NPD Process Improvement Manager

Bring clarity. Enable innovation. Help shape the future of new product development at BDR Thermea Group.

Your team

At BDR Thermea Group, we are on a mission to decarbonise heating and cooling with our energy-efficient solutions. To support this journey, we are looking for a new expert to join our Group Quality team. You will become part of a team of Quality professionals working collaboratively across Apeldoorn, Mertzwiller (France), and Bassano del Grappa (Italy).

Your role

As our new
NPD Process Improvement Manager
, you will play an important and visible role in harmonising and continuously improving New Product Development (NPD) and related governance processes across the Group. You will collaborate closely with colleagues in R&D, Product Management, Procurement, Operations, and senior leadership to ensure processes, standards, and business cases are clear, well-supported, and consistently applied - always with a focus on adding value.

This is a hybrid role, based out of Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.
You are invited to work at the office for a minimum of one day per week, preferably two. We support your home office set-up, travel costs, and offer flexibility to help you balance on-site and remote work.

Your first 3-12 months

During your first 3–12 months, you help create a New Product Development environment that is smooth, transparent, and clearly owned. NPD processes increasingly feel value-adding, enabling teams to develop the right products faster and first-time-right.

Frontloading becomes a natural part of how teams collaborate, reducing rework and steadily improving time-to-market. Step by step, your contribution brings clarity and momentum: structural and measurable improvements that strengthen product development and directly support our ambitious strategy through faster, smarter, and more effective innovation.

Your key tasks

• Set the standard for New Product Development by defining, communicating, training, and auditing Group-wide NPD processes and related frameworks such as the Product Roadmap.
• Identify and drive improvements in product and system development that enhance time-to-market, quality, and cost performance.
• Develop and continuously refine practical Group process standards, including work instructions, templates, and best practices that truly support teams in their daily work.
• Partner closely with stakeholders across R&D, Product Management, Procurement, and Operations to turn the NPD strategy into concrete actions and measurable impact.
• Track performance across operating companies and Business Development Units, translating insights into decisive improvements in quality, safety, sustainability, cost, and speed.
• Energise governance forums (e.g. Product Review Board) by preparing sharp, decision-focused inputs and business cases that enable fast, high-quality decision-making.

What you bring

• 5+ years of experience in international product and/or process development environments
• Experience with project management in technical Product Development projects (hardware and software) and with continuous improvement approaches (e.g. Design for Six Sigma)
• Strong knowledge of NPD/NPI and stage-gate or phase-gate product development processes
• Excellent communication skills in English, with the ability to explain complex technical topics clearly and connect with colleagues across diverse teams and cultures
• A thoughtful, pragmatic approach to problem-solving, with attention to both people and processes
• A technical education background (e.g. Master's in Engineering or similar)

Preferably, you also bring:

• A project management certification such as IPMA, PMI-PMP, or Prince2.

What we offer

• A permanent contract.
• Next to a solid monetary compensation, receive a strong pension package.
• Benefit from a healthy work-life balance with 36 holiday days per year, based on a full-time contract.
• Take advantage of flexible home-working policies and a home-office budget.
• Enjoy discounts on our products and insurances.
• Join a company in the heart of the energy transition and build a flourishing career with us