Project Manager, Product Development

Summary:

As part of the New Products Team, the Project Manager will develop and manage project plans, establish effective project governance, including deadlines, work closely with Engineering, Purchasing & Planning, facilitate meetings, provide regular status reports, identify and manage risks, and act as the primary point of contact for stakeholders.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Manage Product Development projects of varying complexity and timelines, including requirements gathering, determining critical paths, creating project plans and schedules, and helping to facilitate project execution, deployment, and closure.
• Utilize corporate management tools (MS Teams, Wrike & SharePoint) and techniques to manage projects effectively.
• Assist with the establishment and maintenance of corporate project management methodology and other department procedures.
• Maintain detailed project documentation including meeting minutes, action items, issues lists, and risk management plans.
• Effectively communicate project status to all stakeholders; may include written executive summaries.
• Partner with project stakeholders to identify resources, resolve issues, and mitigate risks.
• Coordinate cross-functional meetings with various functional areas to meet overall stakeholder expectations and the company's objectives.
• Monitor the creation of all project deliverables to ensure adherence to quality standards including design documents, test plans, training materials, and operations documentation.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in a related area or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of project management experience.
• Experience working with and leading diverse groups and matrix-managed environments.
• Proficient with project management tools, Wrike, MS Project or other project management software, and MS Office applications (SharePoint).
• Ability to translate technical and design tasks into project plans, and effectively communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience managing New Product Development projects in the automotive aftermarket preferred
• Experience in engineered hard parts preferred.
• Proficient with Excel (intermediate or higher preferred).

Knowledge and Personal Attributes:

• Experience in managing stakeholder expectations and maintaining positive relationships.
• Expert in managing conflicts and resolving disputes among diverse stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving skills, finding innovative solutions to move projects forward.
• Skilled in drawing out unexpressed dependencies, requirements, and expectations.
• Comfort in blazing a path through an ambiguous work environment.
• Judgment in dealing effectively and diplomatically with all levels of staff.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.