New Product Specialist

Canplas Industries, located in Barrie, Ontario, is a leading North American manufacturer of innovative building products for the Plumbing, Grease Interceptor, Roof Ventilation, and Central Vacuum categories. Our team develops new products that exceed the expectations of our customers and the evolving needs of the industry. We innovate to improve the lives of our customers through smarter, more efficient solutions, to ensure a sustainable future through responsible design, and to support growth of the business.

Position Summary: 

As the New Product Specialist, the successful candidate will lead innovative product development projects using the Stage Gate model (Canplas AIM process).

In this role you will lead New Product Development process activities, taking ideas from concept to product launch, working with cross-functional teams, and as needed, external industry experts and stakeholders. The new product development projects will be across multiple Canplas product segments including plumbing, roof ventilation, separation technologies (grease interceptors) and central vacuum fittings.

Major responsibilities include:

• Lead Cross-Functional Team projects comprised of colleagues from Product Design, Marketing, Operations, Sales, Logistics and Finance on each active project assigned by the Innovation Manager
• Follow the company’s AIM Process (Stage Gate), prepare documents and project deliverables based on the input from the cross functional team, and present findings and recommendation to middle or senior management
• Use available market and sales data to prepare accurate market size and sales forecast projections
• Visit customers and industry professionals to present products, ideas, and prototypes, communicating this “Voice of Customer” information back to the cross functional team
• Work with outside consultants (such as patent lawyers, design consultants and other experts) as is required to complete project deliverables
• Lead proof of concept product testing in both the field and laboratory environments
• Support customer training sessions on new product introductions
• Support the development of marketing materials and assets
• Work with the Innovation team to identify and validate new projects and new products
• Use and maintain project information in the Portfolio software for assigned new product development projects

Qualifications:

• Post-secondary diploma or degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering Technologist, or related fields
• Project Management Certificate or working towards PMP is an asset
• 3 or more years of demonstrated project management within manufacturing
• Proficiency with Microsoft tools: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Teams
• Ability to read and understand financial documents and prepare reports using ERP software
• Ability to influence and advocate for the project with internal stakeholders to meet project milestones

Canplas is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities throughout the recruitment process and, upon request, will work with qualified job applicants to provide suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs due to disability. Accommodation requests are available to candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process for Canplas jobs. To request an accommodation, please contact HR.