Innovation Program Manager

Henkel group • Tustin, CA

1d • $125,000 - $165,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

At Henkel, you’ll be part of an organization that’s shaping the future through innovation, sustainability and collaboration. With our trusted brands like Persil®, ‘all®, Loctite®, Snuggle®, and Schwarzkopf® and our cutting-edge technologies, you’ll have countless opportunities to explore new paths and grow. This position is with our Adhesive Technologies business unit – where we empower our people to transform industries and provide our customers with a competitive advantage through adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. Dare to learn new skills, advance in your career and make an impact at Henkel.

Embark on a journey as a Program Manager, where you will become part of a dynamic work environment, collaborating with diverse colleagues to enhance overall efficiency, problem-solving, and creativity within the workplace. Would you dare to make an impact? This is how:

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Chemistry, or a related field, MBA is a plus
• Strong strategic and operational project management skills, including goal setting, governance, and team leadership
• 10+ years of experience in project management within a product development, R&D, or innovation environment — ideally in adhesives, electronics, or specialty chemicals
• Solid knowledge of Stage-Gate processes and/or agile project management frameworks
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to measure, track, and report on project performance and milestones effectively
• Excellent communication skills, with a track record of successfully liaising between project teams and sponsors
• Advanced skills in MS Office applications (especially Excel and PowerPoint), with a strong willingness to learn and work with additional software
• Fluency in English and Mandarin is required

Nice To Haves

• Project Management Professional certification strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead projects end-to-end, managing both strategic and operational levels
• Set strategic goals for the project and define the program structure and governance framework
• Work closely with cross-functional teams in R&D, Engineering, Marketing, Operation & Supply Chain, and Regulatory to drive structure, accountability, and momentum across the entire portfolio
• Lead and motivate cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration and ensuring all team members understand their roles and responsibilities
• Measure, track, and report on project or program performance, including key milestones
• Proactively identify risks, bottlenecks, and dependencies, and drive corrective actions with relevant teams
• Develop and execute a comprehensive communication plan for project or program updates
• Implement quality control measures to ensure that project deliverables meet established standards and fulfill client or organizational needs
• Conduct thorough post-project evaluations to analyze outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and incorporate lessons learned into future projects

Benefits

• Health Insurance: affordable plans for medical, dental, vision and wellbeing starting on day 1
• Work-Life Balance: Paid time off including sick, vacation, holiday and volunteer time, flexible & hybrid work policies (depending on role), and vacation buy / sell program
• Financial: 401k matching, employee share plan with voluntary investment and Henkel matching shares, annual performance bonus, service awards and student loan reimbursement
• Family Support: 12-week gender neutral parental leave (up to 20 weeks for parents giving birth), fertility support, adoption & surrogacy reimbursement, discounted child and elderly care, and scholarships
• Career Growth: diverse national and international growth opportunities, access to thousands of skills development courses, and tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior