The Program Manager, Physical Product, serves as a strategic leader responsible for orchestrating the end-to-end development and launch of new motorhome products and processes. This role provides enterprise-level program leadership—from early concept through design, development, prototyping, validation, and production launch. The Program Manager acts as the central integrator across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, Sales, Marketing and Product Management to ensure programs deliver on schedule, cost, quality, and scope.
A key responsibility is to anticipate and mitigate risks, remove barriers, and drive cross-functional accountability to maintain program timelines and business objectives. This role requires exceptional communication, executive presence, and the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
Program Leadership & Strategy:
- Serve as the strategic lead for assigned product programs, ensuring alignment between product objectives and broader business goals.
- Drive program planning, defining clear scope, deliverables, milestones, and critical path requirements.
- Translate complex technical and operational information into clear, actionable program strategies for stakeholders and leadership.
Cross-Functional Alignment & Stakeholder Communication:
- Act as the primary communication hub for all program updates, ensuring transparency, alignment, and timely decision-making across technical and non-technical teams.
- Regularly engage with senior leaders to provide program status, risk assessments, mitigation strategies, and resource needs.
- Facilitate cross-functional forums to ensure teams remain aligned, accountable, and informed.
Risk Management & Issue Resolution:
- Proactively identify program risks, interdependencies, and constraints; lead the creation and execution of mitigation plans.
- Escalate critical issues with recommended solutions; drive resolution to prevent timeline delays or quality impacts.
- Implement structured problem-solving approaches to address cross-functional barriers that threaten program outcomes.
Operational Execution & Delivery:
- Lead and enforce consistent use of the Stage Gate process to ensure disciplined execution, governance, and traceability.
- Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to validate feasibility, readiness, and throughput capabilities at each program phase.
- Ensure that prototype and production builds are executed with clear objectives, learnings are captured, and actions are closed promptly.
Team Leadership & Influence:
- Guide cross-functional team members, providing clarity on roles, deliverables, and expectations.
- Inspire collaboration and effective conflict resolution while holding teams accountable to commitments.
- Mentor and develop junior team members or direct reports, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
Strategic thinker with a strong ability to anticipate challenges and navigate ambiguity.
Exceptional communicator capable of influencing at all organizational levels.
Strong leadership presence, with the ability to build trust and drive alignment among diverse teams.
Demonstrated ability to break down complex problems and drive structured solutions.
High mechanical aptitude and willingness to understand the technical aspects of physical product development.
Experience working in a production or manufacturing environment.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities while operating under pressure.
High adaptability and resilience in fast-moving, dynamic environments.
Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Science, Business Administration, or a related field.
Minimum of 5 years of program or project management experience within a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and delivering complex physical product programs.
Familiarity with production processes, product development life cycles, and quality systems is preferred.
At Winnebago Industries, we believe that time spent outdoors is time well-spent. Winnebago Industries is a leading North American manufacturer of outdoor recreation products under the Grand Design, Newmar, Winnebago, Barletta and Chris-Craft brands.
We are a family of brands, each unique in its own rich legacy, but united in the pursuit to elevate every moment outdoors for our customers. The company builds high-quality motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth-wheel products, outboard and sterndrive powerboats, pontoons and commercial community outreach vehicles.
Committed to advancing sustainable innovation and leveraging vertical integration in key component areas, Winnebago Industries has multiple facilities in Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota and Florida. The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and traded under the symbol WGO.
We’re looking for people who are as passionate about their work as they are about the outdoors. We seek fresh minds and skilled hands that can bring new perspectives, ways of working and technology to deliver exceptional experiences. We do this best when we allow ourselves the time to enjoy the environment — so we seek to keep a healthy balance between work and play.
Be part of a team that treats each other with the respect, trust and humility needed to create extraordinary outdoor experiences for our customers.
