Sr NPD Project Leader

Kohler Co. • Kohler, WI

5d • Onsite

About The Position

As a member of a New Product Development project team, the Sr NPD Project Leader focuses on product categories for the North America region, including regional and global projects. This role leads product development teams to launch innovative new products and improve the quality, performance, and/or cost of existing products. The leader manages cross-functional teams using the KBDP new product development process through market launch, driving each program to defined metrics. Responsibilities include developing and managing the project budget, guiding the team to develop new products that meet cost targets, and developing and monitoring project schedules while adhering to the KBDP process. The role involves managing deliverables and tasks within each phase of a project, anticipating and managing tasks/risks, and participating in performance expectations and evaluations for cross-functional teams. Additionally, the Sr NPD Project Leader provides leadership and mentoring to less experienced team members, communicates project status and execution plans to senior management, defines and facilitates decision-making processes, and coaches project team personnel to develop cross-functional solutions. 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.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a product development related discipline (e.g. Engineering, Manufacturing, Marketing, or Design)
• 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 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.
• Take moderate risks.
• Identify opportunities for organizational and process change.
• Work effectively when organizational structure or processes are unclear or conflicting.
• Lead brainstorming discussions.
• Facilitate and resolve conflict and problem-solving.
• Make decisions with moderate levels of ambiguity.
• Choose appropriate action and alternatives with rationale consistent with facts, constraints, and predicted consequences.
• Take independent action with insight into global and regional business impact.
• Speak up and raise concerns in global and regional settings.
• Provide options, scenarios, and recommendations to overcome obstacles.
• 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.
• Anticipate and manage 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.
• Coach 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.

Benefits

• Day 1 benefits
• Access to applicable benefit programs from your first day on the job, with no waiting period.
• Performance bonus/variable incentive compensation
• Competitive total rewards package
• Access to career growth and development opportunities
• Diverse and inclusive workplace
• Strong culture of innovation

What This Job Offers

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