GENERAL PURPOSE
The Senior Program Manager will provide the Product Development Team leadership of significantly important and multiple New Product Commercialization (NPC) projects simultaneously. Represents the Product Development functions to NPC core teams and provides leadership to large Product Development sub-teams. In providing representation and leadership, the Senior Program Manager speaks for all disciplines within the Product Development arena: project management, design, engineering, and a variety of technical support services (CAD, prototyping, performance engineers, etc.). Orchestrates the participation of the various Product Development disciplines against objectives defined by the core team or corporate product strategy. The majority of programs assigned will be complex in nature, and often strategically significant, supporting key product strategies. Emphasis should be placed on teamwork, leadership, and approaching project adjectives with a business development attitude, bent for success.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Assimilate guidance and support to designers in the NPC process. Ensure the engineering feasibility and manufacturing process ability of new or improved products.
- Assure engineering specifications per ISO guidelines to meet product definition and build objectives. Recommend and/or develop performance criteria, test methods, and quality control parameters based on customer integrated criteria establishment.
- Direct project activities of support staff and corporate team members, review and approve work of assigned support staff, and provide input on performance evaluations.
- Direct project planning per NPC guidelines, including identification and organization of assigned resources, the establishment of project schedule, and input into the development of project and product strategies.
- Lead one or more project teams as assigned.
- Maintain communication with designers on assigned product line to ensure that the design intent is maintained throughout the development process.
- Manage the product design and development process from opportunity assessment through realization and integration to ongoing business. Ensure completion within established time and budget guidelines, acceptable financial returns, and quality products satisfying relevant customer criteria.
- Works closely with all functional areas within Herman Miller, with added focus on our contracted designers relationships, customers, and with our extensive supplier network.
- Performs additional responsibilities as requested to achieve business objectives.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education/Experience
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, design or business required. Masters preferred
- A minimum of 10 years' experience with the product development and/or product management.
- A minimum 6 years project management experience with a proven track record of success.
Skills and Abilities
- In-depth and broad knowledge of best practices of innovation, new product development processes, rapid development and commercialization strategies.
- Proven people development skills.
- Self-directed and demonstrated entrepreneurial, risk-taking, creative orientation abilities.
- Strong customer sense and knowledge of the sales and distribution process. Demonstrated customer and sales team interaction experience.
- Excellent leadership and communications skills with the ability to communicate effectively to all levels of management and functional disciplines, both internally and externally.
- Proven ability to efficiently lead diverse disciplines towards a common goal.
- Proven track record of crisp and clear decision making.
- Strong business acumen, financial evaluation skills and competency.
- PMP Certification (Project Management Professional) is preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively use office automation, communication, software and tools currently used in the Herman Miller office environment.
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. Must be able to perform all essential functions of the position with or without accommodations.
