Categories: Manufacturing, Project Management, Leadership

About the Role

The Manager of Development is a senior leadership position responsible for driving large, multisite development programs from concept through installation. This role ensures seamless alignment between project management, engineering, design, and manufacturing teams across idX’s global network. The position plays a critical part in improving workflow efficiency, strengthening cross‑functional collaboration, and elevating consistency across facilities.

This leader will serve as a strategic connector between clients, design partners, engineering groups, and manufacturing operations—ensuring that first‑article launches, new product development, and field execution all meet idX’s quality and performance standards.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in manufacturing processes, global project execution, and client‑facing leadership.

Travel Requirement: 50%

Key Responsibilities

Project Development

• Lead full life‑cycle development of large retail, commercial, and custom manufacturing programs.

• Integrate project management with design and engineering teams to ensure readiness for first‑article builds.

• Serve as primary point of contact for new product development initiatives, working closely with design, engineering, and PM teams.

• Define strategies, workflows, and standards that improve efficiency and quality across multi‑facility operations.

Manufacturing Integration

• Act as the operational bridge between project teams and manufacturing facilities to ensure accurate production planning, quality control, and workflow optimization.

• Drive standardization and harmonization of production processes across U.S., China, Mexico, and EU facilities.

• Identify opportunities to reduce operational friction and implement best‑practice manufacturing procedures.

Field Execution & First Articles

• Travel to manufacturing facilities and installation sites to oversee first‑article launches, validate compliance with specifications, and ensure flawless execution.

• Conduct onsite assessments, provide real‑time problem solving, and support teams through installation and commissioning phases.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent idX in client meetings, reviews, site walks, and program development sessions.

• Provide manufacturing‑driven insights that support design feasibility, value engineering, and program optimization.

• Strengthen client trust by ensuring transparency, consistency, and high‑quality deliverables.

Continuous Improvement & Strategic Initiatives

• Lead or contribute to corporate initiatives related to efficiency, sustainability, quality, or global operational alignment.

• Share learnings from field and facility visits to influence leadership decisions.

• Mentor and develop junior project managers, enhancing capability and readiness across the team.

Desired Skills & Experience

• 20+ years of experience in project development, engineering, manufacturing, or multi‑site program management.

• Demonstrated success leading complex projects with multiple global facilities.

• Strong understanding of materials, fabrication methods, engineering documentation, and production workflows.

• Comfortable with frequent domestic and at times, international travel.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to deliver clarity and direction across technical and client‑facing teams.

• Proactive, adaptive, and solutions‑oriented approach.

What This Role Enables for idX

• Greater alignment between project management, engineering, and manufacturing teams.

• Improved consistency and predictability across global programs.

• Stronger first‑article execution and reduced rework.

• Enhanced client satisfaction and trust through elevated operational capability.

• A mobile, flexible leader who can respond quickly to global needs and support multiple facilities.

Why This Role Matters

This position is pivotal for idX’s global growth strategy. It strengthens the operational backbone of the Global Brands division and ensures that complex programs are executed with precision, speed, and alignment—attributes that you personally modeled when you held this role.