Program Manager - CA

The Program Manager has ultimate accountability to ensure the planning and management of the project and project team through each stage and each gate through product launch. Effective Program Management is a critical enabler in achieving high quality new product development projects. In their role, the Program Manager manages cross-functional project teams, and has the ability to influence much more than just the development of a project timeline. He/she influences several key business aspects of each project including: the development of an effective project plan for each stage of work, an accurate forecast for budget and timeline, a high functioning cross functional project team, creative solutions, and high quality deliverables.

The Program Manager can be from any functional area, and reports to the VP, Research and Engineering.

Essential responsibilities include the following:

• Lead the cross functional project team which is assigned to the PTM project, in making decisions that balance competing demands resulting from market, competitive, engineering, industrial/supply chain or financial factors.
• Structure the overall project plan, i.e., a plan for activities within each stage to be performed in parallel, not sequential, by the cross-functional team.
• Evaluate all of the activities listed in each stage to determine which activities are necessary to ensure the success of the project.
• Responsible (with the help of the leaders from different functions) for identifying core and extended team members.
• Organize and manage the project “kick off” meeting for each stage where roles and responsibilities are clarified and the project plan is reconfirmed.
• Has a good understanding of the market, competition, customers and channels for the product, and obtains support from the product marketing lead, who is assigned to the project in doing this.
• Ultimately responsible for the product delivery, ready for launch.
• Communicate the progress of the project to the Project Review Committee and Datamax-O’Neil executive team.
• Schedule Gate Meetings with PTM Process Manager.
• Inform and explain project status/issues to Gate Keepers, incorporating feedback, and fostering alignment between Gate Keepers Prior to the Gate Meetings
• Ensure that high quality and on-time deliverables are submitted to Gate Meetings.
• Raise Red Flags to the PTM Process Manager and Gatekeepers, when appropriate.
• Contribute to performance appraisals of team members.
• Schedule and conduct the post project reviews (covering project management and sales plan/profitability performance.
• Travel to 20% as needed

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required:

• Excellent supervisory skills: Ability to command respect and supervise the work of cross-functional team members. Consistent with the direct supervision of the Project Team and its activity, the Program Manager will have responsibility for either significant input or for conducting performance appraisals (PAs) for the team functional leads (or individual team members, if applicable). For extended team members, the Program Manager will have input into performance appraisals.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experienced facilitation and team building abilities.
• Demonstrated project planning and management skills.
• Specific technical expertise, as necessary.
• Commercial experience sufficient to understanding, developing, testing and modifying articulating and executing the project’s business objectives and key challenges
• Understanding of Datamax-O’Neil’s Product-to-Market process and understanding of the key business objectives of the new product development project
• Understanding the variety of perspectives of the multi-functional team (marketing, engineering, supply-chain, finance, distribution …).
• Creative problem solving and resourcefulness.
• Ability to drive, share, and influence the vision and end goals of project.
• Command support and respect from team members and stakeholders.
• Willingness and confidence to challenge, contest and surface key discrepancies within the project (including, but not limited to, raising Red Flags).
• International experience and travel a plus

• Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent experience required.
• Ten (10) years multi-functional business experience with at least five (5) in industrial product management, distribution, or product development.