Skills & Competencies for Product Development Manager

Product Development Manager job profile

JOB SUMMARY for Product Development Manager

Manages and coordinates product development projects.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES for Product Development Manager

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.

Product Development Manager SALARY RANGE

BASE 50%
$139,855
TOTAL 50%
$153,877
Job Level
M02
Job Code
MM18000039
Education/Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Reports To
Top Management

Product Development Manager Skills and Competencies List

Proficiency Levels and Behavioural Indicators
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.

6 hard skills or competencies (industry competencies) for Product Development Manager

1 Industry Competency – Feasibility Study
Proficiency Level -3
Skill definition-Analyzing economic, technical, and legal considerations to determine the cost and risks of projects.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Describes the principles and procedures used in feasibility studies.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Carries out the feasibility study of project requirements.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Examines and summarizes the findings of the feasibility study.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Enhances the feasibility study process to align with the project strategy.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Champions the execution of protocol design optimization for robust feasibility study assessments.
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2 Industry Competency – Engineering Change Management
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Creating, reviewing, and implementing engineering change requests, orders, and notifications.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Cites the possible change management challenges to the engineering products and quality improvements.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Follows a set of guidelines in providing support with engineering change management.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Analyzes databases to provide critical status evaluations of engineering projects for change management.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Facilitates training on change management processes to maintain engineering standards and quality.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Champions the adoption of change management processes to uphold crucial engineering objectives.
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3 Product Development Manager - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Product Development Manager
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Product Development Manager
Proficiency Level - 5

3 general skills or competencies (Job family competencies) for Product Development Manager

1 Job Family Competencies – Market Research
Proficiency Level -2
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)
Describes the fundamentals and concepts of market research.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Compiles market research data gathered from available sources and public information.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Employs data collection tools to gather and analyze potential customers' information.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Directs all aspects of market research and analytics methodologies across our business.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Builds advanced marketing research strategies to gain a competitive edge in the market.
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2 Job Family Competencies – Product Development
Proficiency Level -3
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)
Cites the uses of basic prototyping equipment and design software.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Compiles results of quantitative and qualitative user research.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Documents tasks performed and outcomes in each phase of the product development initiative.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Facilitates post-implementation review to define the project's success and room for improvement.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Champions the development and execution of new products and streamlining of existing products.
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3 Product Development Manager - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Product Development Manager
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Product Development Manager
Proficiency Level - 5

14 soft skills or competencies (core competencies) for Product Development Manager

1 Core Competencies – Business Acumen
Proficiency Level -2
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)
Describes the market conditions that impact the business.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Collects and compiles competitor information for competitive analysis.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Applies technical expertise, business sense, and product knowledge to manage the product lifecycle effectively.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Coordinates technical and business teams to solve complex and diverse customer problems.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Builds strong business partnerships internally and externally to drive "win-win" business successes.
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2 Core Competencies – Budgeting
Proficiency Level -2
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)
Describes the concepts and principles of budgeting operations.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Assists in developing and improving budgeting models, plans, and strategies.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Compares planned budgets vs. actual expenditures, identifies, reports, and explains variances.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Determines system capabilities and needs to improve the process for financial budgeting.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Develops financial models to support the strategic improvement of our budgeting processes.
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3 Product Development Manager - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Product Development Manager
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Product Development Manager
Proficiency Level - 5

Summary of Product Development Manager skills and competencies

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.

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