Program Management Lead, Rack PDU

Program Management Lead

Reporting to the Rack Power Distribution Unit (rPDU) Product Line VP, the Program Management Lead will have dual responsibility of managing the PMO team and at the same time manage the portfolio of projects related to the rPDU Product Line globally, working closely with Product Line, Global Process Governance, and Operations leaders.

The Program Management Lead:

• Is responsible and accountable for the management of projects aimed at new product development. These can range from new technology development (Advance Technology), customization of existing products to specific client requests (Engineered to Order), products transferred from region to region (Design Transfer), or from inception to product launch into a new market (New Platform). The projects require coordinating the efforts of all involved departments (engineering, product management, manufacturing engineering, operations, procurement, quality, order fulfillment, logistics, service, marketing, sales and other cross-functional groups) to the successful completion of the project.

• Needs to manage projects or initiatives to which they are directly assigned, cooperate with Product Line peers to assign project managers to projects, and oversee the execution of projects assigned to their team, all while contributing to the career progression and knowledge gain in the project management discipline of their team.

• Is responsible for overseeing the rPDU portfolio, reporting its overall status to the Product Line Leader, and hosting regular status reviews. Moreover, the function is responsible for providing approval recommendations during gate review meetings.

• Must maintain continuous alignment of program scope with Company strategic business and other organizational objectives, make recommendations to modify the program to enhance effectiveness, highlight any possible situation hindering achievement of program results and elaborate a recovery plan.

• Champions the adoption and sustained use of processes, tools, and governance frameworks developed by the Global Product Development Office (GPDO), including the NPDI Global SOP, gate review templates, and associated policies. Lead the deployment of new or updated GPDO processes into the rPDU Product Line through training, communication, and change management. Serve as the primary liaison between the GPDO and the rPDU team, providing feedback on process effectiveness and ensuring compliance with global standards across all project execution activities.

The context in which the Program Management Lead operates is characterized by complex relationships in an international and multicultural environment, typical of large organizations. The Program Management Lead therefore must be able to navigate complexities, foster relationships, and maintain communication with stakeholders at multiple levels, including those external to the organization.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure the projects/programs are managed in accordance with the Corporate NPDI (New Product Development and Introduction) Process
• Manage the rPDU project portfolio, ensuring alignment with business roadmaps and availability of resources.
• Work with management of different operating functions to identify and obtain required resources to adequately staff projects, providing necessary information for prioritization where required.
• Develop and mentor Project Managers in the team, so they can develop and execute project/program plans, including timelines, milestones, and resource allocation, while effectively managing risks and dependencies.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration and foster a culture of teamwork to achieve project deliverables and meet aggressive deadlines.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration between various stakeholders, including engineering teams, operations, product offering and executive leadership.
• Track and report on project, program and portfolio performances, measuring progress, budget utilization, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to stakeholders and senior management.
• Identify and proactively mitigate risks and issues that may impact project timelines, scope, or quality.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, driving innovation and efficiency in the product development process.
• Collaborate closely with the Product Management team to define product requirements, specifications, and ensure alignment with customer needs, and with the Engineering team to develop and validate solutions which are compliant with the requirements set, at a competitive product cost.
• Initiate and complete post-launch product analysis and feedback collection to inform future iterations and enhancements.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field, with the ability to learn the basics of product development. A Master's degree is an asset.
• A minimum of 5 years' experience as a Program Manager, leading programs within a structured organization
• A minimum of 2 years of experience leading Program Management teams
• Comprehensive understanding of the product development lifecycle, from concept ideation to commercialization.
• Exceptional project management skills; PMP certification is strongly preferred.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities, with proficiency in engaging and influencing stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Excellent leadership and influencing capabilities, including the ability to motivate and direct cross-functional teams toward common objectives.
• Robust problem-solving and decision-making skills, characterized by a proactive and solution-oriented approach.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% of the time.
• Preferred: Experience in the Data Center Infrastructure sector.
• Advantageous: Familiarity with Waterfall and Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban)

Physical & Environmental Demands:

• No specific demands

Time Travel Required:

• Up to 20%