Job Description
We’re looking for a Junior Product Developer to join our creative and collaborative Product Development team. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is organised, detail-focused, and keen to build a career in product development. You’ll manage your own product range, source materials and components, and work alongside experienced colleagues to help turn ideas into high-quality products that customers love.
Key Duties
- Attend Creative Briefings and work closely with the Creative team to clarify product specifications that are fit for purpose and cost effective.
- Under the guidance of the Senior developers, negotiate with suppliers to achieve the best costs and schedules available for each title and ensure they are suitable for CU customer requirements.
- Draft POs and ensure a smooth handover of information to the Procurement and Production teams and working to reduce the number of outstanding spec details.
- Liaise between Publishing, Procurement, Sales, Production and Shipping departments to resolve queries.
- Maintain and build supplier relationships, attending calls as required.
- Maintain quality of data (e.g clear and consistent spec details) as it flows through the team and wider departments.
- Keep new development on track and in line with the Critical Date Path. Ensuring supplier approaches are sent out in a timely manner; dummies are delivered in time for review; and escalating titles falling behind schedule.
- Manage tracking data, circulation and approvals of product dummies.
- Supporting management of samples and postal deliveries ensuring that samples are ready for key internal and external business meetings.
- Work with the Senior developers to challenge product specifications where environment and sustainability could be an issue, seek alternatives.
Required skills
- Product development knowledge desirable
- Dealing with suppliers
- Experience with overseas suppliers a benefit
- Negotiation experience desirable
- Scheduling and time management
- Confidence and a good communicator
- Initiative, honesty and integrity
- Positive can-do attitude within a fast-changing environment
- A Team Player
Benefits
- Bereavement leave
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free fitness classes
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insurance
- Paid volunteer time
- Referral programme
- Sick pay
- Work from home