Founded in 1958, Jonard Tools® manufactures tools for the Telecom, CATV, Fiber Optic, Home Automation, Security & Alarm, and Electrical markets. Jonard Tools designs and engineers patented products by utilizing customer partnerships to create innovative solutions for industry needs. New tools are released each month and are all Made For Life® with lifetime warranties. Through quality and innovation Jonard aims to move the industry forward and connect the world.
We are growing and looking to hire a Product Development Associate to join our team. The Product Development Associate reports to the Product Development Manager and supports product development activities with a primary focus on sourcing, vendor management, and pre-production execution. The role bridges product development support with sourcing and vendor management, with PD responsibilities concentrated in three defined scenarios: catalog and vendor-suggested products, production transfer and sourcing diversification initiatives, and ongoing pre-production work that prepares new products for launch. The associate owns vendor evaluation processes and manages the path from initial sourcing through first-carton quality verification.
Please note: This is a full-time in-office position.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Product Development Execution Product Development
New Product Analysis and Development
- Own the end-to-end product development process for catalog, vendor-suggested, and OEM or partnership products requiring minor modifications.
- Identify new product opportunities within these categories based on the Jonard portfolio, target growth opportunities and current customer base
- Conduct analysis to define product requirements based on product applications, competitor landscape, and market feedback
- Coordinate with vendors on sample requests, pricing, MOQs, and lead times during the intake phase
- Evaluate sample performance, visual quality, and pricing against established requirements
- Negotiate with vendors on corrective actions, cost, and lead time prior to production
- Present new product rationale, including market positioning, target customer base, differentiation, and ROI to internal teams for launch approval
- Partner cross-functionally with supply chain, product management, and marketing to finalize product information required for launch
Country-of-Origin Diversification and New Vendor Development
- Partner with current and new vendors to identify opportunities to transition production from China to alternative regions, including India and Vietnam
- Define the objective of each transition, evaluate impact on the existing customer base, and assess implications across cost, quality, and lead time
- Evaluate and document comparison between resourced samples and original baselines to confirm deviations are minimal, any changes represent improvements, and all goals are achieved
- Define and present roll out plan to internal teams and support with potential needs they may have with external teams and customers
Quality Control Standards
- Define inspection criteria based on industry standards, customer requirements, and established Jonard quality standards
- Coordinate with vendors to establish quality requirements at the time of PO placement and collect required documentation, including reports, certifications, and safety or material data.
- Coordinate with the QC team on first shipments to train inspectors and confirm production quality, supporting in resolution of quality issues should they occur.
Vendor Management Supply Chain Management
Pre-Production Vendor Coordination
- Coordinate with vendors on delivery timing and manage inbound shipment information in established system
- Verify with the Product Management team that assets are complete per key milestones
Vendor Evaluation
- Establish a vendor scorecard process, defining evaluation criteria, format, and cadence used to assess supplier performance
- Document vendor strengths and weaknesses to inform sourcing decisions and category-level vendor strategy
- Identify and evaluate new vendors that support working more directly with manufacturers and reducing reliance on intermediaries
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- 3+ years of experience in product development, supply chain management, sourcing or a related role
- Ability to work with technical product information and translate it into clear documentation
- Strong organizational and documentation skills with attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple development tracks in a fast-paced environment
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present rationale to senior leadership
- Comfortable working cross-functionally with supply chain management, marketing, sales, and quality control
Preferred
- Experience developing tools or hardware for network, telecom, fiber optic, electrical, or utility end markets
- Experience with end-to-end new product development and introduction
- Exposure to OEM, private label, or licensed product programs
- Experience working with external vendors or suppliers
- Familiarity with project tracking or documentation systems such as Monday.com
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
- Product information is current, organized, and easy to reference
- Development discussions are supported by clear requirements and relevant context
- Products move through development smoothly due to strong organization and follow-through
- COO diversification and direct manufacturer relationship goals execute on schedule, with products meeting or exceeding baseline requirements
- A working vendor scorecard process is established, adopted, and actively used to inform sourcing decisions
Jonard Tools provides a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:
- Retirement Plan: 401(k) & Profit-Sharing Company Contribution
- Paid Vacation/Sick time
- 9 Paid Holidays
- Shared Cost Medical, Dental and Vision
- Flexible Spending Account
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Ability to Relocate:
- Elmsford, NY 10523: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
