ROLE SUMMARY

The Program Leader is responsible for leading highly complex, cross-functional new product and technical development programs that support key business priorities and growth initiatives. This role drives alignment, execution, and delivery, ensuring clear plans, strong governance, and high-quality, decision-ready outputs.

This position plays a critical role in connecting strategy to execution, enabling teams to move efficiently from early-stage concept through implementation and execution while navigating technical uncertainty, evolving requirements, and complex organizational dynamics. The Program Leader brings structure, clarity, and momentum to ambiguous initiatives, helping teams make informed decisions, manage risk, and achieve business objectives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead End-to-End Program Execution

Lead highly complex new product and technical development programs from concept through implementation and execution. Ensure alignment to business objectives, success criteria, and stakeholder expectations throughout the program lifecycle.

Lead Through Ambiguity & Drive Cross-Functional Alignment

Drive progress in environments characterized by technical uncertainty, evolving requirements, and incomplete information. Lead and influence cross-functional teams to align priorities, manage complex interdependencies, resolve barriers, and facilitate critical decisions that optimize program outcomes.

Program Planning, Governance & Decision Support

Develop and maintain integrated program plans encompassing timelines, resources, dependencies, risks, assumptions, and key decision points. Ensure strong governance, visibility, accountability, and adherence to established development frameworks (e.g., Stage-Gate), enabling informed and timely decision-making.

Performance Management & Issue Resolution

Monitor program performance against schedules, budgets, milestones, and commitments. Proactively identify risks and issues, manage changes effectively, and drive resolution to maintain momentum and achieve delivery objectives.

Implementation & Execution Readiness

Partner with Product Management, Marketing, Engineering, Operations, and other stakeholders to ensure implementation and execution readiness, including launch planning and operational preparedness.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

Build strong relationships across the organization and communicate program status, risks, decisions, and recommendations in a clear, concise manner tailored to technical, business, and executive audiences.

Continuous Improvement

Drive improvements in development processes, governance, tools, and ways of working to enhance program effectiveness, execution consistency, and business outcomes.

SKILLS & CAPABILITIES

• Proven experience leading highly complex new product and technical development programs throughout the development lifecycle.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity, uncertainty, and evolving requirements.
• Strong program leadership experience across product development lifecycles and formal execution frameworks (e.g., Stage-Gate).
• Ability to influence and align cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Strong systems-thinking capability with the ability to identify and manage complex interdependencies, facilitate trade-off discussions, and drive alignment across functions.
• Ability to integrate technical, operational, and business considerations into program plans, decisions, and execution strategies.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including executive-level communication and facilitation of complex decisions.
• Strong planning, prioritization, problem-solving, and execution discipline across multiple initiatives.
• Proven ability to manage risks, dependencies, assumptions, and trade-offs while maintaining program momentum and enabling informed decision-making.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of experience leading complex, cross-functional new product or technical development programs within manufacturing-based industries such as building products, CPG, industrial products, foodservice, or similar environments.
• Proven success leading physical product development programs from concept through implementation and launch.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity, manage complex interdependencies, and drive alignment without direct authority.
• Experience working within Stage-Gate, or similar product development frameworks.
• Strong business acumen, risk management, and executive communication skills.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree required
• Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred
• PMP or equivalent program/project management certification preferred

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