Product Development Manager, Apparel​/General Retail

Job Description

As an Avery Dennison Smartrac (ADS) Product Development Manager, you will have the overall responsibility for leading global, cross‑functional teams for fast‑growing RFID product lines covering inlay, media/customization, and continuous improvement projects. A successful candidate will drive action and execution to achieve the strategic and P&L goals for the product portfolio. The Product Development Manager will collaborate closely with ADS internal stakeholders such as R&D, Product Management, and Operations, as well as partnering with businesses within Solutions Group, Materials Group, and our Corporate supporting teams in support of product delivery for our clients and the business.

Primary responsibilities include project planning and documentation, meeting facilitation, follow‑up, and communication of product release plans and status. The Product Development Manager is accountable for the overall delivery of the product release plan and will work with various levels of the organization to ensure timelines are met, risks are mitigated, and the overall success and client satisfaction of the project.

• Work with product managers to translate market requirements into executable projects, and to develop product release plans for achieving stated objectives including detailed work plans, schedules, project estimates, forecasts, and status reports.
• Lead a proof of concept or other development product sampling, providing MVPs for fast iterative development.
• Lead product development from definition through new product introduction to first production site.
• Work with R&D and platform teams to freeze design and successfully build prototype and/or pre‑production engineering samples for new products.
• Secure needed product validation testing, including regulatory and/or compliance requirements.
• Collaborate closely with Product Management, R&D, Operations (including Platform, Global Supply Chain, Global Procurement, Global Quality, NPI, and Commercial teams) to ensure new products have a smooth transition to high‑volume production.
• Lead requirements gathering, creation, and delivery of product media/customization to support commercial go‑to‑market (GTM) strategy.
• Provide project timing on inlay and/or media/customization product development projects to Commercial, Operations or other stakeholders.
• Coordinate finalization of technical specifications and item creation with the PDM team in collaboration with the product manager.
• Conduct project meetings and be responsible for project tracking and analysis.
• Help infuse process discipline, systems thinking, and critical tools deep into the organization thereby enhancing company’s capacity for effective & efficient project management.
• Leverage methods & tools to accelerate project timelines with agility and flexibility, encourage cross‑functional collaboration, and build quality into projects from the outset.
• Identify & resolve issues proactively, assess potential risks and solutions, and plan alternatives by balancing schedule, scope, and cost constraints creatively.
• Manage interpersonal dynamics within global project teams (e.g., building consensus among sub‑project owners, negotiating any changes to the project plan, and holding team members accountable for delivery on commitments made).
• Ensure teams meet or exceed anticipated project benefits on‑time, within budget, and with the desired level of quality.
• Develop and improve project management practices, tools and resources targeting speed, trust and focus.
• Collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders worldwide.

• Bachelor’s degree required in Electrical Engineering or relevant technical engineering disciplines such as Electronics, Computer, or Mechanical. Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or relevant technical engineering disciplines such as Electronics, Computer, or Mechanical preferred.
• 1‑3 years of relevant professional experience in project management, processes, and tools in new product development and deployment in NPI operations environment.
• Experience in leading others and managing cross‑functional projects.
• Basic knowledge of RFID technologies and RFID…