Manages and coordinates product development projects.
Evaluates and resolves technical feasibility, design optimization, and production issues. Ensures that labeling and marketing/promotional literature match product specifications. Researches and monitors existing client base and industry developments and identifies potential new product opportunities. Works with other departments to establish a design, technology, product development, and vendor strategy. Manages project budgets and prepares financial analysis reports for top management.
Salary.com identifies five increasing levels of proficiency for each skill/competency. Some jobs require only a relatively low level of proficiency in each skill/competency, while other jobs will require a more advanced level of proficiency in the same skill/competency. These levels rate the degree of proficiency (skill level, expertise) we expect the incumbent to perform in the given skill/competency for the given job. Note that we intentionally do not associate timeframes or years of experience in performing the skill/competency because that can be misleading. Proficiency levels identify what the incumbent knows and can do rather than how long they have been doing it. Also, note that the proficiency levels are cumulative, e.g., a level 4 proficiency implies the ability to perform all the behaviors at the lower levels.
Check each Product Development Manager skill and competencie below to view definitions.
Skill definition-Analyzing economic, technical, and legal considerations to determine the cost and risks of projects.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Describes the process of generating feasibility questionnaires.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Collects information and documentation for a proposed study to help determine feasibility.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Handles the design of the feasibility questionnaires for studies.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Facilitates feasibility activities to design and present recommendations within defined timelines.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Creates a catalog of factors that warrant the need for carrying out a feasibility study.
Skill definition-Creating, reviewing, and implementing engineering change requests, orders, and notifications.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains the effects of the uncoordinated implementation of engineering change management on the overall business.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Maintains and reports engineering data change management and version control documents.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Participates in testing engineering changes to ensure product functionality.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Manages engineering product or process changes to determine the affected areas within the business operations.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Explains provisions for configuration identification, change control and configuration audits.
Skill definition-Gathering information about a business's potential customers to determine the feasibility of a new product or service.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Documents most used marketing research methodologies and strategies.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Conducts market research to support the execution of new product initiatives.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Generates questionnaires, surveys, and other data collection resources.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Guides the team in reviewing changes to the marketplace and adjusts our marketing plans accordingly.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Champions the adoption of advanced techniques and tools in enhancing marketing research processes.
Skill definition-Overseeing the creation of new products or improvement of the performance, cost, or quality of existing products to achieve business goals.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Describes the different phases in the new product development process.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Conducts basic product testing at various stages of product development.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Helps in the manufacturing and design activities by creating prototypes.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Monitors prototyping and quality testing in each phase of product development.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Creates ideas for new products and evaluates feasibility in terms of profit, resources, and compliance.
Skill definition-Insight into our organization's business, goals, and values. Ability to design and implement initiatives that facilitate successful outcomes.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Discusses the strengths and weaknesses of our products and services.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Explains advantages and disadvantages of different organizational structures from an efficiency perspective.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Evaluates supply chain efficiency with an eye toward improving shortcomings.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Leverages the latest technologies and tools that enhance business analytics.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Designs and implements feedback loops to identify and promptly address business problems.
Skill definition-Applying specific policies, tools and practices to plan and prepare projected revenues, expenses, cash flows, and capital expenditures.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains the different purposes and uses of our organization's budgets.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Produces budget reports showing planned vs. actual variances highlighted and explained.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Reviews and helps approve major budget adjustments to negotiate and reconcile line variances.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Monitors budgeting processes to ensure adherence to our organization's financial practices and standards.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Establishes operating procedures to guide the consistency and repeatability of our budgeting processes.
There are 6 hard skills for Product Development Manager, Feasibility Study, Engineering Change Management, Value Engineering, etc.
3 general skills for Product Development Manager, Market Research, Product Development, Product Marketing.
14 soft skills for Product Development Manager, Business Acumen, Budgeting, Planning and Organizing, etc.
While the list totals 23 distinct skills, it's important to note that not all are required to be mastered to the same degree. Some skills may only need a basic understanding, whereas others demand a higher level of expertise.
For instance, as a Product Development Manager, he or she needs to be proficient in Business Acumen, be proficient in Budgeting, and be skilled in Planning and Organizing.
