Director of Technical Project and Program Management

Job Overview

The Director of Technical Project and Program Management leads the execution of strategic projects and programs, overseeing a team of program managers. This role emphasizes delivering key performance indicators while fostering team leadership and customer-focused solutions. The position supports Rheem North America and operates under a hybrid model with onsite work Monday to Thursday and remote work on Fridays. The role can be based in Atlanta, GA, Fort Smith, AR, or Indianapolis, IN.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement program management strategies aligned with corporate goals and industry trends, aiming to enhance operational efficiency.
• Lead adoption and adherence to the Navigator process through product manufacturing and production stages.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and mentorship to a high-performing team, encouraging innovation, accountability, and collaboration.
• Drive initiatives focused on talent retention, succession planning, and employee engagement.
• Commit time and resources to develop leadership capabilities and sustain a strong leadership pipeline.
• Manage multiple-year product roadmaps across various categories.
• Coordinate strategic annual plans for new product introduction (NPI) execution, ensuring alignment with financial forecasts, budgeting, commercialization, and training.
• Collaborate with finance and operations to align investments in products with long-term business objectives.
• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver customer, business, and manufacturing requirements while complying with Navigator protocol through production acceptance.
• Monitor program metrics, identify risks/issues, and execute corrective actions to maintain schedules, costs, and quality standards.
• Communicate program progress to senior leadership and conduct post-launch assessments to identify improvements.
• Align priorities with functional leaders to focus on key objectives, optimize resource allocation, resolve bottlenecks, and enable timely delivery.
• Maintain stakeholder engagement and motivation through effective negotiation and communication skills.
• Oversee product life cycles, including development, profitability, and market share growth, ensuring KPIs are met or exceeded.
• Lead core or value stream teams to implement product strategies and meet cost, quality, and performance goals.
• Provide insights on program feasibility, timing, risks, and financial factors to inform product management and adjust roadmaps as needed.
• Facilitate cross-functional problem solving with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, finance, and purchasing to address constraints and accelerate decisions.
• Manage plant-related program execution in partnership with site and functional leaders to meet timing, budget, and quality expectations.
• Communicate clear expectations and deliverables across the organization to enhance program transparency.
• Oversee capital and tooling projects to ensure investments and readiness align with program requirements.
• Ensure manufacturing readiness through validation of equipment, processes, and capabilities for smooth production ramp-up.
• Identify opportunities to accelerate time-to-market and improve quality through cross-functional initiatives.
• Develop and coach team members to improve program management skills, communication, problem-solving, and foster a high-performance culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related discipline.
• Over 10 years of experience in product development or project management.
• More than 5 years leading business or functional teams in dynamic environments.
• Comprehensive understanding of product development stage gate processes, including design, pricing, manufacturing, and sourcing.
• Proven expertise in driving project execution, removing obstacles, and meeting timelines, budgets, and quality goals.
• Experience in converting product strategies into actionable program plans using PLM and resource management tools.
• Strong analytical capabilities with financial insight to track costs, capital spending, ROI, and cost-benefit analyses.
• Proven ability to navigate matrixed organizations and collaborate cross-functionally to achieve objectives.
• Exceptional communication and presentation proficiency with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Experienced in delivering clear presentations to senior leadership and simplifying complex challenges into actionable insights.
• Capable of building relationships and influencing multiple organizational levels with strong professional presence.