Mission
Here is the updated job posting with your specified title, keeping the strong focus on operational leadership, continuous improvement, and cross-functional team development while framing it under a senior product development project management scope.
Job Title: Project Manager - Product Development
Location: [Insert Location / Remote / Hybrid]
Job Type: Full-time
Experience Level: Senior Level / Management
About the Role
We are seeking a goal-oriented, high-energy Project Manager - Product Development to lead, coach, and inspire our assembly and product delivery organization. In this role, you will hold full accountability for managing the deployment of engineering and assembly projects against key safety, quality, delivery, and financial targets.
The ideal candidate is a communicative leader who thrives on building a knowledge-based culture, driving continuous improvement, and fostering strong, trusting relationships across both their direct team and cross-functional product development groups. If you are passionate about developing workforce competence, navigating change, and delivering complex programs through collaborative teamwork, we want you on our team.
Key Responsibilities
Project Execution & Continuous Improvement
Target Achievement: Manage and drive the assembly and product organization to meet and exceed project safety, quality, delivery, and financial benchmarks.
Continuous Improvement (CI): Champion the ongoing implementation of CI methodologies—standardizing project workflows, optimizing organizational design, and driving active contribution from all team members.
Strategic Alignment: Own the project midterm road map (0–1 year) and drive strict policy deployment from the plant/program leadership level down to the operator and technician level.
Safety & Risk Mitigation
Safe Work Environment: Ensure a zero-harm workplace culture during project validation and assembly by utilizing a methodical approach to risk identification, hazard mitigation, and safety competence development.
People Leadership & Talent Development
Team Development & Engagement: Take full ownership of your team’s growth. Foster a culture of high employee engagement through open, two-way communication, ensuring all employees understand their project responsibilities, how they impact the total result, and that they are recognized for exceptional performance.
Workforce Upskilling: Assess employee performance, competencies, and flexibility. Initiate targeted training, counseling, or corrective actions to optimize department efficiency and product development effectiveness.
Labor & Stakeholder Relations: Act as the primary point of contact for project follow-ups and maintain productive, collaborative Union and stakeholder relationships.
Critical Competencies
Courage: Leaders who lean into tough decisions and lead with conviction and accountability.
Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communicators who seamlessly bridge gaps between shop-floor teams and cross-functional corporate partners.
Priority Setting: Ability to evaluate complex business needs and make the right choices for the project timeline and business at the right time.
Emotional Intelligence: Highly self-aware leaders who exhibit operational flexibility and possess a genuine drive to mentor and develop others.
Teamwork: A strong focus on building a unified departmental front while seamlessly collaborating across cross-functional matrixed engineering teams.
Change Management: Staying grounded and stable through corporate or operational shifts, acting as a steady guide to help teams navigate change smoothly.
Profile
Qualifications
Option A: Associate’s degree in a relevant engineering or manufacturing field AND a minimum of five (5) years of supervision/project management experience in a manufacturing environment.
Option B: A minimum of seven (7) years of combined education and project management/supervision experience specifically within a manufacturing or product development environment.
Communication Skills: Proven ability to build strong networks and create trusting relationships at all levels of an organization.