Head of Program Management

Mill is all about answering a simple question: how can we prevent waste? Less waste can save time, money, energy, maybe even our planet. And there’s no better place to start than food. Food waste is one of the most solvable climate problems facing us today. Plus, our trash really stinks. It’s gross, heavy, and our least favorite chore. At Mill we are striving to build a better environment for all, as we take on climate and kitchen change.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Head of Program Management to lead our product lifecycle across new product development from concept to launch and through sustaining operations. In this critical leadership role, you will be responsible for defining and implementing program management processes, building and mentoring a high-performing team, and ensuring the on-time and on-budget delivery of our high-quality products. You will be the central hub for communication, risk management, and cross-functional alignment across product, engineering, operations, marketing, and sales throughout the product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute the program management strategy, ensuring it aligns with the company's overall business objectives.
• Team Building: Recruit, lead, and mentor a team of talented program managers, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Process Definition: Establish and refine scalable program management frameworks, tools, and best practices tailored to a hardware startup environment.
• Program Oversight: Oversee a portfolio of complex hardware programs, ensuring all projects are on track, risks are proactively managed, and dependencies are clearly understood.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the primary point of contact for program status, facilitating effective communication and collaboration between product, engineering, and operations teams.
• Risk Management: Lead teams to identify potential program risks and develop mitigation strategies, proactively resolving issues to prevent delays and cost overruns.
• Executive Reporting: Provide regular, transparent updates to the executive leadership team on program status, key milestones, and critical issues.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in program management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role within a hardware-focused company or startup.
• Demonstrated experience managing the full hardware product development lifecycle, from ideation and prototyping to mass production and market launch.
• Strong technical acumen and a solid understanding of engineering principles, especially in mechanical, electrical, and/or software disciplines.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and motivate diverse teams.
• Proven track record of successfully managing complex, high-stakes programs under tight deadlines.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with consumer electronics, or a similar industry.
• Hands-on experience with agile methodologies in a hardware context.
  
  

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to be a foundational leader at a company with massive growth potential. You will have a direct impact on the products we build and the processes we use to build them. If you are passionate about hardware, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and want to build a world-class team, we encourage you to apply.

The estimated base salary range for this position is $205k to $230k, which does not include the value of benefits or a potential equity grant. A wide range of factors are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to skill sets, market conditions, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and business and organizational needs. At Mill, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role.