Product Development Project Manager

Liberty Photo Products, a dynamic value-added distribution company is seeking a motivated, well-rounded Product Development Project Manager.  After more than twenty years of servicing the photo finishing industry, Liberty's product range has evolved from ball bearings to over 4,000 different products catering to the retail minilab, wholesale lab, school photo finisher, professional lab, motion picture, microfilm, sign shop, and photograher.  Product Development Project Manager is responsible for supply-related activities for new product development, various buyer functions, and to provide technical assistance for procurement, sales, and manufacturing. GENERAL Full-Time Position Career Level: Experienced Reports to: VP Global Sourcing Job Location: South Orange County, CA PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES  Work closely with Marketing and Engineering in the development of new products, and accelerate time to market. Identify, develop, and support viable supply partners and monitor their performance Administer purchasing processes to support ongoing Sales requirements Assist with developing sound product procurement specifications as well as inspection and test procedures Assist with product qualification testing in-house and elsewhere and obtain appropriate approvals Coordinate Outside Processing and Assembly of high-value products Negotiate price, terms and conditions, and services with all suppliers Assist Sales and Customer Service with their inquiries Work with Receiving and Suppliers on receiving discrepancies and quality issues Supplier site visits, capabilities survey, and initial quality assessment audit Ongoing/interactive supplier development for top-notch performance Problem troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and problem resolution Purchasing, Supplier and Manufacturer support to resolve technical issues Project management to meet major objectives, including schedule and cost goals Establish, document, implement, and maintain related quality management system to continually improve effectiveness in accordance with ISO 9001:2000 requirements  ESSENTIAL SKILLS Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills Able to exercise tact and discretion as it relates to confidential strategic and tactical situations Knowledge of local, regional, national, and international shipping requirements Must be able to multi-task, prioritize, and work well under pressure. Must be knowledgeable of ethics in “fair practiceâ€� purchasing Ability to understand technical drawings and contracts is required EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field from an accredited university 5-10 years in related work experience in appropriate buying responsibility Photo industry related manufacturing, product development and project management experience highly desirable ERP/MRP system knowledge is required Must be proficient in the use of MS-Office tools We offer a competitive salary, health benefits, and 401K. Please send resume and salary history to mailto:cjackson@libertyphoto.com?subject=Buyer