Product Development Manager Administrative & Commercial Managers
SaveWhat Does a Product Development Manager Do?
Product development managers coordinate the development of new products from beginning to end. They receive briefings and start envisioning the new product considering design, technical and cost criteria. They conduct research on market needs and create prototypes of new products for untapped market opportunities. Product development managers also improve and boost technological quality.
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Where Do I Start?
Product Life-Cycle
The management of the life-cycle of a product from the development stages to the market entry and market removal.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Product Development Manager
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialProduct Life-Cycle knowledge
The management of the life-cycle of a product from the development stages to the market entry and market removal.
Recommended Books
2 books -
EssentialMarket Research knowledge
The processes, techniques, and purposes comprised in the first step for developing marketing strategies such as the collection of information about customers and the definition of segments and targets.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialAnalyse Consumer Buying Trends skill
Analyse buying habits or currently prevalent customer behaviour.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDefine Technical Requirements skill
Specify technical properties of goods, materials, methods, processes, services, systems, software and functionalities by identifying and responding to the particular needs that are to be satisfied according to customer requirements.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDesign Prototypes skill
Design prototypes of products or components of products by applying design and engineering principles.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDevelop Product Design skill
Convert market requirements into product design and development.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDraw Conclusions From Market Research Results skill
Analyse, draw conclusions and present major observations from the results of market research. Suggest on potential markets, prices, target groups, or investments.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialFollow Company Standards skill
Lead and manage according to the organisation's code of conduct.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialManage Budgets skill
Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPerform Market Research skill
Gather, assess and represent data about target market and customers in order to facilitate strategic development and feasibility studies. Identify market trends.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAnalyse Data About Clients skill
Study data about clients, visitors, customers or guests. Gather, process and analyse data about their characteristics, needs and buying behaviours.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialCalculate Design Costs skill
Calculate design costs to make sure the project is financially viable.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialCalculate Production Costs skill
Calculate the costs for every production stage and department.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialCombine Business Technology With User Experience skill
Analyse and exploit the points where technology, user experience, and business meet in order to create and develop new products.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDesign Customer Experiences skill
Create customer experiences to maximise client's satisfaction and profitability.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDevelop New Products skill
Develop and generate new products and product ideas based on market research on trends and niches.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPlan Product Management skill
Manage the scheduling of procedures which aim to maximise sales objectives, such as forecasting market trends, product placement, and sales planning.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 37 displayed)
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OptionalCost Management knowledge
The process of planning, monitoring and adjusting the expenses and revenues of a business in order to achieve cost efficiency and capability.
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalInnovation Processes knowledge
The techniques, models, methods and strategies which contribute to the promotion of steps towards innovation.
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalMarketing Mix knowledge
Principle of marketing that describes the four fundamental elements in marketing strategies which are the product, the place, the price and the promotion.
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OptionalLegal Requirements Of Ict Products knowledge
The international regulations related to the development and use of ICT products.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalMarketing Principles knowledge
The principles of managing the relationship between consumers and products or services for the purpose of increasing sales and improving advertising techniques.
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalChemistry knowledge
The composition, structure, and properties of substances and the processes and transformations that they undergo; the uses of different chemicals and their interactions, production techniques, risk factors, and disposal methods.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalDesign Drawings knowledge
Understand design drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalEngineering Processes knowledge
The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalPhysics knowledge
The natural science involving the study of matter, motion, energy, force and related notions.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalQuality Standards knowledge
The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalTypes Of Metal Manufacturing Processes knowledge
Metal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalAnalyse Economic Trends skill
Analyse developments in national or international trade, business relations, banking, and developments in public finance and how these factors interact with one another in a given economic context.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCreate Technical Plans skill
Create detailed technical plans of machinery, equipment, tools and other products.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDevelop Promotional Tools skill
Generate promotional material and collaborate in the production of promotional text, videos, photos, etc. Keep previous promotional material organised.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEnsure Compliance With Environmental Legislation skill
Monitor activities and perform tasks ensuring compliance with standards involving environmental protection and sustainability, and amend activities in the case of changes in environmental legislation. Ensure that the processes are …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalIdentify Market Niches skill
Analyse the composition of the markets, segment these into groups, and highlight the opportunities that each one of these niches represent in terms of new products.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalImprove Business Processes skill
Optimise the series of operations of an organisation to achieve efficiency. Analyse and adapt existing business operations in order to set new objectives and meet new goals.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalLead A Team skill
Lead, supervise and motivate a group of people, in order to meet the expected results within a given timeline and with the foreseen resources in mind.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalLiaise With Engineers skill
Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalLiaise With Managers skill
Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMaintain Relationship With Customers skill
Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with customers in order to ensure satisfaction and fidelity by providing accurate and friendly advice and support, by delivering quality products and services and …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalManage Product Testing skill
Oversee the testing procedures to ensure that the end-product complies with the quality and safety requirements.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalManage The Customer Experience skill
Monitor, create and oversee customer experience and perception of brand and service. Ensure pleasant customer experience, treat customers in a cordial and courteous manner.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMeasure Customer Feedback skill
Evaluate customer's comments in order to find out whether customers feel satisfied or dissatisfied with the product or service.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPerform Product Testing skill
Test processed workpieces or products for basic faults.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSpeak Different Languages skill
Master foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalThink Analytically skill
Produce thoughts using logic and reasoning in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalTroubleshoot skill
Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAnalyse Cultural Trends skill
Keep up to date with popular cultural trends such as pop culture, cultural and social slang.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalConduct Metallurgical Structural Analysis skill
Perform detailed analysis related to researching and testing new metal products.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalConsult With Technical Staff skill
Seek the advice of technical staff concerning the requirements, operation, and use of various products and systems.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDesign Metal Components skill
Design metal components in response to a need. Provide support by writing documents, manuals, metallurgical investigations, and reports in support of customer liaison.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEnsure Products Meet Regulatory Requirements skill
Study, implement, and monitor the integrity and compliance of products with the required regulatory aspects by law. Advise on applying and abiding by regulations on the product and manufacturing regulations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalLiaise With Industry Experts skill
Consult and cooperate with industry experts who handle matter that is relevant to you and your business.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalOptimise Financial Performance skill
Direct and coordinate the organisation's financial operations and budget activities, in order to optimise financial performance.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPrepare Market Research Reports skill
Report on the outcomes of the market research, main observations and outcomes, and notes helpful for analysing the information.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalWork In Metal Manufacture Teams skill
Ability to work confidently within a metal manufacturing group with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole.
Course recommendations coming soon.