our established product portfolio.

This is a highly influential role that sits at the intersection of engineering, innovation, sustainability, marketing, operations, and customer insights. You will be responsible for managing product lifecycle activities, driving value engineering initiatives, leading sustainable packaging projects, and identifying opportunities to improve product performance, margin, and strategic value.

If you enjoy solving complex problems, influencing cross-functional teams, and driving meaningful product improvements, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role

Reporting to the Group Product Development Manager, you will be responsible for managing and improving D&D's existing product portfolio across polymer, metal, and electronic product categories.

You will lead change management initiatives, oversee engineering change processes, support strategic roadmap planning, manage sustainable packaging programs, and identify new materials and technologies that support future growth and competitive advantage.

This role works closely with teams across Product Development, R&D, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Compliance, and our global business network.

Key Responsibilities

Product Lifecycle & Portfolio Management

• Manage the lifecycle of existing products, identifying opportunities to improve profitability, performance, and customer value.
• Conduct product lifecycle assessments and portfolio reviews using analytical tools and market data.
• Develop and maintain product roadmaps and support generational product planning.
• Monitor product performance and customer feedback to identify improvement opportunities.
• Conduct market research, competitor analysis, feature benchmarking, SWOT assessments, and pricing analysis.

Change Management & Continuous Improvement

• Lead and coordinate D&D's Internal Request Notification (IRN), Engineering Change Request (ECR), and Engineering Change Notification (ECN) processes.
• Facilitate cross-functional teams to drive Value Analysis and Value Engineering (VA/VE) initiatives.
• Lead fortnightly Product Group Existing (PGE) meetings and ensure projects progress efficiently.
• Develop dashboards, reports, and metrics to track portfolio performance and project outcomes.
• Manage ISO-related documentation and product change records.

Sustainability & Packaging Programs

• Lead sustainable packaging initiatives and compliance programs across the business.
• Monitor and report progress against APCO and regional packaging sustainability targets.
• Identify opportunities to improve packaging performance, reduce waste, and optimize costs.
• Prepare annual sustainability and packaging reports.
• Support the adoption of innovative materials and technologies that improve environmental outcomes.

Materials & Technology Innovation

• Scout emerging materials, coatings, and technologies that can enhance product performance, durability, sustainability, and cost efficiency.
• Establish and facilitate a New Materials Committee.
• Partner with R&D teams and ASSA ABLOY businesses to evaluate new technologies and implementation opportunities.
• Support compliance with environmental regulations, including RoHS and REACH requirements.

About You

You are a commercially aware and technically capable product professional who thrives in a collaborative environment and enjoys turning ideas into measurable business outcomes.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, Materials Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years demonstrated experience in Product Management, Product Development, Engineering, or a similar role.
• Strong understanding of product development methodologies and product lifecycle management.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and stakeholder groups.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in project management systems and business reporting tools.
• Ability to analyse data and present insights through dashboards and performance metrics.

Highly Regarded

• Experience within manufacturing, industrial products, building products, hardware, or engineering environments.
• Knowledge of lifecycle assessment methodologies and sustainability programs.
• Experience supporting product compliance and regulatory requirements.

What Success Looks Like

In this role you will

• Deliver continuous product improvements that enhance profitability and customer value.
• Drive projects through the change management process efficiently and effectively.
• Improve sustainability outcomes across D&D's packaging portfolio.
• Support strategic roadmap development and future product planning.
• Foster strong collaboration across product, engineering, operations, marketing, and sales teams.
• Identify innovative solutions that strengthen D&D's market-leading position.
• Why Join D&D Technologies?
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunity to work on globally recognised products and brands.
• Exposure to international projects and stakeholders.
• Career development and growth opportunities.
• Collaborative, innovative, and high-performing culture.
• Opportunity to make a tangible impact on product strategy, sustainability, and business performance.
• Ready to Apply?
• If you are passionate about product innovation, continuous improvement, sustainability, and delivering exceptional customer value, we encourage you to apply and become part of D&D Technologies' continued success.

We are the ASSA ABLOY Group

Our people have made us the global leader in access solutions. In return, we open doors for them wherever they go. With nearly 63,000 colleagues in more than 70 different countries, we help billions of people experience a more open world. Our innovations make all sorts of spaces – physical and virtual – safer, more secure, and easier to access.

As an employer, we value results – not titles, or backgrounds. We empower our people to build their career around their aspirations and our ambitions – supporting them with regular feedback, training, and development opportunities. Our colleagues think broadly about where they can make the most impact, and we encourage them to grow their role locally, regionally, or even internationally.

As we welcome new people on board, it’s important to us to have diverse, inclusive teams, and we value different perspectives and experiences.