Associate Manager, Technology Center Laboratory

Na Newell Brands, temos orgulho de ser uma empresa líder global em bens de consumo, com mais de 50 marcas icônicas que podem ser encontradas em lares ao redor do mundo, incluindo Oster®, Cadence®, NUK®, Lillo®, Invicta®, Contigo®, Coleman®, Rubbermaid®, PaperMate®, Sharpie®, Graco® entre outras.  

Estamos em uma jornada para fortalecer nossas marcas e encantar os consumidores, contando com pessoas como você para trazer perspectivas únicas e brilhar em um ambiente dinâmico. 

Você fará parte de uma cultura colaborativa, solidária e respeitosa, onde valorizamos a diversidade e a singularidade de cada pessoa, reconhecendo que diferentes visões ampliam nossa capacidade de inovar e gerar impacto. Todas as candidaturas são bem-vindas, independentemente de identidade de gênero, orientação sexual, raça, etnia, religião, idade ou deficiência. Nosso compromisso é garantir processos justos e um ambiente inclusivo, onde talento e protagonismo sejam os verdadeiros critérios de crescimento.

Position Title: Associate Manager, Technology Center Laboratory

Location: Balneário Piçarras, SC - Onsite

Reports to: Sr. Manager, New Product Creation (NPC) – LATAM Technology Center

The Associate Manager, Technology Center Laboratory leads the laboratory function within the LATAM NPC Technology Center, managing the team, capabilities and day-to-day operations that support new product development across all segments. The role is accountable for benchmark testing, product teardowns, product testing to defined procedures, and the technical validation activities that inform design, cost and quality decisions from ideation through the contract gate.

As a people leader, the Associate Manager builds and develops the lab team, owns lab processes, standards, equipment and safety, and manages the laboratory as a shared service across the region. The role partners with Product Development Specialists, Design Engineers, Cost Engineering and the ERA/DFM team to drive product improvement and cost reduction, and plays a key part in VAVE validation and competitive benchmarking – translating lab findings into actionable engineering and cost insights.

Job Duties

Laboratory Leadership & Operations

• Lead, develop and coach the Technology Center laboratory team, setting priorities, workload and performance expectations.
• Own laboratory operations, capabilities, equipment, calibration and lab safety/compliance.
• Manage the laboratory as a shared service across all segments, balancing demand, turnaround and quality of output.
• Define, maintain and continuously improve lab test methods, procedures and standards.
• Support budget planning and capital/equipment investment decisions for the laboratory.

Benchmark Testing & Teardowns

• Lead competitive benchmarking and product teardowns to assess design, materials, cost and performance versus competitors.
• Translate teardown and benchmark findings into design, cost and product-improvement opportunities.
• Build and maintain a regional benchmarking and teardown knowledge base.

Product Testing & Validation

• Plan and oversee product testing according to defined test procedures and applicable standards.
• Ensure reliable, repeatable and well-documented test execution, data integrity and reporting.
• Validate product performance, durability and safety against requirements.

VAVE & Cost Support

• Perform VAVE validations, confirming that cost-reduction changes meet performance, quality and safety requirements.
• Support cost analyses with lab data, teardown insights and material / should-cost inputs.
• Partner with Cost Engineering and PDS to prioritize and validate cost-reduction initiatives.

Product Improvement

• Drive product-improvement initiatives based on test, benchmark and quality data.
• Lead root-cause analysis and structured problem solving (8D, DMAIC) for product issues.
• Feed improvement recommendations back into NPC design and development. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with PDS, Design Engineers, ERA/DFM, quality, sourcing and plant teams.
• Report lab results, risks and recommendations to NPC leadership.
• Represent the laboratory in design reviews and stage-gate decisions.

Key Deliverables

• Benchmark and teardown reports with actionable insights
• Test reports and product validation results
• VAVE validation results and sign-offs
• Cost-analysis support inputs (should-cost, material and teardown data)
• Lab standards, test procedures and capability roadmap

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Materials, Product, Mechatronics or related).
• 6+ years of experience in product testing, laboratory, product engineering or quality in a manufacturing / consumer-products environment.
• Experience leading, coaching or coordinating people, teams or laboratory activities.
• Strong knowledge of test methods, benchmarking, teardowns and root-cause problem solving.
• Advanced English (written and spoken).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience with VAVE / cost-reduction validation and should-cost analysis.
• Knowledge of polymeric materials, injection / blow molding and consumer-product design.
• Familiarity with product-safety and compliance standards relevant to consumer goods.
• Lean Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt) and/or project management background.
• Conversational or professional Spanish.

Skills & Abilities:

• People leadership and team development, with the ability to manage priorities across a shared service.
• Strong laboratory and test discipline, data integrity and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and cost mindset.
• Ability to balance workload and priorities across multiple segments and stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management, from technicians to leadership.

Travel:

• Occasional travel to plants, suppliers and for benchmarking as required.

Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Graco, Coleman, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Yankee Candle, Paper Mate, FoodSaver, Dymo, EXPO, Elmer’s, Oster, NUK, Spontex and Campingaz. We are focused on delighting consumers by lighting up everyday moments.