Program Manager
A growing Midwest manufacturing company is seeking a Program Manager to lead new product development initiatives and oversee the successful launch of complex manufactured products from concept through production.
This role will serve as the central driver of New Product Development (NPD) programs, coordinating engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and commercial teams to deliver projects on time, within budget, and aligned with customer requirements.
The ideal candidate brings strong program or project management experience in a manufacturing environment and understands how to guide cross-functional teams through the full product development lifecycle while maintaining alignment across operations and engineering.
Responsibilities
- Lead New Product Development (NPD) programs from early customer engagement and concept development through production launch and stabilization
- Manage multiple concurrent projects, coordinating activities across engineering, operations, sales, supply chain, quality, and scheduling teams
- Establish and maintain program timelines, milestones, budgets, and resource plans
- Serve as the primary internal coordinator for product launch programs, ensuring alignment between technical, operational, and commercial stakeholders
- Translate customer requirements and RFQs into structured development plans and executable manufacturing programs
- Identify and mitigate risks related to engineering design, manufacturing readiness, supply chain, and scheduling
- Drive accountability across teams to ensure product development projects meet cost, quality, and delivery targets
- Support continuous improvement efforts within the NPD process, helping the organization scale product development capabilities as the business grows
- Provide guidance and leadership to engineers and project contributors involved in product development initiatives
Desired Skills and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field
- 7+ years of experience in manufacturing, product development, engineering, or program/project management
- Proven experience leading cross-functional new product development or product launch programs
- Strong understanding of manufacturing environments and engineering processes
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex project timelines, budgets, and multiple stakeholders
- Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills
- Experience working in environments where engineering and manufacturing teams collaborate closely to bring new products to market
- PMP certification or formal project management training is a plus
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