Design Project Manager Jobs Kenya

Design Project Manager Job – Jewelry & Accessories at Wisen Group

Our client, Shop Soko, a producer of innovative, handcrafted jewelry and accessories from sustainable materials, is looking for a Design Project Manager to join their growing company.

Project Management of product collections ranging from Jewellry, Home Goods, Leather and not limited to above listed categories.

Reporting to Chief Design Officer (manager related to product direction) & Supply Chain Manager (manager related to sampling & production & material research)

Overseeing and supporting the operationalization, efficiency, and success of the design and sampling process. As the Design Project Manager, you will be responsible for leading a design team together with the supply chain managers (AM & QA) to ensure the delivery of new designs from the concept stage to the development of prototypes through to finished products ready for manufacture.

Drive creative thinking, ensure customer needs are considered and collaborate with the operations team to ensure products are designed for efficient manufacture. Work on multiple major projects requiring innovative solutions that advance design and production techniques. Implement and manage continuous improvement principles by highlighting deficiencies and recommending training, working practices and processes.

Design Project Manager Job Responsibilities:

Strategic Function

• Contribute to the creation and implementation of best practice is design management i.e policies, processes and procedures to aid and improve operational performance
• Ability to capture and specify the design requirements and the development and validation needed to deliver successful systems, products and components to meet/exceed the customer’s specifications
• Set departmental objectives/KPIs and review and assess ongoing performance of direct reports
• Communicate KPIs from the strategic annual plan so that each employee is aware
• Provide technical expertise to the team Financial Budget and Control
• Hold responsibility for departmental budget

General Tasks Management

• Lead the team to create production capabilities for design.
• Manage design projects, costs, changes and budgetary information effectively to management and customers. (Provide regular progress updates)
• Liaise closely with all departments to fully understand design requirements.
• Respond to Requests for Quotation (RFQs) from the Sales team.
• Create initial feasibility studies
• Conceptualise new designs and design revisions (product category: home goods)
• Create detailed costed design blueprints(BOM)
• Provide support to production to improve lead times
• Improve reliability performance to reduce or eliminate product returns
• Drive forward product development, innovation and ‘think outside the box’ to generate engineering/design advantages for customers, thinking creatively to develop new/improved solutions
• Identify and implement design improvements (functionality, cost, design for manufacture)
• Report on achievement of targets and identify any actions required
• Be customer facing, embrace and champion continuous improvement

People Management

• Lead the team in new product development projects
• Assign resources to product development projects
• Manage the design and development team to produce a range of concept design schemes for new products as well as updating existing product designs for SOKO or other customers
• Motivate and coach the team to operational success
• Monitor capacity, the completion of tasks and ensure good performance and record on appropriate systems
• Consistently promote high standards through personal example and roll out through the team so that each member of the team understands the standards and behaviours expected of them

Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure optimal performance
• Support the Sales & Business Development team with introductions for sales and partnership opportunity generation.
• Work collaboratively, negotiate and engage with key stakeholders to facilitate delivery and compliance with the design strategy
• Communicate with stakeholders the impact of market change and potential effects on design and development.
• Recommend solutions without compromising quality or service while optimising cost
• Stay current and up to date on any technology changes that may affect engineering design and development and advise others of any impact
• Contribute to new business initiatives and projects and review and communicate the impact on engineering activities

Qualifications for the Design Project Manager Job

• 5+ years of jewelry design experience working in or for established commercial brand.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Jewelry design, design, fine art or related degree preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively problem solve.
• Ability to take initiative and ownership of all work, within a fast paced environment.
• Commitment to Soko’s mission and vision; passionate about ethical and sustainable fashion.

How to Apply
Compensation: Commensurate with experience.

Deadline: Interested parties should send their online applications on or before 1st September 2017

Correspondence: Applications and detailed CV to be submitted online at http://goo.gl/T8sryH

Applications not meeting minimum requirements will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.