Program Manager

About the role

The Program Manager is responsible for the cost, schedule, and performance of major cardiovascular and strength product development programs at Life Fitness / Hammer Strength. This role coordinates continuous improvement, product development, and systems engineering programs for consumer and commercial cardiovascular and strength equipment.

Responsibilities

• Organize, manage, and deliver major consumer or commercial cardiovascular and strength programs using the Product Development Process (PDP).
• Coordinate proposal preparation; establish and monitor master plans, budgets, and schedules for new development programs.
• Track program spending and product costs against approved plans.
• Generate and maintain program schedules; monitor actual progress against planned milestones.
• Direct the Program Development Team, which may include Purchasing, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, and other functional areas.
• Manage all program phases from inception through completion and monitor work in progress to support program objectives.
• Oversee the development of design concepts and test criteria.
• Create and present design review packages to management.
• Assign clearly defined and prioritized work to team members.
• Capture and resolve service and manufacturing issues related to product design.
• Analyze the impact of schedule changes on affected functional areas.
• Recommend corrective actions, including schedule revisions, labor adjustments, funding allocations, and revised work requirements.
• Evaluate the technical impact of schedule changes against established plans and parameters; determine the most practical and cost-effective path forward.
• Identify issues before they become problems and recommend solutions.
• Prepare statements of work and negotiate technical details for subsystem designs with outside suppliers and customers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in program management, engineering, business management, or a related scientific field is required.
• Experience leading electrical, mechanical, and software development programs, including management of internal and external cross-functional teams.
• Experience working with overseas and domestic development partners is expected.

Qualifications

• Minimum of four years of product development experience.
• Minimum of two years of program management experience.

Skills & Competencies

• Ability to manage multiple programs and priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to plan for contingencies and determine when to implement them.
• Highly organized and process-oriented approach to program execution.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to manage teams through challenging projects.
• Demonstrated track record of launching successful programs.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project, Excel, Word, SharePoint and PowerPoint.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Benefits

Life Fitness / Hammer Strength offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time team members, including, but not limited to: a 401(k) savings plan with 4% employer match; medical, dental and vision insurance, parental, medical and military leaves of absence, paid time off, including 12 paid holidays throughout the calendar year, paid vacation days beginning at 13 days annually, paid sick leave as provided under state and local paid sick leave laws, company paid short-term disability and optional long-term disability, health savings account, health care and dependent care reimbursement accounts, employee and dependent life insurance and supplemental life and AD&D insurance, hospital indemnity; identity protection, legal services, adoption assistance, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, employee discounts, and an employee assistance program that includes free counseling sessions.