Sr NPD Project Leader

Kohler Co.•Kohler, WI

6d•$103,900 - $160,000•Onsite

About The Position

As a member of a New Product Development project team, this role focuses on product categories for the North America region, including both regional and global projects. The Sr NPD Project Leader will lead product development teams to launch innovative new products and enhance the quality, performance, and/or cost of existing products. This involves managing cross-functional teams through the KBDP new product development process from inception to market launch, ensuring each program meets defined metrics. The role also includes developing and managing project budgets, guiding teams to meet cost targets, and developing and monitoring project schedules in adherence to the KBDP process. Key responsibilities include managing deliverables and tasks within each project phase, anticipating and managing project risks, participating in performance evaluations for cross-functional teams, and providing leadership and mentoring to less experienced team members. The position requires communication of project status, execution plans, and process to senior management, as well as defining and facilitating decision-making processes for development teams. Establishing and maintaining relationships with senior management is crucial for aligning NPD objectives and removing obstacles. The role also drives improvements in creative problem-solving and the KBDP process and organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a product development related discipline (e.g. Engineering, Manufacturing, Marketing, or Design) with a minimum of 8 years of experience in concurrent product development (project management, product design, process engineering or manufacturing engineering).
Must demonstrate the capability to build cohesive high-performance teams, improve development processes and communicate effectively with associates and executives.
Ability to travel 10-20% including international.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Global product development experience is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Lead product development teams to launch innovative new products and improve the quality, performance and/or cost of existing products.
Manage cross functional teams using the KBDP new product development process through market launch.
Drive each Program to defined metrics.
Develop and manage the project budget with the team including development expense, capital tooling and expense tooling.
Guide the team to develop new products that meet cost targets.
Develop and monitor project schedules and adhere to the KBDP process.
Manage deliverables and tasks within each phase of a project.
Anticipates and manages tasks/risks within each project.
Participate in performance expectations and evaluations for cross functional teams.
Provide leadership and mentoring to less experienced team members as needed.
Communicate to senior management on project status, execution plans, and process.
Define and facilitate decision-making process for development teams.
Coaches project team personnel to develop and implement cross-functional solutions to complex issues.
Establish and maintain relationships with senior management for the purpose of aligning NPD objectives and removing obstacles for project completion.
Drive improvements in creative problem solving and continually improve the KBDP process and organization.
Lead regional and global projects of moderate-to-high complexity, risk and business impact.
Provide structure and leadership for solving technically complex design and business problems.
Proactively identify and plan for project risks, communicating risk clearly, early and appropriately to management.
Manage assigned projects' timing and financial adherence to plan.
Challenge project teams to achieve innovative solutions.
Willing and successful in taking moderate risk.
Identify opportunities for organizational and process change.
Work effectively when organizational structure or processes are unclear or conflicting.
Lead brainstorming discussions.
Able to facilitate & resolve conflict and problem solving.
Make decisions with moderate levels of ambiguity.
Choose appropriate action and alternatives with rationale that is consistent with facts, constraints, and predicted consequences.
Take independent action with insight into global and regional business impact.
Willing to speak up and raise concern in global and regional settings.
Provide options, scenarios and recommendations to overcome obstacles.