Product Development Manager

Location: Thetford | Salary: £50,000 - £70,000 DOE + Bonus | Hybrid Role

Are you a creative and innovative product designer with a passion for developing high-quality furniture solutions? Do you have the vision and leadership skills to drive new product development, take products to market, and ensure commercial success? If so, this is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established company supplying durable, stylish, and functional furniture to the care sector.

Why Join This Business?

This organisation is a trusted supplier of innovative contract furniture designed specifically for care environments, ensuring both resident comfort and operational efficiency. With a strong industry reputation, they are committed to delivering exceptional products that meet the highest standards.

The Role

As Product Development Manager, you will be responsible for leading the design and functionality of the furniture range, ensuring it aligns with business goals and customer needs. A key part of the role will be managing the product lifecycle, from concept and development through to product launch and market introduction. You will need a strong commercial mindset, ensuring that products are not only well-designed but also commercially viable.

Your key responsibilities will include:

  • Product Innovation – Researching industry trends, gathering customer feedback, and designing furniture solutions tailored to care environments.
  • Creative Design & Development – Selecting suitable materials, sketching concepts, developing CAD models, and overseeing prototyping.
  • Product Launch & Market Introduction – Managing the entire product development cycle, ensuring successful go-to-market strategies and commercial success.
  • Supplier & Quality Management – Collaborating with suppliers, conducting quality control audits, and maintaining high standards across all product ranges.
  • Team Leadership – Supporting and expanding the product development team to drive innovation and growth.

Requirements

What We’re Looking For

  • Qualifications – BA (Hons) in Furniture Design, Industrial Design, or Product Design (or equivalent).
  • Skills & Experience – Strong design vision, problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in SolidWorks or equivalent CAD software.
  • Commercial Acumen – Understanding of product costing, pricing strategies, and market positioning to ensure the commercial viability of new products.
  • Personal Attributes – A self-starter, team player, and effective communicator who thrives in a fast-paced, innovative environment.

Benefits

As part of the team, you’ll benefit from:

  • Competitive salary (£50,000 - £70,000) plus bonus scheme
  • Newly refurbished offices in Thetford, providing a modern and inspiring workspace
  • Free snacks, creating a positive and welcoming environment
  • Opportunities to develop and grow, including the chance to expand and lead the product development team
  • A supportive and forward-thinking company culture, where your ideas will make a real impact


Apply Now

If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and make a meaningful impact in the care furniture industry, we’d love to hear from you.

Universal Business Team (“UBT”) is a global enterprise spanning 19 countries across the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, Central America and Australasia. UBT, headquartered in Sydney, Australia, is a diversified business consultancy that supports clients with business-advisory and group-buying services with the objective to help businesses develop a competitive edge. UBT was launched in 2009 in response to the Global Financial Crisis to support client organisations that were either in distress or looking to improve their competitiveness and financial performance. Currently, UBT turns over $500M (AUD) and has aspirations for significant growth over the next three to five years. A recent decision was made to bring four separate global regions together under the one global brand and leadership team. UBT’s business advisory services comprise corporate training, consulting, recruitment, accounting, and group buying services. UBT facilitates leadership and business excellence for our client’s in their respective industries. Through the group buying function, UBT nurtures mutually-beneficial relationships between member businesses and world-leading providers of business goods and services. The outcome to which we strive is a “win-win” for small-to-medium enterprises and big business alike. UBT provides services and products to approximately 3,000 independent, family-owned businesses globally with combined annual revenues exceeding $12B (AUD). The majority are small to medium sized enterprises with typical annual revenue ranges between $5m-$20m. However, there are also some larger businesses with annual revenues in the range of $100m-$250m. The unifying feature of all UBT’s clients is that the owners are parishioners of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC). UBT (which is owned by the PBCC) supports clients by providing products, services and support designed to increase their profitability and growth. The after-tax profits generated by UBT are reinvested into community initiatives, predominantly through schools (established to educate the children of Brethren families) and charities, such as the Rapid Relief Team (“RRT”) and the Red Cross. UBT Recruitment are an Equal Opportunities Employer. We will apply a rigorous, objective selection process using non-discriminatory criteria, as far as possible on behalf of all the businesses we recruit for.To view our policy in full please contact [email protected]

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