Role Overview and Responsibilities

Introduction

New Product Introduction Project Lead is responsible for coordinating the successful transition of new customer products from quote award through initial production shipment. This role serves as the central point of communication between Commercial, Engineering, Procurement, Production, Planning, Quality, and Finance to ensure all functional areas complete required launch activities on schedule.

The role will own the launch process, not every launch task. This position coordinates and drives cross-functional execution by tracking milestones, facilitating communication, identifying risks, and ensuring functional owners complete their assigned activities on schedule. Functional departments retain ownership of the technical execution within their areas of responsibility.

This position reports to the Quoting & New Product Introduction Manager.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Project Leadership:

• Coordinate all activities required to successfully launch new products into production.
• Develop and maintain NPI project schedules and milestone tracking.
• Lead cross-functional launch meetings and drive action item completion..
• Monitor project status, identify risks, and escalate issues that may impact schedule, cost, or customer commitments.
• Maintain and communicate NPI status dashboards, action item logs, and key performance metrics to support management visibility and decision-making.
• Provide regular updates to leadership and project stakeholders.
• Coordinate prototype builds, pilot runs, validation testing, and production ramp-up activities.

Cross-Functional Coordination

Serve as the primary point of coordination between Commercial, Engineering, Procurement, Planning, Production, Quality, and Finance to ensure launch activities are completed on schedule, including:

• Production readiness (manufacturing documentation, tooling, programs, fixtures, and equipment readiness).
• Material readiness (BOM release, procurement activities, material availability, and shortage resolution).
• Planning and schedule management to support customer delivery commitments.
• Customer communication and coordination throughout the product introduction process.
• ERP and financial readiness, including customer setup, item master creation, and cost roll completion.
• Documentation and process readiness to support a successful production launch.
• Collaborate with quality teams on validation plans, qualification activities, and corrective actions.

Qualifications, Skills and Attributes

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, Project Management, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in project management, product development, manufacturing, or NPI environments.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and complex projects.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• CAPM, PMP, or other project management certification
• Knowledge of ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Epicor, etc.
• Experience in regulated industries such as medical devices, aerospace, automotive, or electronics.
• Experience with Lean and/or Six-Sigma Methodologies

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

Language Ability: Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions and action items from groups of customers, managers, team members and other involved parties. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and present data regarding the program status.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to define solutions to problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Lead teams through projects in an efficient manner. Ability to understand pricing from a material procurement and labor process. Ability to handle multiple tasks and priorities.

Computer Skills: Ability to use office software with a high level of understanding in Word Processor, Spreadsheets and E-Mail. Business systems software, Slide presentations and Project Management software are considered to be a plus.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This employee may be required to work from a home office, and sufficient provisions must be made by employee to accommodate his/her working environment. Home office must be sufficient to properly represent a professional work environment without unnecessary distractions. Employee must be able to self supervise and make appropriate time commitments to the company. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands, finger dexterity, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to stand; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

Travel Requirements: Sufficient travel will be required to support job functions.

Safety is a core responsibility of this position. Team members are expected to perform all job duties in accordance with company safety policies, OSHA regulations, and established procedures. This includes wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE), participating in safety training, immediately reporting unsafe conditions or incidents, and stopping work when unsafe conditions exist. All employees are responsible for maintaining a safe, clean, and organized work environment and for actively contributing to the prevention of workplace injuries and accidents.

Location: 100 % onsite in Greater Cleveland, Ohio

Must be a U.S. Citizen