Neil Davies

This role supports the deliberate, planned and sustainable growth of Waimea Group by facilitating the planning and delivery of selected key strategic programmes.

Support Waimea to lead the way in environmental sustainability in our sector. Lead the programme of work to achieve our stated environment and sustainability goals and to support the company meet and legislative requirements.

Responsible for the development of fit for purpose of innovation processes, tools and action plans.

This role supports the strategic growth of the Waimea Group by coordinating and managing a systematic approach to the functions of New Product Development, Innovation Management, and Research and Development.

This position is responsible for taking a hands-on role in leading our production team in various tasks throughout the year. Hands-on physical role working with a team growing trees in the commercial scale plant nursery.

The 2IC helps ensure that all tasks are completed efficiently, on time and to the required standard.

Head of Innovation & Product Development: lead cross-functional project teams creating customer-driven new products across all market segments.

Managed the Product Development team leading full cycle product development projects (market research, design thinking, product design, rapid prototyping, materials and processes, testing & compliance, Voice of Customer, sales & marketing tools)

Drove continuous improvement in innovation culture, processes and team collaboration

Managed the Product Development team and lead all project phases (from initial concept to mass-production and market launch)

Product design & development of new products that meet customer and technical requirements: product design, testing & compliance, user validation, concept to mass-production

Project management & reporting: manage cross-functional teams, project plans & budgets

Analysed market and competitor dynamics, identify opportunities for meaningful differentiation.

Supported sales team: technical requests, complaints, promotions, pricing, opportunity assessment.

Managed and implemented marketing activities for segment.

Managed the Product Development team to design and develop innovative medical products

Generate new product designs for prototyping, testing & mass- production.

Regular contact with end users and clients to ascertain user needs and observe customer behaviour.

Project management with significant quality & regulatory requirements: risk management, FMEA, clinical evaluation, multi-country regulatory approval, product validation & design verification testing & reporting.

• Company Overview: Medical products
• Designed innovative medical products – sketching, 3D CAD modelling, prototyping and testing
• Detailed design of injection moulded plastic products for mass production
• Created functional prototypes for in-house testing and user-testing/validation programme
• Created test methods to verify product requirements and regulatory compliance
• Designed marketing material, brochures, instruction manuals and web material
• Medical products

Product design & development of furniture products, from concept to mass-manufacture

Designed marketing material, brochures, specification documents & web material

Provided technical product support to sales team & external customers