Afra (Sarah) N.
Innovation Manager
Experience
May 2024 - Present
1 year 8 monthsRavensburg, Germany
Innovation Manager
Vetter Pharma-Fertigung GmbH & Co.KG
- Further development and implementation of the innovation department within the company.
- Organizing and conducting innovation workshops, including fresh ideas and speakers for the company.
- Reflecting on the innovation process and partially redesigning it.
- Building an external network to integrate new solutions into the company.
- Trend scouting.
Apr 2022 - Feb 2024
1 year 11 monthsHard, Austria
International Product Marketing Manager & PM Accessories, Apparel
Simplon Fahrrad GmbH
- Establishment & definition of product marketing management, as well as the apparel & accessories line.
- Implementing this interface function into the company with the goal to optimize processes & communication between marketing & development.
- Evaluation & optimization of the accessories line.
- Creating a business plan & concept for a premium bike collection.
- Data preparation of all product-relevant marketing content (off/online).
- Graphic, conceptual & content creation of product information for marketing materials.
- Preparation of documents for technical documentation, presentations & trade show appearances.
- Redesign of interactive price lists.
- Preparation of detailed photo briefs for photoshoots & implementation.
- Redesign of the apparel & accessories line.
Feb 2021 - Dec 2021
11 monthsSevelen, Switzerland
International Product Manager Protection
Schoeller Textil AG
- Establishment & implementation of product management, and reorganization of the Protection business unit.
- Focus on product management implementation.
- Rebuilding the product range for the Protection field (military, police, motorcycle, multi-standard, corporate).
- Process optimization to ensure the company's profitability.
- Implementation of product management into the company as an interface between design, marketing, production, sales & corporate management.
- Streamlining the product range by over 50% and redefining the individual Protection business areas.
- Defining & implementing innovation processes to create market-relevant new products.
- Defining & implementing certified products for work safety clothing worldwide (ASTM, CE, EN ISO).
- Participation in global tenders/bidding for protective clothing (Taiwan, USA, UK, etc.).
May 2019 - Feb 2021
1 year 10 monthsInnsbruck, Austria
Self-employed
Afra Sarah Nonnenmacher
- Freelance & service work for product and concept development.
- Concept development and implementation of new products per client request.
- Creating sales documents, interactive calculation sheets & presentations.
- Coordinating external photographers.
- Managing & controlling the R&D process, from prototype evaluation to approval of series production.
- Implementing product certifications & coordinating CI.
May 2018 - May 2019
1 year 1 monthInnsbruck, Austria
International Product Manager Office & Area Luminaires
Prolicht GmbH
- Establishment & definition of product management.
- Evaluation, creation, implementation & launch of the new market segment: office luminaires.
- Implementing this interface function into the company with the goal to optimize processes & communication between marketing & development.
- Implementation of product management into the company as an interface between engineering, sales, marketing & corporate management.
- Evaluation, business plan creation, concept development & launch of the new office luminaire series.
- Briefing & coordinating industrial designers Hadi Teherani, Andreas Andres, etc.
- Definition of technical & marketing briefs.
- Creating product presentations & training materials for the sales department.
- Presenting new products (Eng./Ger.).
Oct 2016 - May 2018
1 year 8 monthsDornbirn, Austria
Global Product Manager Indoor Commercial Lights
Thorn Lighting Ltd / Zumtobel Group AG
- Product responsibility for industrial high-bay luminaires, including design, function, applications, and cost-effectiveness.
- Cost optimization of Thorn industrial lights, focusing on range planning – in cooperation with Zumtobel industrial lights to strengthen the collection.
- Product management of indoor lighting for industrial uses, warehouses, production halls, aircraft hangars, prisons. Clients include Airbus SE.
- New development/implementation of an industrial high-bay luminaire for aircraft hangars (clients include Airbus SE).
- Creating and implementing new product specifications for suppliers and the R&D team.
- Developing and communicating product families (highest cost efficiency with maximum installation flexibility, wireless function, CLO, etc.).
- Project/product implementation and coordination on-site at Thorn Lighting Ltd main plant in the UK.
- Training the global sales team – AUS, USA, EUROPE, on-site and online.
Nov 2013 - Jul 2015
1 year 9 monthsMunich, Germany
Intl. Product & Commercial Manager Accessories
Salewa – Oberalp AG
- Full responsibility for the accessories product category.
- Building and reorganizing the summer/winter collection.
- Range planning, clustering, and new development of the accessories category.
- Product rollout from market analysis to product launch.
- Integration and implementation of the new Salewa CI.
- Defining the collection strategy – summer/winter collection plan.
