Product Development & NPI Manager

Job Title: Product Development & NPI Manager Company: Reju About Us: We are a pioneering textile manufacturing company focused on recycled textiles and circularity. With a demonstration plant in Germany and upcoming manufacturing facilities in the US and EU, we are on a mission to transform the textile industry with sustainable, traceable, and high-quality textile-to-textile recycling. Our operations leverage feedstocks sourced from across Europe and the US, and our products reach a diverse global customer base. We are committed to building a circular value chain that ensures transparency and traceability from feedstock sourcing to final products. The Opportunity: We are seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Product Development and NPI Manager with a strong technical focus to drive the rigorous development and validation of our recycled polyester and cellulosic materials for fiber and apparel applications. This critical role will be instrumental in designing and executing experiments, substantiating technical claims, and ensuring seamless transition of new products into manufacturing across various production sites and equipment. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of polymer science or textile engineering, a proven ability to apply statistical methodologies to experimental design, and a meticulous approach to technical validation, manufacturing readiness, and launch qualification. You will work closely with our established Product and Technology teams to bring their market-driven concepts to robust and scalable reality. Responsibilities: Product Development and Introduction: Lead Product Development process, the design and execution of technical experiments, and production release to develop and launch new recycled polyester and cellulosic materials for fiber and apparel applications, on schedule and on budget. Working within a circular material ecosystem, define process, documentation, experiments, technical needs, for Product Development and NPI across internal and external partners for textile feedstock preparation, depolymerization (glycolysis), BHET monomer preparation, polyester repolymerization, and fiber extrusion. Apply statistical principles and methodologies (e.g., DOE, FMEA, root cause analysis) to manage the Product Development and Stage Gate process, design efficient and effective experiments, analyze data, and draw meaningful conclusions. Investigate and troubleshoot technical challenges during the development process, identifying root causes and implementing effective solutions. Manufacturing Readiness & Scale-Up: Collaborate closely with Production and Polymerization teams at different manufacturing sites to ensure new products are effectively transitioned into production, on spec and at forecasted volumes. Develop robust material specifications, processing guidelines, and quality control procedures to ensure consistent product quality across different production environments. Define and implement control processes and improvement plans to meet and exceed product sustainability attributes, eliminate wastes and emissions, and improve material health beyond industry standards. Technical Validation & Claim Substantiation: Implement comprehensive testing protocols to rigorously develop and validate performance attributes and technical claims for new recycled polyester materials, including properties achieved in final fiber, yarn, fabric, and garment forms. Oversee and analyze data from internal and external testing, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and adherence to relevant industry standards. Prepare detailed technical reports and documentation summarizing experimental designs, results, and conclusions to support product claims, specifications, and sustainability attributes. Regulatory & Compliance: Ensure all new product development activities and material specifications comply with relevant environmental regulations, safety standards, and industry certifications (e.g., GRS, Bluesign, REACH). Integrate toxicology and LCA methods into development and production management systems to achieve comprehensive monitoring and continuous improvement beyond regulatory and voluntary minimums. Contribute to the preparation of technical documentation required for regulatory submissions, certifications, and supplier validation. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with the Product team to understand market requirements and translate them into technical development parameters. Collaborate effectively with Technology, Operations, Sales, and other internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and successful product launches. Interface with external testing facilities and technology providers as needed. Qualifications: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Polymer Science, Textile Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field with a strong emphasis on Product Stage Gate development, experimental design, and release to production. Minimum of 10 years of experience in product development, with a significant focus on polymers or fibers, preferably polyester, and their processing for apparel applications. Minimum 5 years of experience in managing Stage Gate, NPI, or similar product qualification/release processes Technical knowledge and experience in depolymerization and polymerization reactions, polymer catalysts, toxicology and material health, and polymer additive and modification methods. Demonstrated expertise in designing and executing experiments using statistical methodologies. Proven ability to analyze complex technical data, interpret results, and draw sound conclusions. Strong understanding of material testing and characterization techniques relevant to polymers, textile fibers, and fabrics. Experience in preparing technical documentation, reports, and specifications. Familiarity with manufacturing processes for polymers, synthetic fibers, and textiles, and experience with scale-up activities. Knowledge of relevant industry standards, regulations, and sustainability initiatives in the polymer, textile, and apparel sectors. Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills (both written and verbal). Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Location: Greater Paris Metropolitan Region, FR

Posted Date: 7/7/2025