Sr. Program Manager, Product Development

About the Company

Vitamix is the premium brand of high-performance blenders, recognized for its top-notch company culture and climate. The company is a Top Workplace, NorthCoast99 Winner, and Smart Culture Award recipient. With over 100 years of history, Vitamix promotes healthy lifestyles for both customers and employees through wellness programs, a free Vitamix machine, an onsite fitness center, fitness reimbursements, and opportunities for advancement. Vitamix products are available domestically at retailers like Williams Sonoma, Sur la Table, Crate & Barrel, Target, Amazon, and Vitamix.com, and in over 130 countries worldwide. As the global leader in high-performance blending solutions for home and commercial use, Vitamix is preferred by chefs and used in top restaurants and culinary schools globally.

About the Role

The Sr. Program Manager, Product Development is a strategic leader responsible for driving and executing high-impact programs that shape the company’s product portfolio and market position. This role champions innovation and ensures operational excellence across all product development programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple end-to-end programs and initiatives, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy and long-term business goals.
• Utilize Vitamix’s Product Development Process, ensuring timely and accurate gate reviews and routine reports are conducted on assigned projects.
• Responsible for assuring process discipline within project teams.
• Collaborate and motivate all cross-functional areas during development to meet key deliverables.
• Lead product development, value engineering, and supply chain activities from definition to production, focusing on speed to market, schedule, budget, and product cost.
• Prioritize and balance competing initiatives within the product development portfolio to maximize ROI and market impact.
• Deliver high-level program updates, risk assessments, and performance metrics to senior leadership.
• Lead organizational change initiatives related to product introduction and process improvements.
• Drive adoption of best practices, advanced methodologies, and emerging technologies in program execution.
• Mentor Program and Project Managers, fostering professional development and accountability.

Requirements

• 7+ years’ experience in program management, preferably in a product development environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field.
• PMP Certified, Agile experience preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office and project management tools.
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-project programs with cross-functional teams.

Skills

• Problem Solving: Skilled at quickly diagnosing issues, identifying root causes, and developing and implementing effective solutions.
• Critical Thinking: Ability to break down complex information, identify key elements, and assess their validity and relevance.
• Communication: Ability to clearly articulate reasoning, explain decisions, and effectively convey complex ideas to different audiences.
• Relationship Building: Ability to establish, maintain, and cultivate positive relationships with individuals, teams, and external stakeholders to foster a collaborative environment.
• Flexibility: Ability to adjust quickly to changing priorities, new information, and diverse situations while remaining focused on achieving goals.
• Resourcefulness: Leverages available resources and contacts to overcome obstacles and achieve project goals efficiently.
• Process Improvement: Demonstrated ability to analyze workflows, identify inefficiencies, and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
• Organizational Skills: Effectively manages time, prioritizes tasks, meets deadlines, and maintains systems for achieving goals.
• Attention to Detail: Consistently maintains high standards of quality and accuracy across different tasks and projects.

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit up to 8 hours per day, with walking and standing required frequently.
• Visual acuity is required to perform activities such as preparing and analyzing data, viewing a computer terminal, reading documents, reports, and emails.
• Repetitive hand movements for tasks like typing or assembly.

Schedule

Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

Work Arrangement

Hybrid (Office/Remote)

Travel

Up to 10% travel required.

Benefits

• Multiple wellness programs and perks.
• Free Vitamix machine.
• Onsite fitness center.
• Fitness reimbursements.
• Flexible work environment.
• Opportunities for advancement.