- Developing bivy bags, first aid kits, travel bags & UL collections, climbing gear such as crash pads, chalk, chalk bags, trekking poles, etc.
- Managing and controlling the R&D process from prototype feedback to approval for series production.
- Creating and presenting sales materials (workbook/web). Global.
- Budget responsibility (product pricing; investment costs, external service costs), coordinating graphic and industrial designers.
- Supplier sourcing, development & building partnerships with suppliers.
- Travel to Asia (China & Taiwan) for product rollout & price negotiations.
Nov 2010 - Nov 2013
3 years 1 monthMunich, Germany
Intl. Product Manager Protection
HEAD Sport AG – HTM
- Developed and coordinated PPE products – from range analysis to product launch, including manufacturer, material, and partnership sourcing.
- Range planning & implementation of a CE-certified helmet, soft & hard body protection, goggles collection.
- Developed a multi-standard protective helmet and a higher FIS requirement helmet for alpine ski racing.
- Collaboration with MONTANA Intl. to implement a rental system.
- Invented and patented (OS No.1234335) a growing back protector and a WMN fit system for ski helmets.
- Contributed to/implemented a multi-impact absorbing ski helmet (CAN standard).
- Developed ski & alpine racing helmets, hard shell & soft back protectors, goggles/ski glasses, travel bags, ABS backpacks.
- Sourcing, evaluation, and implementation of new technologies and partnerships.
- Managing and controlling the R&D process.
- Creating briefings and coordinating industrial designers, graphic designers, and the supplier network in Asia and Europe.
- Budget responsibility, sales support costs, and external partners.
- Product pricing.
- Over 10 trips to Asia for product rollout and price negotiations.
- Led a junior product manager.
Sep 2008 - Nov 2010
2 years 3 monthsSevelen, Switzerland
Intl. Product and Process Engineer - Engine Bay – Engine Compartment
Heatshield Rieter Automotive AG (now Autoneum AG)
- Defined and implemented acoustic absorbers for international OEMs – meeting economic and technical requirements.
- Defined product & process and implemented based on specifications/requirements.
- Cost definition and material research.
- Specific projects for BMW/Mini Cooper included engine encapsulation and cold start prevention to reduce CO2 (Mini Cooper R56/R60).
- Production, analysis, and optimization of prototypes.
- Definition of the series production process – setting design guidelines.
- Identifying and conducting material tests in cooperation with the lab.
- Cost calculation and preparing quotes for OEMs.
- Transferred products into series production in CH, PL, CZ, ESP.
- Process optimization up to series approval.
- On-site technical customer support. Mini Cooper in the UK, BMW Munich.
- Creating material and specification documents.
Feb 2007 - Sep 2007
8 monthsMunich, Germany
Internship
Sportswear Connection GmbH
- Production control in Istanbul.
- Print optimization for the client Toyota.
- Conducted prototype and series inspections.
- Created inspection documents and specifications.
Oct 2004 - Feb 2005
5 monthsReutlingen, Germany
Project Work
Bäumler AG
- Image analysis as general supplier for the Olympic men's team (2004).
- Organizing, conducting and analyzing a customer survey.
- Innovation project: Protection & Ballistics – creation of a development concept for a motorcycle suit with air channels.
- Design and production of a carbon fiber skateboard: manufacturing process, tooling & product.
Summary
- BMW/Mini Cooper. Engine encapsulation, cold start prevention - CO2 reduction. Mini Cooper R56/R60.
- HEAD Sports AG. Patent OS No.1234335 – Adjustable back protector, invention of a WMN fit system for ski helmets. Contributing/implementing a multi-impact absorbing ski helmet (CAN standard).
- Salewa, Oberalp AG. Redesign and development of accessory ranges and products. Rebranding of Salewa corporate identity.
- Zumtobel Group AG. New development and implementation of an industrial floodlight for aircraft hangar. Clients include Airbus SE.
- Prolicht GmbH. Evaluation and implementation of a new market segment with industrial designer Hadi Teherani. Implementation of product management.
- Schoeller Textil AG. Implementation of product management for the Protection business unit.
- Simplon Fahrrad. Business plan & concept for a premium bike collection.
Languages
German
NativeEnglish
AdvancedLatin
AdvancedSpanish
ElementaryEducation
Oct 2004 - Apr 2008
Reutlingen University
Bachelor of Science · Textile Technology and Management · Reutlingen, Germany · 1.2
Sep 2000 - Jul 2003
Ravensburg Business High School
Abitur · Ravensburg, Germany
Certifications & licenses
Basic Latin Certificate
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