Project Manager - New Product Development

JOB DESCRIPTION

Employee: Project Manager – New Product Development

FLSA Status: Exempt/Bonus Eligible

Reports To: Chiara Gunning, Director of Strategy & Product Management

Department: Product Management 

POSITION SUMMARY The Project Manager – New Product Development is responsible for leading cross-functional product development projects. This role owns end-to-end execution across multiple related projects, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, timelines, and financial targets. The role acts as a central interface across departments such as product management, engineering, marketing, and operations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES:

• Plan, manage, and coordinate product development projects end-to-end 

• Lead product development projects (e.g., faucets, showers) using: 

• KPIs


• Milestones


• Risk tracking


• Coordinate closely with cross-functional departments


• Clarify and evaluate project scope; obtain approval for execution 


• Define project organization and assemble the project team 


• Create, maintain, and optimize project timelines 


• Derive and assign work packages from the project plan 


• Control and track costs (overall budget and manufacturing costs) 


• Lead stage gate reviews & audits 


• Manage resource planning (people, machines, tools, equipment) 


• Maintain project documentation throughout the development process 


• Ensure product approvals and releases 


• Ensure master data readiness (Master Data Monitor, Readiness Tracker)


• Provide regular project status updates to stakeholders and leadership, proactively escalating risks, tradeoffs, and decisions needed to maintain timing and budget.

Successful project execution in terms of: 

• Timing: Product launch and market introduction (incl. POS display & print media)


• Budget: Investment, overhead costs, margin, manufacturing costs


• Performance: KPIs, milestones, and risk management

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Fluent in English. German language skills beneficial. 


• Ability to respond to all levels of leadership, external vendors, customers, common inquiries and requests. 


• Develop and maintain relationships with functional owners and stakeholders including gaining support of assigned projects


• Ability to effectively present information to top leadership & management, vendors, agencies, internal/external partners, public/community groups/members.
  
  
   
  
  
   

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Strong project management skills in ideating, leading, or working on cross-functional projects with cross-cultural teams


• High proficiency in Jira or other project management tools


• Ability to solve problems and motivate others to find creative solutions to problems


• Must be able to multi-task and function in fast-paced working environments


• Strong financial understanding


• Ability to be detail oriented without losing sight of the big picture


• Effective communication skills, always demonstrate the highest level of professionalism and consistently serve as a role model for outstanding customer service at all times


• Demonstrated cultural competency


• Building Industry, specifically Plumbing Industry knowledge and experience preferred


• PMP certification preferred

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering, or other technical field, or equivalent combination of education and work experience


• Solid ability to analyze data to manage ROI for positive results


• Experience leading & working with cross functional teams


• 5 years’ experience in New Product Development Project Management with a proven track record of successfully managing projects from concept to mass production


• Exceptional communication, facilitation and analytical skills


• Highly proficient in leveraging Copilot, MS Office Suite specifically PowerPoint and Excel


• 35 % travel required related to area of responsibility incl. international travel