Senior Product Development Manager
FreshCut Paper, China

Senior Product Development Manager

Shanghai, China

About Us:

FreshCut Paper was created by renowned designer Peter Hewitt in 2020. Our life-sized pop-up floral bouquets consist of whimsical and breathtaking blooms that are wilt-proof and crafted to last a lifetime. Our paper sculptures are affordable, environmental, artful, and lasting. We are poised to take a bite out of the $8 billion fresh cut flower industry and the $6 billion greeting card market.. Our product is a compelling, contemporary, alternative way to send flowers and yes they are beautiful.

Beyond having a fraction of the carbon footprint of imported flowers, we plant a tree for every bouquet sold, and partner with 1% for the Planet, an organization and global movement that tirelessly works to tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental issues.

The Opportunity:

The product development manager is a brand new role on our China team. This role will report to the head of Production in China but functionally work closely with the US product development team. The Product Development Manager will be instrumental in leading the product development process, partnering with suppliers to drive quality and the design team to drive innovation. This is a critical role that oversees the development and delivery of all products, so the ability to manage the day-to-day details and be aware of deadlines and competing schedules is vital. This role is based in Shanghai, China, and will require strong written and verbal skills and English and Mandarin.

What you will be doing

• Support the development of key products in our China production facility from production testing through mass production
• Clear and detailed daily communication with our product development team to meet product requirements and deliverable milestones in English and Mandarin (written and verbal)
• Document and provide timely communication of QA and production issues to the product development team including sharing any file updates in a timely manner
• Act as the liaison between our China productions teams and US product development team and ensure smooth communication process
• Contribute to the product creation process by providing costing, performance, and technical solutions to creative ideas
• Manage quality and performance testing procedures to monitor and improve adhesives, humidity, assembly, and quality control of raw goods
• Develop targets to ensure low error rates and low consumer issue rate (define KPI i.e. ~0.5% error rate)
• Lead ongoing research to identify manufacturing and material innovation to improve throughput and cost
• Work with suppliers on sourcing new and improved materials for all products

What success looks like:

As a fast growing business with explosive potential this role will need to grow with the business. Opportunity is abundant. We are looking for people who embrace learning, ideation, collaboration, risk taking, and see the positive in what an undefined future will be. There is an opportunity to define your career path and contribution in and outside of your expertise. As the business grows, successful talent will grow with it. Successful people will create impact and put the team over individual wins. Greatness is achieved through collaboration.

Requirements

What you will bring

• Fluency in English and Mandarin (written and spoken)
• 5+ years of experience in product development and manufacturing, preferably at a consumer goods company
• Proven experience in a range paper and printing manufacturing techniques including but not limited to die cutting, foiling, and laser cutting
• Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing and waste reduction practises
• Ability to travel to the US 2-4 times per year
• Highly-effective communication skills in virtual and in-person settings
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize effectively, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and stay organized in a fast-paced environment

• Curiosity and the pursuit of lifelong learning

The Employee FreshCut Paper Experience

We are a small and growing company that is ambitious and thinks big. We want to create a product and customer experience that matters to people and the greater good. We think of FreshCut Paper as a community rather than a company. One that cares, values creativity, contribution, and is constantly evolving. The goal is to build a company that is meaningful and the employees have purpose and an environment to do their best work. Risks are rewarded and successes are shared.

FreshCut Paper is an equal employment opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, citizenship, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical or men

Job Rewards and Benefits