Product Development Manager

Product Development Manager H+K International, Inc. Aurora, IL Job Details Full-time $70,000 - $75,000 a year 1 day ago Benefits Health savings account Disability insurance Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Flexible spending account Tuition reimbursement Paid time off Employee assistance program 401(k) matching Professional development assistance Flexible schedule Life insurance Referral program Retirement plan Qualifications Customer communication Teamwork Customer relationship building Client relationship development Customer engagement Customer relationship management Food service Leading team collaboration initiatives Managing projects Budgeting Account management Cross-functional team management Cross-functional communication Full Job Description About H+K Founded in 1975, H+K International is a leading global supplier of stainless-steel kitchen equipment to the foodservice industry with a long-established reputation for quality products, precision manufacturing, and exceptional customer service. H+K delivers flexible, value-driven restaurant equipment solutions to major customers in North America, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Summary The Product Development Manager will lead the end-to-end development and commercialization of new food service equipment solutions, with a strong focus on supporting key customer relationships, including McDonald's. This role is responsible for managing the full product development lifecycle, from initial concept and design through testing, validation, sourcing, deployment, and final commercialization. The ideal candidate is highly driven, customer-focused, and thrives in a fast-paced environment with a strong sense of urgency and accountability. This individual will work cross-functionally with engineering, operations, sourcing, testing labs, and global counterparts while serving as a polished and professional representative of H+K in front of customers and strategic partners. This position requires regular travel, including visits to customer sites, McDonald's Headquarters (MHQ), testing facilities, and field deployment locations. Essential Functions Product Development & Commercialization

• Lead new equipment and product development initiatives from concept through commercialization.
• Manage the complete product development lifecycle, including concept generation, prototyping, testing, validation, sourcing, and launch activities .
• Collaborate closely with engineering, operations, sourcing, and manufacturing teams to ensure successful product execution and market readiness.
• Coordinate product testing and validation activities with external testing laboratories and customer stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvements in product functionality, performance, and customer experience. Customer & Stakeholder Management
• Serve as a primary customer-facing representative for product development activities, particularly with McDonald's and other strategic accounts.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships through professionalism, responsiveness, and customer-focused problem solving.
• Participate in meetings, presentations, testing sessions, and collaborative development discussions at customer locations and headquarters.
• Support rollout and deployment activities for new equipment implementations in the field as needed. Global Collaboration & Sourcing
• Partner with global counterparts and international sourcing teams to evaluate components, suppliers, and manufacturing capabilities
• Assist in identifying and implementing the best global practices, technologies, and sourcing opportunities.
• Ensure alignment between customer requirements, operational feasibility, and global product strategies. Project & Execution Management
• Drive multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining timelines, budgets, and quality expectations.
• Demonstrate a high level of ownership and accountability by following projects through to completion and ensuring no details are overlooked.
• Communicate project status updates, risks, and action plans effectively to leadership and stakeholders.
• Operate with a strong sense of urgency and competitive spirit to meet customer expectations and business objectives. Education, Experience, and Knowledge Requirements Qualifications
• Bachelor's Degree preferred, ideally in Engineering, Business, Product Development, or a related field
• 5-10 years of experience in product development, program management, foodservice equipment, or a related industry.
• Prior experience working with McDonald's or within the foodservice industry strongly preferred.
• Proven experience managing customer relationships and leading cross-functional product development initiatives.
• Strong project management, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment.
• Professional presence with the ability to confidently engage with executive-level customer contacts.
• Willingness to travel frequently for customer meetings, testing activities, and field deployment support. Key Competencies
• Customer Obsessed Mindset
• Sense of Urgency
• Accountability & Follow-Through
• Competitive Drive
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Professional Communication
• Problem Solving & Innovation
• Relationship Management
• Strategic Thinking H+K International offers a competitive benefits package including a comprehensive medical plan that includes short/long term disability, flexible spending account, life insurance, 401k (with 100% match up to 5%), tuition reimbursement, free online training courses, and a business casual dress environment

Pay:

$70,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Flexible schedule Health insurance Health savings account Paid time off Professional development assistance Referral program Retirement plan Tuition reimbursement

Work Location:

In person