Principal Program Manager

Product Development Program Manager

Plan and manage multiple large multi-functional product development projects simultaneously. The projects may include large multi-functional projects or a combination of hardware, software, and sustaining projects. The position requires strong, enthusiastic leadership skills in a highly technical medical instrument product development environment. Provide direct supervision to program managers and project managers who are responsible for the projects within the program. Assess resource needs and opportunities across programs and support in balancing portfolio risk. Participate in business strategic planning representing current program and implementing the business strategy. The position requires regular interaction with all functions and levels of the organization from R&D scientists and engineers, marketing/sales, quality/regulatory, and operations, through executive management. Directs the program team and project team(s) in a manner to achieve the business results expected. Forecast program results when requested. Seeks guidance on unusual and complex problems whose solution exceeds the approved project or program boundaries. Authority of position is that required to carry out assigned duties, except where expressly reserved by the senior management personnel or Werfen Corporate/Division Policy.

Key Accountabilities

• Program Leadership: Provide technical and team leadership to multiple large project teams or program teams. This may include directly leading one of the projects. Leadership entails planning, scheduling, assignment of work, and technical support within the program area. Drive the successful attainment of program goals.
• Project Planning and Scheduling: Responsible for project or program planning and scheduling, clarifying and defining the scope of work, utilizing deliverable milestone methods and critical path scheduling, conducting resource planning and allocation, and developing task and project estimates. Works with other project and program managers as well as functional managers to assess impact across other projects and programs based on resource needs. Generates an integrated project plans that meet business objectives and are in compliance with the design control process, while maximizing resource efficiency.
• Project Execution and Control: Responsible for conducting regular project or program team status meetings and reviews. Ensures deliverables are completed and documented. Identifies the need for and implements changes to the program and project plans that are within approved program and project boundaries. Plan and conduct major program and supporting project and milestone reviews.
• Agile Project Management: Participates in the decision-making process regarding when to employ the Agile methodology. Ensure adequate resources are applied to Agile projects.
• Problem Solving Leadership: Responsible for coordination of program and project resources and to identify individuals outside the specific project or program who would contribute to the identification of root cause(s) of program and project issues, and develop and manage a plan to fix, test, and implement an appropriate solution through completion.
• Risk Management Leadership: Responsible for ensuring program and project risks, both technical risks and management risks, are identified and appropriate risk mitigation plans are included within the program and project plan. Regularly assess and report the status of overall program risk remaining on a program. Identify risk trends and patterns across the program and develop risk mitigation strategies for systemic risks. Support periodic assessment of the overall portfolio risk.
• Design Control: Creates and maintains file to current phase ensuring accuracy. Ensure compliance with Design Control practices.
• Communication: Responsible for program communication for both within the project team(s) and between the team(s) and executive management.
• Vendor Management: Responsible for ensuring adequate oversight and control of vendors providing development, test or technical services that support the project. May also participate in the assessment and selection of strategic partners.
• Cross Department Collaboration: Responsible to establish communication channels with commercial functions, support team and infrastructure to ensure successful on market change(s) and/or new product introduction. Uses input from commercial functions to influence and execute program plan.
• Conflict Resolution: Able to resolve project and program team conflict through the application of listening skills, facilitation skills and negotiating skills. Able to remove oneself from the problem. Provides conflict resolution beyond the technical contributors and extends across the various departments of the organization. Fosters a creative, professional climate that will maximize the contributions of technical and project team members.
• Resource Allocation: Ensures that adequate equipment and material resources are available to advance the program and project(s) and achieve goals and objectives. Works with other program and project managers to make the best use for the business of shared resources.
• Supervision and Employee Performance: Demonstrated functional management expertise and skills in developing, mentoring and coaching others. Works with functional management participating in skills/gap assessments and conducting performance appraisals and coaching for project core team members. Works with functional management to develop a resourcing strategy to meet the need of the projects or programs for which they are responsible. Provides direct supervision to Program Managers and Project Managers assigned to the program.
• Strategy Development: Participates with top management in near-term planning concerning the strategy within a program and the impact across the portfolio.

Budget Managed

• Prepares and maintains budgets for the portfolio of programs and projects.
• Annual budget between $8 million and $13 million

Networking/Key Relationships

• Coordination of review of documentation with Quality and Regulatory disciplines
• Communication of product changes with Manufacturing / Operations disciplines
• Communication of plans and status of projects with Marketing discipline
• Communication of plans and status with other programs and projects within R&D

Minimum Knowledge & Experience Required for the Position

• BS in STEM field (engineering, chemistry, physics, etc.), MS/MBA preferred
• Additional course work in accounting, business economics, strategy development, resource management and project management is desired
• At least 10 years of experience, preferably in product development with at least 7 years of successful technical leadership, project coordination, or project management are required
• Experience in the development and release of at least one successful product launch of a medical instrumentation product is desirable
• Certification in program management is preferred
• Full and comprehensive knowledge of the complete product lifecycle, including all aspects of product development from conception to manufacturing introduction

Skills & Capabilities

• Strategic thinking
• Leadership
• Functional/technical skills
• Analytical Skills
• Developing direct reports
• Problem-solving, conflict management, listening, managing and measuring work
• Strong project management skill set and familiarity with project management tools and techniques
• Team player, self-motivated, perseverance
• Strong oral and written skills
• Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Design Control

Travel Requirements

• 20% of the time.

The annual base salary range for this role is currently $210,000 to $240,000. Individual employee compensation will ultimately depend on factors including education, relevant experience, skillset, knowledge, and particular business needs.

This role is eligible for medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k plan retirement benefits with an employer match, as well as paid vacation and sick leave. Our sales roles are eligible for participation in a commission plan and our management, and select professional roles, are eligible for a performance-based bonus.