Director, Technical Project/Program Management

Overview

The role of a Director, Technical Project/Program Management involves overseeing the execution of strategic projects or programs, along with leading a team of program managers. The primary focus is on achieving key performance indicators while fostering team leadership and delivering customer-oriented solutions. This position serves Rheem North America and is based in Fort Smith, AR, with a hybrid work schedule requiring office presence Monday through Thursday and remote work on Fridays.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement the program management vision and strategy in alignment with corporate goals and market trends to enhance operational efficiency.
• Advocate and apply programs following the Navigator process through to manufacturing acceptance and full production.
• Lead, coach, and mentor a high-achieving team to promote a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and excellence.
• Drive initiatives for talent retention, succession planning, and employee engagement.
• Dedicate resources to develop leadership capabilities, increase engagement, and support a sustainable leadership pipeline.
• Manage multi-year product roadmaps spanning multiple categories.
• Develop strategic annual plans for new product introduction (NPI) aligned with financial forecasts, budgets, commercialization, and training requirements.
• Coordinate with finance and operations to ensure product investments support long-term business objectives.
• Lead cross-functional program teams to achieve customer, business, and manufacturing goals, adhering to Navigator standards.
• Oversee program performance by monitoring key metrics, addressing risks and issues, and implementing corrective measures to meet schedule, cost, and quality targets.
• Provide concise program updates to senior leadership and conduct post-launch reviews to extract lessons and foster continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with functional leadership for priority alignment, resource allocation, and workload management to ensure on-time delivery.
• Use strong negotiation and communication skills to keep stakeholders engaged and aligned with program objectives.
• Manage product lifecycle operations to enhance profitability and market share, meeting or surpassing KPIs.
• Guide core or value stream teams to execute product strategies while meeting cost, quality, and performance commitments.
• Offer insights on program feasibility, timing, risks, and finances to support Product Management decisions and roadmap revisions.
• Facilitate cross-functional problem solving to resolve constraints, evaluate trade-offs, and accelerate decisions involving engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, finance, and purchasing.
• Oversee plant-specific program activities, coordinating with site and functional leaders to meet timing, budget, and quality objectives.
• Ensure transparency by proactively communicating expectations, milestones, and changes affecting program execution.
• Manage capital and tooling progress to align investments and equipment readiness with program timelines, communicating resource needs with functional managers.
• Validate manufacturing readiness through confirmation of equipment, processes, and capabilities to enable smooth production ramp-up.
• Identify and lead cross-functional initiatives to improve speed-to-market and quality outcomes by streamlining program delivery.
• Develop and mentor team members to amplify program management skills, communication, problem-solving, and cultivate a high-performance environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in product development or project management roles.
• At least 5 years managing business or functional teams in dynamic environments, with solid understanding of product development stage gate processes including design, pricing, manufacturing, and sourcing.
• Proven ability to drive project schedules, overcome obstacles, and meet deadlines within budget and quality standards.
• Experience translating product strategies into executable program plans using PLM and resource management software.
• Strong analytical and financial skills for monitoring program costs, capital expenditures, and assessing return on investment.
• Competence working with matrixed teams and collaborating across departments to influence project execution.
• Exceptional communication and presentation capabilities with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex issues to senior leaders and convert them into actionable plans.
• Professional presence with the capacity to build relationships and influence at all organizational levels.