Senior Program Manager, Product Development

Culligan International is a leading provider of water filtration solutions committed to delivering innovative products that enhance consumer lives. The Senior Program Manager, Product Development will manage a portfolio of projects focused on innovation, cost savings, and product renovation, ensuring timely delivery and collaboration across various functions.

Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end project management for new product introductions, product renovations, packaging updates, and cost optimization initiatives in line with commercial vision
• Shepard Projects through Stage-Gate process: develop detailed project timelines, milestones, and deliverables; ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget, managed through regular project meetings and notes to monitor and track progress
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams — Engineering, Marketing, Sourcing, Finance, Quality, and Manufacturing — to align priorities and resources
• Anticipate risks, issues, resourcing challenges; develop mitigation and contingency plans to keep projects on track
• Drive transparent communication of project status, key risks, and decisions to leadership
• Drive consistency and excellence in Culligan’s project management tools, templates, and methodologies
• Identify and implement new scalable processes to improve NDP and go-to-market opportunities, including CTO (Critical to Quality)
• Partner with Engineering, Regulatory, and COE R&D teams to document product specifications, mechanical requirements, and testing protocols
• Lead technical readiness reviews, including prototyping, validation, tooling qualification, and pilot production
• Own and maintain core technical documentation including product specifications, BOMs, and master data sheets
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing partners on tooling design, duplication, and process modifications
• Translate field performance data, consumer feedback, and warranty trends into actionable design or process changes
• Partner with Quality, Engineering, and Operations on post-launch product quality issues to investigate root causes and drive timely resolutions
• Supervise and coach Mechanical Engineer, managing technical deliverables and development priorities

Requirements:

• 8+ years of experience in program or product management within consumer products, appliances, filtration, or related technical fields
• Demonstrated success leading highly cross-functional programs spanning from commercial to technical
• Proven ability to translate technical complexity into clear, actionable plans for non-technical stakeholders
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable operating in an ambiguous, fast-moving environment
• Communicates well with various cross-functional groups as well as suppliers and vendors. Able to navigate cross-functional dynamics balancing diverse inputs to drive alignment and move projects forward
• Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Asana, or Jira)
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field (MBA or advanced degree preferred)
• Project management certification (PMP or similar)
• Experience managing or mentoring technical contributors (engineers, designers, or technicians)
• Working knowledge of filtration systems, mechanical assemblies, and regulated product design
• Experience working with global suppliers or contract manufacturers