Manufacturing Project Lead (MPL)

Primary Position Objective

The Manufacturing Project Lead (MPL) is the focal point in providing great Manufacturing experience to Mask Product Development projects by representing Manufacturing Engineering on cross-functional project teams (XFTs). The MPL is accountable for coordinating end-to-end Manufacturing Process Engineering activities to ensure new products, equipment and processes are delivered into production on time and achieve quality, cost, delivery and efficiency objectives.

The MPL leads the Manufacturing XFT, driving planning, risk management, stakeholder alignment and execution throughout the product development lifecycle. Working closely with Product Development Project XFT members and Manufacturing NPI teams, the MPL ensures manufacturing readiness is achieved through proactive identification of risks, effective coordination of project activities and timely delivery of manufacturing milestones.

The MPL is responsible for ensuring Supply Chain Leadership remains informed, engaged and aligned on key project decisions, manufacturing strategies, risks and readiness throughout development. The MPL fosters a collaborative and continuous learning environment, enabling teams to work together effectively to solve problems, share knowledge and successfully commercialize new products.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Lead the Manufacturing XFT to deliver manufacturing readiness for new product introductions, ensuring manufacturing deliverables, milestones and project commitments are achieved on time and to the required quality standards.

• Develop and maintain manufacturing project plans, including key milestones, dependencies, risks and mitigation strategies, and proactively manage project execution throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Represent Manufacturing Engineering on Product Development Project XFTs, providing manufacturing input to support robust decision-making, project planning and successful commercialization outcomes.

• Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) activities in partnership with Product Development to ensure robust, scalable and manufacturable product designs.

• Identify, develop and implement new manufacturing processes, equipment and technologies to meet project requirements for quality, cost, delivery, safety and future scalability.

•  Ensure appropriate engagement of manufacturing subject matter experts and NPI stakeholders to support process development, technology readiness, validation and manufacturing readiness activities.

• Establish and maintain a clear view of manufacturing readiness, project progress, risks and issues, and communicate status effectively through project reviews, quality governance forums and phase transitions.

• Build alignment across Product Development, Manufacturing stakeholders and Supply Chain Leadership, ensuring key project decisions, risks, priorities and manufacturing strategies are understood and supported.

• Drive resolution of technical, manufacturing and project issues through effective risk management, cross-functional collaboration and structured problem solving.

• Support new-product introduction activities including validation, pilot builds, production ramp-up and continuous improvement initiatives, while fostering a collaborative and learning-focused team culture.

Position Specific Skills and Challenges

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute project plans, manage competing priorities and coordinate activities across multiple stakeholders.

• Strong risk management skills, including identifying, assessing and mitigating projects, manufacturing and business risks.

• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to build trust, influence decisions and align diverse groups toward common objectives.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively at all levels of the organisation.

• Ability to think ahead, anticipate future challenges and proactively develop mitigation strategies.

• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and driving progress where pathways may not be fully defined.

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and workstreams simultaneously.

• Ability to balance technical details with project-level priorities and business objectives.

• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence rather than authority and build effective cross-functional relationships.

• Ability to effectively engage leadership stakeholders and ensure alignment on key project decisions, priorities and risks.

• Collaborative team player who values open communication, continuous learning and supporting the success of others.

• Strong understanding of Manufacturing Process Development, Risk Management and Validation and the ability to represent these areas during quality and regulatory audits.

• Strong understanding of what makes an efficient, safe, robust and high-quality medical device manufacturing process.

Qualifications and Experience

Minimum

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or equivalent.

• Experience in New Product Development (NPD) or New Product Introduction (NPI) environments.

• Experience in a high-volume production environment.

• Experience across the product development lifecycle, including participation in projects of significant technical or business impact.

• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional project activities, managing project schedules, milestones, risks and dependencies, and delivering outcomes in a product development or NPI environment.

• Strong understanding of manufacturing process development, validation and risk management methodologies.

Preferred

• Experience leading cross-functional teams and influencing stakeholders without direct authority.

• Experience managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities and evolving requirements.

• Understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or continuous improvement principles.

• Medical device manufacturing experience.

• Experience supporting product commercialization, manufacturing readiness and production ramp-up activities.

Joining us is more than saying “yes” to making the world a healthier place. It’s discovering a career that’s challenging, supportive and inspiring. Where a culture driven by excellence helps you not only meet your goals, but also create new ones. We focus on creating a diverse and inclusive culture, encouraging individual expression in the workplace and thrive on the innovative ideas this generates. If this sounds like the workplace for you, apply now! We commit to respond to every applicant.