Director PMO - NPI/NPD

About the Role

The Director, PMO NPI/NPD leads the transition of new products from R&D into scalable volume manufacturing. Reporting to the VP of Production Engineering and Continuous Improvement (PECI), this position owns NPI execution, manufacturing readiness, and phase‑gate milestone delivery across the product portfolio, partnering with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Product Management.

Key Responsibilities

• New Product Development & Launch

  Own PLM milestone tracking, phase‑gate execution, and portfolio pipeline alignment to ensure timely and effective product launches. Drive product commercialization from R&D handoff through launch, meeting or exceeding customer, quality, cost, and delivery requirements. Align cross‑functionally on pipeline and launch readiness.

• Manufacturing Readiness & Scale‑Up

  Lead the transition of products from R&D into volume manufacturing, establishing scalable and repeatable production processes. Develop and ramp manufacturing capability and capacity for new products at the R&D site. Continuously improve the R&D production line to support prototype and pilot builds.

• Automation, Tooling & Test

  Lead automation initiatives, including tooling, test fixtures, and production test requirement definition. Partner with Engineering and Operations to ensure test and tooling solutions are scalable for volume production.

• Team Leadership

  Lead and develop a team of Technical Program Managers and the Engineering Manager for Prototype and Pilot Builds. Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement within the NPD PMO function.

Skills & Abilities

• Ownership & Accountability – Drive NPI outcomes from R&D handoff through volume launch, hold self and team to commitments, and proactively escalate risks.
• Program & Portfolio Management – Manage multiple NPI programs simultaneously, maintain phase‑gate discipline, and ensure pipeline visibility.
• Commercialization & NPI Execution – Deliver products on time, within cost, quality, and delivery targets.
• Manufacturing & Production Readiness – Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, scale‑up, tooling, automation, and test development.
• Cross‑Functional Leadership & Influence – Align and drive execution across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Product Management without direct authority.
• Strategic Thinking & Prioritization – Manage competing program priorities, make trade‑off decisions, and keep initiatives aligned to business objectives.
• Team Development – Build, develop, and scale technical teams to ensure right capabilities and resourcing.
• Stakeholder Communication & Reporting – Synthesize program status, risks, and decisions for senior leadership and the C‑suite.
• Travel – Ability to travel 10–20%.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• 15+ years of program management experience in a manufacturing or engineering environment, focused on new product introduction (NPI), product transitions, or manufacturing scale‑up.
• 5+ years of team leadership/management experience within a PMO, R&D, or Operations function.
• Proven experience leading cross‑functional initiatives across R&D, Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production readiness, and product commercialization.
• Familiarity with PLM systems and phase‑gate product development processes.
• PMP, Six Sigma, or equivalent certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field; MBA a plus.
• Experience with automation systems, production tooling, and test fixture development.
• Deep knowledge of phase‑gate execution, PLM milestone management, and portfolio pipeline alignment.
• Demonstrated success scaling products from prototype/pilot builds to volume manufacturing.
• Experience building and developing technical teams in an R&D or pilot production environment.

Benefits

• Generous Paid Time Off – 3 weeks of PTO annually, accruing from day one.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage – United Healthcare medical plans, plus dental, vision, and disability insurance.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) – Purchase company stock at a 15% discount via payroll deductions.
• 401(k) with Company Match – 50% match on contributions up to 8%, with immediate vesting.
• Paid Holidays – 9 company holidays plus a floating holiday.
• Tuition Reimbursement – Up to $7,500 per year for approved professional development.