Design and Development Manager job available via Senex Recruitment. An exciting opportunity has opened up for a Design and Development Manager to join a successful manufacturing company based in Whitstable, Kent. This role offers a competitive salary of around £60,000 and the chance to lead a dynamic team responsible for driving innovation in Design, New Product Development (NPD). and supporting New Product Introduction (NPI). Why This Design and Development Manager job? You’ll play a key part in shaping the direction of this thriving company, bringing your engineering ideas and technical expertise to the forefront. If you’re passionate about engineering excellence and are ready to make a real impact, this could be the perfect next step in your career. Your Key Responsibilities in this Design and Development Manager job Team Leadership: Manage and inspire a team focused on product development, NPD, and design for manufacture. Ensuring products are designed exceptionally and can pass rigorous testing and regulatory standards. Product Development Process: Oversee the entire product development and design process, from the initial concept to the final manufacturing drawings, ensuring everything runs smoothly. Client Collaboration: Work closely with clients and the in-house sales team to develop bespoke products, managing the process from the initial brief and specifications to delivery into manufacturing. Design Archive Management: Ensure design archives are meticulously maintained, recommending and implementing improvements as needed. Best Practice Implementation: Promote and ensure best practices within the design and development team. Innovative Problem Solving: Tackle design challenges with innovative solutions, continuously improving the design for manufacture process. Cost Reduction and Lead Time Improvement: Support initiatives that reduce costs and improve lead times through excellent design and development strategies. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work collaboratively with all departments to achieve shared goals. Especially with the production engineering department to ensure the manufacturability of products. Team Support and Mentoring: Mentor, support, and supervise your team, fostering a positive and productive working environment. About You and your design experience You have solid experience in mechanical Design using leading CAD software such as Inventor or Solidworks. You will have previously worked as a Supervisor, Manager, or Team Leader in a design department—or you might be a Senior Design Engineer ready to take the next step in your career. A degree, HND, or HNC in an engineering-related field is essential. Your communication skills are strong, positive, and enthusiastic, making you an effective ambassador for the business. You lead by example, driving innovation within the team while offering support and guidance. You’ll take pride in your work and ownership of your team’s achievements. What’s in It for You? This role offers an opportunity to build on your existing skills and experience while making meaningful improvements to the company’s design capabilities. If you’re looking for a role where you can truly make a difference. This could be the perfect fit. You will be joining an expanding and secure company, investing in in-house manufacturing capabilities. Along with a good package the company offer strong career opportunities and stability in employment. Ready to Apply for the Design and Development Manager job? Ready to take on this exciting role as a Design and Development Manager? Paying a salary of circa £60K plus benefits including Pension, 25 days holiday, on site facilities and parking. Apply immediately To learn more about this opportunity or back up your application with a personal introduction, feel free to contact Kevin McHugh at Senex Recruitment by calling 01424 211872.