Senior NPD Project Leader, Wellness Products
Work Mode: Onsite
Location: Onsite 4 days per week - Kohler, WI
Opportunity
As a member of the New Product Development (NPD) project team, this role will:
- Lead product development initiatives within the Wellness division for both North America and global markets, launching innovative new products and enhancing the quality, performance, and cost-effectiveness of existing portfolio of products.
- Manage cross-functional teams through the Kitchen and Bath Development Process (KBDP) from concept through market launch, ensuring each program meets defined objectives and performance metrics.
- Develop, manage, and track project budgets in partnership with the team, including development expenses, capital tooling, and expense tooling, while guiding the team to deliver products that achieve established cost targets.
- Create and maintain detailed project schedules in alignment with the KBDP framework. Oversee project deliverables and tasks within each phase, proactively identifying, anticipating, and mitigating risks and issues.
- Provide clear, concise, and timely communication to senior management regarding project status, execution plans, risks, and process adherence.
- Define, facilitate, and support effective decision-making processes for development teams. Coach project team members in developing and implementing cross-functional solutions to complex challenges.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with senior leadership to ensure alignment on NPD objectives and to remove organizational obstacles to project success.
- Champion continuous improvement in creative problem solving and drive ongoing enhancements to the KBDP process and broader organization.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Project Management:
- Lead regional and global initiatives of moderate to high complexity, risk, and strategic importance to the business.
- Provide structure and leadership to address complex design and business challenges.
- Proactively identify potential project risks and develop mitigation plans, clearly and appropriately communicating risks to management in a timely manner.
- Ensure assigned projects are delivered on time and within approved financial parameters.
Leadership:
- Inspire and challenge cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions.
- Demonstrate sound judgment in taking calculated, moderate risks to advance project and business objectives.
- Identify and advocate for opportunities to improve organizational structures, processes, and ways of working.
- Operate effectively in environments with ambiguous, evolving, or conflicting structures and processes.
- Lead and facilitate effective brainstorming and collaborative working sessions.
- Facilitate conflict resolution and structured problem-solving to drive alignment and progress.
Decision-Making:
- Make timely decisions in situations with moderate levels of ambiguity.
- Select appropriate courses of action based on a clear rationale aligned with available data, constraints, and anticipated outcomes.
- Take independent action with an understanding of both regional and global business implications.
- Confidently raise concerns and differing perspectives in regional and global forums.
- Present well-formed options, scenarios, and recommendations to remove barriers and advance project objectives.
Skills/Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a product development related discipline (e.g. Engineering, Manufacturing, Marketing, or Design) with a minimum of 8 years of experience in concurrent product development (project management, product design, process engineering or manufacturing engineering).
- Global product development experience is preferred, but not required.
- Ability to travel 5-10% including internationally.
#LI-Onsite
#LI-KZ1
Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.
We believe in supporting you from the moment you join us, which is why Kohler offers day 1 benefits. This means you’ll have access to your applicable benefit programs from your first day on the job, with no waiting period.
The salary range for this position is $119,950 - $186,550. The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, their education, and the work location.
Why Choose Kohler?
We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With more than 30,000 bold leaders across the globe, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.
About Us
It is Kohler’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. If, as an individual with a disability, you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact kohlerjobs@kohler.com. Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
