Sr. Manager - Quality & Sourcing | Home Appliance
Job Description
Job Title: Sr. Manager – Quality and Sourcing | Home Appliance
Location: Rama Road, Kirti Nagar, Delhi
Department: Product Development / Sourcing & Quality
Reporting To: Director
Employment Type: Full-time, Senior Leadership
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and industry-seasoned Product Head to lead New Product Development (NPD), Existing Product Enhancement, Sourcing, and Quality Excellence for our kitchen and home appliances portfolio.
This role is not only responsible for launching new products but also for continuously upgrading and improving our existing product line — through better design, improved specifications, feature enhancements, packaging upgrades, cost engineering, and quality optimization.
The ideal candidate must have deep experience in the kitchen & home appliances industry, strong understanding of manufacturing and sourcing ecosystems (India & China), and a proven track record of building scalable product systems and high performing teams.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, mentor, and manage the Sourcing Manager, Quality Manager, and associated executives.
- Build and strengthen cross-functional collaboration with supply chain, merchandising, design, and production teams.
- Instill ownership, accountability, and proactive execution within the sourcing and quality teams.
- Set performance standards, KPIs, and continuous improvement goals for the department.
New Product Development (NPD)
- Own and execute the end-to-end NPD lifecycle:
o Concept development
o Market research & benchmarking
o Technical specification finalization
o Sampling & prototyping
o Costing & feasibility
o Mass production & launch
- Develop and manage the product roadmap aligned with revenue and margin targets.
- Ensure new products meet timeline (TAT), quality, and margin expectations.
- Evaluate product-market fit before commercialization.
Existing Product Enhancement
- Continuously review and upgrade existing product portfolio.
- Improve:
o Design aesthetics
o Technical specifications
o Energy efficiency & performance
o Safety features
o Packaging quality
o User experience
Customer Review Analysis & Improvement Implementation
- Collect and analyze customer reviews and ratings across:
o E-commerce platforms
o Quick commerce platforms
o Distributor feedback
o Service center complaints
- Identify recurring product quality issues and design gaps.
- Categorize feedback into actionable themes (performance, durability, packaging, defects, usability).
- Develop structured improvement plans based on review analysis.
- Coordinate with sourcing and quality teams to implement corrective actions.
- Ensure revised versions of products reflect measurable improvement.
- Track and present before-and-after performance metrics (rating improvement, complaint reduction, return reduction).
- Conduct quarterly product performance review based on real customer data.
- Improve product ratings and customer satisfaction through quality upgrades
Product Line Expansion & Portfolio Growth
- Identify opportunities for:
o Identify opportunities for new SKUs and line extensions.
o Develop variants (feature upgrades, size, color, premium versions).
o Expand into adjacent categories within kitchen & home appliances.
o Ensure differentiated and competitive product positioning.
- Benchmark competitors and propose differentiated offerings.
- Ensure balanced product mix for revenue and margin optimization.
Sourcing Strategy & Vendor Management (India & China)
- Drive sourcing strategy across India and China — identify, qualify, and onboard new suppliers and manufacturing partners.
- Lead negotiations on pricing, terms, quality parameters, shipment schedules, and total landed costs.
- Maintain a robust vendor ecosystem with alternatives to mitigate supply risk.
- Conduct supplier audits, capacity evaluations, capability benchmarking, and factory visits as needed.
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard new OEM/ODM manufacturers.
Quality Assurance & Compliance
- Establish strict quality benchmarks across:
o Sampling stage
o Pilot production
o Mass production
o Pre-dispatch inspection
- Drive reduction in defect rates, warranty claims, and RTO.
- Implement corrective and preventive action (CAPA) systems.
- Ensure compliance with BIS and applicable regulatory standards.
- Monitor field performance and implement corrective upgrades.
Cost Optimization & Value Engineering
- Drive BOM-level cost analysis and optimization.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality.
- Monitor commodity price trends and proactively manage margins.
- Improve contribution margins via sourcing efficiencies and design improvements.
Systems, SOPs & Process Institutionalization (High Priority)
- Design and institutionalize SOPs for:
o NPD stage-gate process
o Vendor onboarding & evaluation
o Sampling approvals
o Costing & negotiation approvals
o Production quality checkpoints
- Implement MIS dashboards for:
o NPD timelines
o Cost tracking
o Quality performance
o Vendor scorecards
- Ensure process-driven execution (not person-dependent).
- Work with management and ERP teams for digitization and automation.
- Build a culture of continuous improvement and process discipline.
Qualifications & Experience
Must-Have:
- 15+ years of experience in kitchen & home appliances industry (mandatory)
- Proven leadership experience managing senior managers and cross-functional teams.
- Strong exposure to India & China sourcing ecosystems.
- Deep knowledge of product development lifecycle and appliance manufacturing.
- Demonstrated track record in:
o Product enhancement
o Cost optimization
o Vendor development
o Quality improvement
- Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.