New Product Development - Project Manager

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company drives meaningful innovation through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2024, the company reported approximately $17 billion in annual sales, 44,000 employees, and 40 manufacturing and technology research centers.

About the role

This is an onsite role at our Mount Pleasant, WI location. As a Project Manager/Leader, you will lead cross-functional teams to deliver project objectives with speed, quality, and efficiency. The role drives the consistent application of Whirlpool Product Development (WPD) and established Project Management disciplines to enable structured execution and predictability while enabling flexibility to meet consumer and business needs. Acting as a business integrator, you will align stakeholders, clarify ownership, and drive transparent decision-making. You will translate project requirements into actionable plans that balance scope, time, cost, quality, and consumer impact while building trust and creating a culture of accountability.

Responsibilities

• Work on projects using the Whirlpool Product Development (WPD) methodology, Product Development Process (PDP), and Advanced Development Process (ADP).
• Take ownership of project delivery results and influence cross-functionally to ensure smooth transition of projects to business owners.
• Manage projects across all knowledge areas: Project integration, Scope, Time, Cost, Quality, Resources, Communications, Risks, Procurements, and Stakeholder management.
• Manage local and global teams, taking projects from original concept to final implementation and project release through weekly core team meetings, 1:1s, and other forums.
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert on WPD processes and tools within the organization.
• Manage risks, develop plans to avoid, transfer, mitigate, accept, or explore them with the project team.
• Manage change within the project, guiding the team to request, analyze, impact, and probability, and make go/no-go decisions.
• Manage stakeholders, register expectations, influence, report project performance, and collect and manage requirements.
• Manage data in multiple systems to support project health data tracking and reporting.
• Track, maintain, and report project expenses and capital calendar.
• Support project Bill of Materials (BOM) coordination and prototype build execution.
• Support tracking of parts development and production readiness, ensuring coordination of cross-functional groups involved.
• Gather, organize, process, and communicate project data reports, KPIs, and presentations.
• Prepare content for project meetings and integration events.
• Cover Project Leader absence when needed.
• Develop and track the project master schedule, including follow-up on execution with team members.
• Maintain, follow-up, and report action register activities.
• Contribute to Project Leadership Office (PLO) function objectives, development, and embedment.
• Participate in, contribute to, and lead initiatives related to creating the new Project Leadership Office (PLO) at InSinkErator (ISE), including change management, education, training, customization of tools, and embedding a centralized project management tool.
• Travel to key manufacturing or supplier sites as needed based on project work.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree.
• 2+ years of project management experience, managing project scope, timeline, budget, quality, stakeholder communications, and risk.

Skills

• Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification (preferred).
• 2+ years experience participating in product development, especially in the consumer/durable goods sector (preferred).
• Experience with Project Management software/platforms.
• Data analytics and project health KPIs reporting.
• Proven experience leading and influencing cross-functional teams to align on and achieve difficult project outcomes.
• Stakeholder management.

Benefits

• Generous benefits package.
• Whirlpool employee discount.
• Fitness and educational reimbursement programs.
• Kitchenettes at office locations.
• Beautiful, recently renovated office space (Saint Joseph/Benton Harbor locations).
• Free coffee, biking/walking trails, and access to The Eddy - Early Childhood Center (availability and additional costs may apply).
• Always On Flexibility: Autonomy to manage personal, family, and outside-of-work commitments as needed.
• Two-Week Work from Anywhere: Minimum of one-week increments for a total of two weeks per year.
• Sabbatical: Four weeks paid leave after every five years of service.