Program Manager for Product Development

Company Description:

Crown Equipment Corporation is one of the world’s largest material handling companies, with a reputation for award-winning product design, advanced engineering and technology, and superior after-sale service. Crown produces a broad range of forklifts and automation and fleet management technologies that are revolutionizing the material-handling industry.

Job Responsibilities:

Manage the Product Development Process (PDP) for specifically assigned product development projects including new market entries, current model redesigns, system upgrades, or substantial modifications to a current model. Assigned projects may be concurrent and may be complex with dependencies on other projects and/or departments. Under general supervision manage all aspects of project schedule, budget, quality, product cost targets and product development performance. This position reports to the Senior Manager of Program Management.

• Project Management - Lead the Product Development Process (PDP) for product development projects assigned by the Product Development Management Team. Perform tasks to define, plan, organize, and kick-off the project including assisting management team with the creation of the pre-profile document, integrating R&D activity into the project start, identifying project core and non-core team members, developing preliminary project schedule, and defining other project goals. Lead and manage cross-functional teams to deliver projects within the constraints of schedule, budget and resources. Elicit strong cooperation and assistance from designated departmental project leaders to ensure project success. Manage the concept, development, and detail phases by obtaining team member input to refine project goals and create detailed project schedule, project budget, cost targets, product performance targets, and quality goals. Manage the validation and implementation/production of the project through refinement, check, test, pre-production, and closure phases. Manage and monitor project progress to goals, resolve issues as appropriate, adjust plans where needed, and ensure a coordinated introduction of a quality product to production and customer. Perform post-project audit and report. Determine inventory balance on items during DV/MCS builds and disposition inventory based on feedback from Engineering whether to rework stock, scrap stock or use stock. Support project parts tracking.   
• Leadership and Communication - Organize and facilitate key project meetings. Maintain accurate and organized project records and meeting minutes. Communicate in writing and orally project progress and deviation from goals as appropriate to project team members, key stakeholders, and executives.
• Organizational Development - Work to build the capability of project team members by providing coaching and mentoring where capable. Collaborate on tasks with Program Coordinator as appropriate. May provide direction to Technician Mechanical staff regarding priorities based on project needs. Continue to learn and be mentored under other Program Managers or leaders in product development. 
• Product and Cross-Functional Support - May support compliance with International Standardization Organization (ISO), European Union, and other organizations as related directly to the PD process. May represent Company in explaining PDP process. With management team approval, suggest and update the PDP document as required to continually improve and align the process with the Company environment. Perform other duties as assigned.

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Crown Equipment – Defining the Future of Material Handling

Location: This position is based in New Bremen, Ohio with possible option to work from the Celina, Ohio office.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 2 years of experience in materials control management, production planning, project management, or product development environment
• Good computer, written, verbal, organizational, interpersonal, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
• Experience with enterprise resource planning software such as SAP and project management software
• Aptitude for good project management and people management
• Ability to grow relationships and create a cohesive bond across business units
• Ability to occasionally travel with overnight stays (0-5%)
• Ability to travel locally between company locations during scheduled workday

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in Project Management, Business, Engineering or related field
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
• Knowledge of Company department interdependencies

Work Authorization:

Crown will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

No agency calls please.

Compensation and Benefits:

Crown offers an excellent wage and benefits package for full-time employees including Health/Dental/Vision/Prescription Drug Plan, Flexible Benefits Plan, 401K Retirement Savings Plan, Life and Disability Benefits, Paid Holidays, Paid Vacation, Tuition Reimbursement, and much more.

EO/AA Employer Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled