Project Leadership Office Program Manager

Whirlpool • Saint Joseph, MO

13d • Onsite

About The Position

Whirlpool is seeking a Project or Program Leader for its Project Leadership Office (PLO), based at the St. Joseph Tech Center in Michigan. The PLO Project (Program) Manager works with global, cross-functional teams and manages multiple projects across scope, schedule, cost, and quality to support successful delivery. The role covers the full project lifecycle: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing.

The position leads new product development projects and derivative models approved during platform planning, from initial concept through implementation and project release. The manager provides recommendations for gate approvals, tracks monthly project KPIs, and helps embed Project Management and Whirlpool Product Development (WPD) system tools, methods, and practices in the PLO community and project teams. The role also manages project expenses and capital planning, risks, changes, issues, stakeholder communications, and reporting. Travel to key North American manufacturing sites is required, especially during project launches, averaging three to five days per month.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 3 years of experience in project or program management, including leading cross-functional teams or multi-stakeholder initiatives.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Administration.
• Master’s degree.
• Multilingual abilities; the role works with regions including Mexico, India, Brazil, China, and Italy.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and/or Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM) certification, granted by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
• 1–5 years of experience in the consumer or durable goods sector in product development.
• Experience in the home appliance industry, particularly cooking or dishwashing.
• Experience in financial planning, analysis, and capital investment management.

Responsibilities

• Deliver new product development projects approved during platform planning and report project KPIs monthly.
• Lead project teams through initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing.
• Use the Whirlpool Product Development (WPD) System/Methodology for Production Development Projects (PDP).
• Provide recommendations for project gate approvals.
• Collect stakeholder requirements and manage trade-offs to meet project goals.
• Serve as the central point of contact and voice of the project; conduct project meetings, integration events, status reporting, and gate approvals at all organizational levels.
• Embed Project Management and WPD tools, techniques, and practices in the PLO community and project teams.
• Manage project integration, scope, schedule, cost, quality, human resources, communications, risk, procurement, and stakeholder management.
• Manage global cross-functional teams delivering regional and/or global new product development projects from concept through implementation and release.
• Motivate cross-functional teams to collaborate toward platform goals through core team meetings, individual interactions, forums, and communications.
• Manage risks and develop plans to avoid, mitigate, transfer, or accept risks, or to pursue opportunities; drive issue resolution.
• Manage changes by guiding teams through change requests, impact and probability analysis, and go/no-go decisions.
• Maintain project data across multiple systems, report monthly KPIs, track component-part status, and connect communication networks among core team members.
• Drive capital calendar and project expense planning and execution; oversee spending and monthly outlook status.
• Travel to key North American manufacturing sites, particularly during project launch periods, averaging three to five days per month.
• Identify opportunities to maximize business benefits, navigate complex situations, and help teams identify systemic solutions.
• Adapt to changing situations and use business judgment and systemic perspective to support strategy and product leadership.
• Generate ideas, alternatives, and possibilities effectively.

Benefits

• Generous benefits package.
• Whirlpool employee discount.
• Fitness and educational reimbursement programs.
• Kitchenettes.
• At Saint Joseph/Benton Harbor locations: recently renovated office space, free coffee, biking/walking trails, and access to The Eddy Early Childhood Center, subject to availability and additional costs.
• Always On Flexibility to manage personal, family, and outside-of-work commitments.
• Two weeks of work from anywhere per year, in minimum one-week increments.
• Four weeks of paid sabbatical leave after every five years of service.

What This Job Offers

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