Hospitality R&D Manager

The Hospitality R&D Manager is responsible for leading the technical design development of hospitality products, ensuring customer requirements and design intent are translated into functional, durable, manufacturable, and production-ready solutions.

R&D Leadership:

• Lead and manage the Hospitality R&D team to deliver innovative, practical, and production-ready technical solutions.
• Prioritize R&D workload to meet project schedules while establishing standard working methods and development discipline.
• Support senior management in strengthening technical capabilities and design quality across the department.

Design Development & Technical Coordination:

• Oversee technical development for furniture, millwork, and accessories, balancing aesthetics, durability, and cost.
• Coordinate with Sales, PM, Product Development, and external architects to review construction details before production.
• Ensure technical outputs (drawings, specifications, material requirements) are properly documented and issues are resolved timely.

Construction Standards & Technical Feasibility:

• Develop construction guidelines for loose furniture to ensure structural strength, durability, and technical reliability.
• Review joint details, material thickness, and application methods to support long-term hospitality usage.
• Provide sound technical feedback to Costing and Product Development teams to minimize production risks and revisions.

Sampling & Prototype Technical Validation:

• Coordinate sample and prototype execution with the Sample Workshop and QA for technical and construction validation.
• Approve technical readiness before releasing samples for customer evaluation or internal sign-off.
• Capture lessons learned from the prototyping stage and update final drawings and specs accordingly.

Production Handover & Technical Support:

• Hand over complete and accurate technical packages to Engineering Technical and Production teams.
• Support pre-production reviews and technical clarification to prevent issues during mass production launch.
• Ensure all design changes are technically evaluated, documented, and communicated prior to release.

Process & Systems Improvement:

• Establish standard procedures for R&D workflows, drawing reviews, sample validation, and change management.
• Manage technical data accuracy within the ERP system and maintain strict design revision controls.
• Drive continuous improvement to enhance documentation quality, review practices, and departmental efficiency.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Assign clear responsibilities, set performance standards, and foster a culture of technical excellence and collaboration.
• Conduct regular reviews and feedback sessions to develop team capabilities in furniture construction and detailing.
• Coach team members on hospitality materials, finishing techniques, and production standards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration Requirement:

• Work closely with the Hospitality Product Development Manager across the full project lifecycle.
• Provide feasible technical solutions, accurate drawings, and validation to support Product Development goals.
• Ensure technical alignment with overall project schedules, target budgets, and manufacturing readiness.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Furniture Design, Industrial Design, Engineering, Architecture, or related fields.

Experience:

• 5–8+ years in furniture R&D, design development, or contract manufacturing; hospitality/hotel project background preferred.
• 3–5+ years in a supervisory or leadership role managing R&D or technical teams.
• Strong background in custom furniture development, technical detailing, sample validation, and hand 3D sketching.

Skills:

• Proficient in AutoCAD, Inventor, 3D modeling, and reading/reviewing technical drawings and specifications.
• Deep understanding of furniture construction, hospitality materials, finishes, manufacturability, and technical validation.
• Strong cross-functional communication and coordination skills with internal departments and international clients.
• Experience using ERP systems and project/development tracking tools.

Personal Competencies:

• Strong leadership, team management, and technical decision-making abilities under high pressure.
• Detail-oriented, customer-focused, and highly accountable with a strong sense of ownership.
• Collaborative, proactive, well-organized, and driven by a continuous improvement mindset.