Project Manager I - Product Development

The Hillman Group, Inc.•Cincinnati, OH

About The Position

The Project Manager I- Product Development facilitates cross-functional execution support for physical product launches. This role supports day-to-day project coordination (timelines, dependencies, risks, and launch readiness) and partners with cross-functional teams to help deliver on-time launches. The Project Manager provides regular status reporting to stakeholders and leadership. The ideal candidate is a strong operator and communicator who creates structure and applies standard project practices (stage-gate and/or hybrid) as directed. Essential Job Functions 1) Project Planning & Governance Support definition of project scope and objectives in alignment with stakeholder needs and company goals. Prepare gate review decks/materials and consolidate input from functions. Maintain project plans (milestones, owners, dependencies, critical path).Document decisions and action items; follow up on due dates. 2) Cross-Functional Facilitation Facilitate a regular cadence of core team meetings, workstream meetings, and gate reviews to capture decisions, track actions to closure, and escalate blockers as needed. Coordinate communication and ensure follow-ups. Foster a collaborative environment that encourages creativity, prioritizes product quality, and supports on-time delivery through action tracking and follow-up. 3) Product Development Execution (Physical Products) Coordinate development workstreams to ensure readiness for each gate and launch. Assist issue triage and resolution (quality, regulatory, supplier, or build issues) and ensure change control and approvals are managed through to closure. 4) Cost, Timeline, and Resource Alignment Support project plans aligned to targets for cost, timing, and scope. Track key cost drivers and provide regular updates to stakeholders and leadership. Support resource coordination by confirming availability and updating schedules. 5) Risk Management Proactively surface risks and interdependencies; ensure owners and due dates are clear. Escalate issues with impacts and context; document and track resolution to closure. 6) Reporting and Documentation Maintain core project documentation, including project plans, reports, and specifications. Provide clear project reporting to key stakeholders and leadership. Other duties as assigned. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. Employees are expected and encouraged to participate in safety and health program activities including immediately reporting hazards, immediately reporting unsafe work practices and incidents to supervisors, wearing required personal protective equipment, and participating in and supporting safety committee activities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in project management, business, engineering, industrial/product design, supply chain, or related field (or equivalent experience).
0-2 years of project management experience in physical product development and commercialization (consumer products, CPG, hard goods, or similar).
Strong organization & attention to detail: Maintains project plans, coordinates stage-gate reviews, and maintains clear documentation.
Communication skills: Effective in both oral and written communication, provides clear status updates and escalations, prepares inputs for decision-makers.
Project Management tool proficiency: Uses project planning and reporting tools to create transparency and support execution (e.g., Monday.com, Smartsheet, Asana, Jira, SharePoint, Power BI, PLM/ERP).
Prioritization & urgency: Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. Able to prioritize tasks effectively, focusing on the most critical aspects of the project to ensure milestones are met without compromising quality.
Customer focus: Dedicated to understanding and meeting the needs of stakeholders and customers. Committed to delivering high-quality results with integrity.

Nice To Haves

PMP, CAPM, or other recognized project management certification preferred.
Exposure to physical product development including prototyping/validation, supplier readiness, tooling, and lifecycle management preferred.