Program Manager - New Product Development The Company
Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation is a thriving, values-driven company focused on doing the right things. We're a fast growing, publicly traded company (NYSE: ZWS), with an enduring reputation for integrity, giving back, and providing an engaging, inclusive environment where careers flourish and grow.
Named by Newsweek as One of America's Most Responsible Companies and an Energage USA Top Workplace, at Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation, we never forget that our people are at the center of what makes us successful. They are the driving force behind our superior quality, product ingenuity, and exceptional customer experience. Our commitment to our people and their professional development is a recipe for success that has fueled our growth for over 100 years, as one of today's leading international suppliers of plumbing and water delivery solutions.
Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation employs over 2800 employees worldwide, working from 24 locations across the U.S., China, Canada, Dubai, and Mexico, with sales offices available around the globe. We hope you'll visit our website and learn more about Zurn Elkay at zurnelkay.com.
If you're ready to join a company where what you do makes a difference and you have pride in the work you are doing, talk to us about joining the Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation family!
If you are a current employee, please navigate here to apply internally.
This position has overall responsibility for driving successful execution and delivery of new product development (NPD) programs from concept through launch. The Program Manager serves as the cross-functional leader responsible for achieving program objectives related to schedule, cost, quality, and launch readiness.
This role partners closely with Product Management, Engineering, Operations, Quality, Sourcing, Manufacturing, and Commercial teams to proactively drive accountability, manage interdependencies, mitigate risks, resolve execution challenges, and ensure adherence to the NPD process.
The ideal candidate is a highly proactive leader who drives alignment, accelerates timelines, removes barriers, and owns program outcomes.
Reports to: Sr. Director, Product Management
Key Focus Areas
Own successful execution of NPD programs from initiation through commercial launch
Drive achievement of committed program timing, cost, quality, and performance objectives
Develop and actively manage integrated program timelines, including critical path identification and recovery planning
Proactively identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and lead countermeasure activities to address deviations
Drive timeline acceleration opportunities through understanding of cross-functional dependencies and execution tradeoffs
Enforce NPD process rigor, including stage-gate deliverables, standard work, and launch readiness requirements
Identify gaps in current NPD processes and standard work; partner cross-functionally to improve execution effectiveness
Hold cross-functional teams accountable to commitments, deliverables, and action items
Lead program escalation discussions with clear problem statements, options, recommendations, and recovery plans
Facilitate effective executive and core team communication with clear prioritization of risks, decisions, and actions
Coordinate across Engineering, Product Management, Operations, Sourcing, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and Commercial teams to ensure successful launches
Drive decision-making and issue resolution to avoid program delays
Establish program governance, tracking mechanisms, and operating cadence to ensure visibility and accountability
Support continuous improvement initiatives related to NPD execution and program management effectiveness
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in engineering, business or related field, Master degree preferred
8+ years' experience leading complex cross-functional product development programs
PMP Certification a plus
Demonstrated success managing schedule recovery, risk mitigation, and cross-functional execution
Experience operating within stage-gate or formal NPD process
Strong understanding of product development lifecycle, manufacturing readiness, validation processes, sourcing, regulatory considerations, and commercial launch requirements
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
Energy and desire to deliver high-quality projects on tight schedules
Candidate should have strong and effective decision-making skills
Strong leadership presence with ability to influence at all organizational levels
Strong interpersonal skills, positive attitude, an ability to engage and create trust in others to build and foster team relationships
Possess strong organization skills and ability to multitask
Strong ability to coach and mentor resources
Possesses general understanding in the areas of mechanical product design and manufacturing
Total Rewards and Benefits
Competitive Salary
Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
Matching 401(k) Contribution
Health Savings Account
Up to 3 weeks starting Vacation (may increase with tenure)
12 Paid Holidays
Annual Bonus Eligibility
Educational Reimbursement
Matching Gift Program
Employee Stock Purchase Plan - purchase company stock at a discount!
**THIRD PARTY AGENCY: Any unsolicited submissions received from recruitment agencies will be considered property of Zurn Elkay, and we will not be liable for any fees or obligations related to those submissions.**
