AM - New Product Development

Position: Asst. Manager - New Product Development,

Education & Stationery Products Business, ITC Limited

Reporting Into: Head - New Product Development (1st Appraiser) & Head - Operations (2nd Appraiser)

Location: ESPB Head Office, Chennai

About ESPB : ESPB was established in the year 2000. It started as a Greeting Card Business and has grown over the years in terms of turnover as well as product portfolio significantly. Greeting Cards business was discontinued and the organization got into Student & Executive Notebooks in the year 2002.

Currently, the business is proud of having built strong brands such as Classmate and Paperkraft. Colour Crew is another brand in the Classmate umbrella under which ITC has launched the Art Stationery category. Product Categories in which the business operates today are Notebooks, Pens, Pencils, Geometry Boxes, Maths Instruments, Erasers, Sharpeners, Rulers and Art Stationery (Pencil Colours, Sketch Pens, Crayons). The business clocked a topline of approx. 600 crores in 2011-12 and has aggressive growth plans going forward.

Qualification: B.Tech. / M.Tech in Chemical Engineering / M.Sc. (Chemistry) / B.Tech. (Chemical / Mechanical) - Over and above any other qualification is welcome.

Experience: Hands on New Product development experience specifically in Stationery or related industry (Adhesives / Plastic / Paints) for 3 + years (can go upto 15 years also)

Other Skills: Keen Learner, People Development, Analytical Approach, Creative, Enthusiastic, Communication, Large perspective / open mind

Age : Less than 45 years.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

To contribute in developing differentiated, innovative & value added products as per the consumer need / product brief in line with business growth plans.

KEY FOCUS AREAS:

- Research

- Development of New Products

- Product Costing

- Quality Protocols

- Code of Conduct & Compliance to Statutory / Regulatory Norms

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Research

- Basis the direction provided, assist in conducting research of certain raw materials for your specific category and come up with recommendations to modify the properties in order to deliver superior products

- Carry out primary and secondary research to benchmark your category of products with the best in Industry - Indian & International

Development of New Products

- Convert product briefs into value added / high quality product options

- Assist the Head – NPD in agglomerating newer ideas and insights to build on R&D database

- Develop prototypes for accepted product options

- Work with the Operations Team to set up processes to manufacture new product offering.

Product Costing

- Develop the product costing sheet for each approved new product offer

- Explore all possible options w.r.t input materials to optimize product conversion costs for existing & new product options

Quality

- Work out quality standards and metrics across relevant parameters with tolerance limits for each approved new product offer

Code of Conduct & Compliance to all Statutory / Regulatory norms

- Drive and ensure adherence to the defined ITC Code of Conduct practices by the Stationery operations team

- Conformation to all financial and administrative systems.

- Compliance with all statutory and regulatory norms

- Ensuring effective and commercially appropriate trade agreements and
contracts

KEY SUCCESS FACTORS:

- New Product Development - Planned vs actual

- New product costing

INTERNAL LINKAGES:

- CEO, R&D Centre, Operations Managers, Head of Sales & Marketing, Brands team, Head of Finance, Head of HR, Assistant Manager – Procurement, Assistant Manager – Quality Protocols

EXTERNAL LINKAGES:

- Research institutes, Raw Material Suppliers, Vendors, Consultants, etc.

Salary - 12 - 14.5 Lacs p.a. (Negotiable depending on work experience and qualifications.)

Contact:- arushikakkar@gmail.com