Product Development & Compliance Manager

Job description

Deluxebase is an established and growing international toy and gift business supplying zoos, aquariums, museums, visitor attractions and retailers across the UK, Europe and North America.

We develop and source a broad range of plush toys, toys, gifts, stationery and other consumer products, working closely with suppliers and factories primarily in Asia.

We are looking for an experienced Product Development & Compliance Manager to take ownership of the development, technical specification, testing and compliance of our products.

The role

You will manage products from approved concept through development, sampling, testing and final approval until they are ready for production.

Working closely with Creative Design, Purchasing & Logistics, overseas factories, testing laboratories and senior management, you will ensure products are developed on time, to the required quality and in accordance with relevant UK, EU and US requirements.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Project managing new products from concept through to production-ready approval.
• Coordinating the development of new ranges, product additions and reworked products.
• Managing product-development schedules and key deadlines.
• Creating and maintaining clear product specifications and technical requirements.
• Reviewing development samples and coordinating product approvals.
• Defining product quality-control standards and manufacturing requirements.
• Managing product safety testing, retesting and regulatory compliance.
• Liaising with testing laboratories and external conformity specialists.
• Maintaining technical files, test reports, declarations and compliance records.
• Working with Purchasing & Logistics and overseas suppliers to resolve technical and development issues.
• Using Odoo Projects to manage development actions, responsibilities and deadlines.
• Ensuring products are fully order-ready before formal release to Purchasing.
• Supporting product-related intellectual property, including trademarks, registered designs and licensing administration.

The role will involve regular international travel, including supplier and factory visits in Asia and other overseas locations. Candidates should be comfortable travelling several times a year, including longer-haul trips.

About you

You are likely to have experience in product development, product compliance, quality assurance, sourcing, manufacturing or technical product management.

We would particularly like to hear from candidates with:

• Experience developing physical consumer products.
• Strong project-management and organisational skills.
• Experience working with overseas factories and suppliers.
• Good attention to technical detail.
• An understanding of product testing, quality assurance or regulatory compliance.
• Confidence reading specifications, test reports and technical documentation.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work across several departments.
• Good commercial judgement when balancing quality, compliance, cost and delivery.

Experience within toys, children’s products, gifts or another regulated consumer-product sector would be particularly valuable.

Knowledge of EN 71, ASTM F963, CPSIA, REACH or related consumer-product regulations would be a significant advantage, although we would also consider someone with strong transferable product-development experience who can develop further expertise in these areas.

Why join Deluxebase?

Deluxebase develops a large number of new and replacement products each year and manages an extensive existing product portfolio.

The successful candidate will have real ownership and variety, working on products from initial development through to final production and helping strengthen the company’s product-development, quality and compliance processes as the business grows internationally.

Salary: competitive, from £40,000 depending on experience

The role is also expected to participate in the company’s management performance-bonus scheme once introduced, incorporating both Group EBITDA performance and role-specific product development, quality and compliance objectives.

Reference 225471226