Program Manager

The NPD Program Manager serves as the primary operational liaison between Monterrey manufacturing operations and Paragon engineering for the launch of the new product line. This role is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing Monterrey-specific NPD activities related to this customer launch and to ensure alignment with the overall timeline. Acting as a cross-functional program manager, this individual oversees schedules, pilot and pre-pilot production readiness, materials coordination, testing support, and communication across engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain. The role is highly collaborative, detail-oriented, and critical to ensuring new products transition smoothly from development into manufacturing. This position does not directly manage people but drives results through influence, coordination, and strong execution. Key Responsibilities NPD Program Management Develop, maintain, and manage Monterrey-specific NPD schedules while remaining compliant with the overall Tampa roadmap for customers Track milestones, dependencies, and deliverables to ensure on-time execution of pre-pilot and pilot activities Proactively identify schedule risks and coordinate mitigation plans Manufacturing & Operations Coordination Coordinate pre-pilot and pilot production runs with Monterrey planning and value stream managers Manage sample builds and ensure production readiness for testing and validation activities Support smooth handoff from pilot builds to ongoing production readiness Materials & Supply Chain Alignment Partner with Monterrey purchasing to ensure timely and accurate procurement of materials for product builds Monitor material availability and resolve constraints that could impact schedules or testing Quality & Compliance Coordinate quality assurance activities to ensure compliance with Whirlpool, Paragon, and internal manufacturing standards Support quality reviews and corrective actions identified during pilot and pre-pilot runs Testing & Validation Support Coordinate lab capacity, equipment availability, and testing schedules to support product requirements Ensure samples, documentation, and data are available to support validation timelines Cross-Functional Communication Serve as the primary point of contact between Monterrey operations and Paragon engineering for assigned programs Facilitate regular cross-functional updates, ensuring alignment across engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain teams Documentation & Reporting Maintain detailed records of schedules, testing status, material readiness, and program risks Provide regular status updates to stakeholders, highlighting progress, issues, and mitigation plans Risk Management & Continuous Improvement Identify risks related to scheduling, materials, testing, and execution Recommend process improvements based on pilot run learnings to improve future NPD execution Preferred Qualifications & Experience Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Operations, or related field 5+ years of experience in program management, NPD, manufacturing operations, or a related role Experience coordinating cross-functional teams in a manufacturing environment Strong understanding of pilot and pre-pilot manufacturing processes Experience working with quality systems and regulated customer requirements preferred Key Skills & Competencies Program and project management Cross-functional influence without direct authority Strong organizational and scheduling skills Clear, concise communication across technical and non-technical teams Risk identification and mitigation Detail-oriented with the ability to see the broader system impact Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, matrixed environment