Product developer Pads and Liners

Eeklo, BE Segovia, ES Turnov, CZ

Product developer Pads and Liners

Ontex is een toonaangevende internationale leverancier van persoonlijke hygiëne-oplossingen voor alle generaties. Met een globaal team van ongeveer 7.500 medewerkers ontwikkelen, produceren en distribueren we in ongeveer 100 landen via toonaangevende retailers en zorgverleners. Ontex werd in 1979 in België opgericht en staat genoteerd op Euronext Brussel.

Om ons Commercial team te versterken zijn we op zoek naar een Product developer Pads and Liners .

Job purpose

Be the product science and product knowledge center for feminine care pads and liners, with a clear focus on Retail innovations, in the entire Ontex Group in order to provide expert knowledge within the organization. Lead and coordinate innovation projects for the Feminine care pads and liners product portfolio across all production plants for Feminine care with a clear focus on priority levels and in time delivery. The Product Developer contributes to the creation, funneling and implementation of product development, design to value and innovation projects across plants. Your permanent place of employment can be Eeklo, Segovia or Turnov. There must be flexibility to travel between these 3 locations (15%).

Main responsibilities and key tasks

• Lead product innovations for Feminine Care pads and liners and Head product development in leading the innovation program in line with the targets and objectives including a high level of complexity
• Build knowledge for raw material specifications for new and existing raw materials used in Feminine Care pads and liners products.
• Assure the product safety of Feminine Care pads and liners products with the support of the Group Sustainability & Scientific Affairs Manager
• Contribute to the Feminine Care pads and liners product cost saving yearly projects to support the Ontex productivity program
• Set-up the master specification for new product developments including product definition, product drawings, general quality recommendations, safety files,…
• Discuss designs of products, features… for legal compliance with Regulatory affairs by submitting all relevant product info to the Ontex legal counsels with the clear goal of avoiding infringements or protect own intelligence and know how.
• Conduct product improvement projects to resolve persisting production and/or quality problems, maximize product reliability and minimize cost and impact on the environment.
• Build and maintain business relationships with suppliers and external agencies • Coordination and supervision of trial runs, laboratory and panel tests for the validation of new concepts or developments.
• Contribute to the sustainable Ontex strategy, developing products and validating raw materials accordingly. “Sustainable Score Card” is included in all projects.
• Build and check IP based on key innovations and competition.
• Support product improvement projects to resolve persisting production and/or quality problems, maximize product reliability and minimize cost and impact on the environment.
• Be in contact with suppliers and Quality organization as part of the raw material validation process (FTR)
• Active participation in the innovation process.
• Follow up Innovation Governance process (Stage gate process), FTR.
• Support (or create) a master specification for new product developments including product drawings, general quality recommendations, safety files, CTQ’s, Cpk’s… in line with FTR principals.
• Manage cross functional communication to assure transparency in the organization in order to maintain time targets.
• Provide input regarding CAPEX requirements.
• Design and build prototypes of absorbent products (Mock-Ups)
• Create, support and update lab test methods and GWI in alignment with the Lab and Lead team.
• Coordinate and create competition product, performance and dimensions analyses.
• Provide product training and representative demos to other colleagues or product stakeholders including customers, executive members, CEO or BoD.
• Provide guidance, training and support to junior developers, acting as a leader

Key & typical activities will include:
• Gather, develop and evaluate ideas for novel products (concepts, features, materials), and machine processes in cooperation with the cross functional peers, with specific focus on the Retail brands.
• Keep up and enlarge knowledge of raw materials and developments in the market, in cooperation with Group Purchase, Group Division and the Market Strategy Teams.
• Support other functions and strategic accounts by providing expert knowledge short-term, e.g. related to quality problems, customer requests, or operational issues.
• Lead project teams and manage cross functional communication to assure transparency in the organization in order to maintain time targets.