NPI Engineering Manager
Salary up to £70K (subject to skills and experience) + fantastic benefits including company bonuses, car cash allowance, private medical cover and generous pension scheme.
Designing award-winning products for our market‑leading brands – Mira Showers, Rada, and Recoup – is our lifeblood. We focus on investment; investing in the best technology and resources available, and investing in each and every individual. From day one you’re part of the Kohler Mira community – a collaborative, forward‑focused team with a shared pride in our work and commitment to delight our customers, develop innovative products and services and inspire our people.
The Role
Senior leader accountable for effective leadership and management of an entire support function covering the Cheltenham site. Member of the senior leadership team for the Manufacturing function. Accountable for New Product Integration (NPI) focused on:
- Supporting the Business Manufacturing Strategy over a 3‑year rolling timeline.
- Delivering Senior Leadership focused initiatives and strategic improvements.
- Pro‑active compliance and development of New Product operational capability to achieve Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery and People (SQCDP).
- Manufacturing readiness through pilot build, production ramp‑up, and handover to Production.
- Working cross‑functionally with NPD, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production teams.
General Responsibilities
Responsibility for leading the NPI team in accordance with established policies, procedures and objectives.
New Product Integration Leadership
- Lead end‑to‑end New Product Integration (NPI) activity from manufacturing concept through to production handover.
- Ensure all new products are introduced in line with the company NPI governance process (e.g. gated development frameworks).
- Own pilot builds, production ramp‑up, and early life support to ensure stable manufacture.
- Create Manufacturing Systems that deliver competitiveness for the Cheltenham site against cost, quality, and delivery.
Manufacturing Readiness & Design
- Provide manufacturing input into product design, ensuring robust Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA).
- Ensure manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, and documentation are fully validated prior to release to production.
- Identify, assess, and manage manufacturing risks throughout the NPI lifecycle.
- Communicate project status, risks, and readiness clearly to senior stakeholders.
- Define equipment, tooling, fixtures, and control system requirements for new products.
- Lead the design, specification, and functional testing of manufacturing systems and packaging solutions.
- Work closely with Assembly Manufacturing Engineering, Production Improvement and Production teams to deliver scalable and repeatable manufacturing solutions.
- Develop and manage manufacturing cost models for new products.
- Define and control capital expenditure associated with new product integrations.
- Support and/or lead continuous improvement and Kaizen activity linked to new introductions.
- Ensure effective transfer of processes, documentation, and ownership to Production and Assembly Manufacturing Engineering teams.
- Support shopfloor teams during early production to embed stable processes.
- Support site reviews, leadership walkthroughs, and global NPI engagement as required.
- Deliver successful, stable on time new products into production.
- Deliver against approved capital and product costs.
Management & Development – People
- Lead, inspire, coach and develop the skills of direct reports.
- Manage reports in line with company standards and policies.
- Set objectives and monitor performance of direct reports in line with the Kohler Co Maximizing Performance process.
- Represent Kohler Co. in working groups; contribute to these and facilitate discussion locally on possible implications of new initiatives.
- Ensure appropriate resourcing aligned to project complexity and portfolio demand.
Skills / Requirements
- Proven competence and previous success in an engineering leadership role, with significant exposure to New Product Introduction, typically 8+ years experience within a manufacturing/assembly environment.
- Experience and application of lean principles, manufacturing processes, automation, labour efficiency, capital planning, operations finance, and industrialisation.
- Experience working within gated NPI / NPD frameworks, and knowledge of DFM/A principles.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Ability to assess risk and make balanced decisions under time and cost pressure.
- Confident decision maker with strong delivery focus.
- Strong leadership and people management skills.
- Comfortable operating between strategic intent and hands‑on execution.
- Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence across functions.
- Bachelor and/or Masters Degree in manufacturing engineering, operations or related technical field.
Benefits
We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With a genuine commitment to creating better tomorrows, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.
About Us
In the UK, Kohler Mira Ltd. is made up of three market leading brands: Mira Showers, Rada Controls, and Recoup. Our brands differ in market position but are equal in their commitment to design, innovation, and providing a single level of quality regardless of price.
Kohler Mira is committed to diversity and inclusion to drive our business results and create a better future every day for our diverse associates, consumers, partners, and global communities. As an equal opportunities employer, we recruit, hire and promote qualified people in all job classifications without prejudice.
If you require adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability, please contact talentacquisitionuk@kohler.com.
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