Job Description

Lead and manage new product development projects.

Responsibilities:

Project Planning:

• Collaborate closely with the strategic business management team to develop, finalize, and document project requirements, scope, and budget.
• Work with functional leaders and key stakeholders to allocate resources and form project teams.
• Conduct risk assessments, develop mitigation plans, and create project schedules.
• Lead and present project plans for gate review approvals.

Project Execution:

• Lead cross-functional teams to successfully execute projects using project management methodologies and the product development process (PDP).
• Hold team members accountable for delivering per plan.
• Actively manage scope changes, project budgets, and project risks, seeking leadership input as needed.
• Present frequent updates to leadership and key stakeholders on project progress and seek approvals during gate reviews.
• Maintain up-to-date project documentation and data using project repositories and portfolio tools. Help maintain the project dashboard to communicate project status.

Process Improvement:

• Identify process improvement opportunities.
• Assist in implementing process changes and train cross-functional teams as needed.

Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Proven leadership abilities with a talent for addressing program-specific issues and achieving goals.
• Exceptional communication skills: verbal, written, and interpersonal.
• Competent in navigating a matrix organization and adept at negotiation and consensus-building.
• Takes full responsibility and ownership for project execution, problem solving and ensuring successful completion.
• Demonstrated capability to collaborate and communicate with all stakeholders and management.
• Ability to lead project teams independently with minimum supervision.
• Experience with project management tools such as Microsoft Project and Planview.
• Background in a manufacturing environment.

Qualifications:

Required:

• BS degree
• 8-10 years of related experience, ideally in a manufacturing industry
• Experience working on a new product development project as a team member or project manager.
• Experience leading complex development projects utilizing waterfall/agile methodologies
• Experience working with distributed, global and remote teams

Preferred:

• BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a similar discipline
• MBA and/or PMP Certification
• Experience managing or working on projects utilizing waterfall, agile methodologies.

Work Location:

Kalamazoo, MI

Travel:

approximately 25% (domestic and international).