Program Manager

Last date to apply:

The Program Manager has responsibility for leading cross-functional programs containing several related projects and ensuring the successful outcome of all projects within said programs. The scope of these programs may potentially include multiple projects and require continuous oversight and indirect management of different Project Managers within the NA organization. The Program Manager will also lead cross-functional projects as well as effectively managing a full range of stakeholders, driving projects successfully towards defined and agreed results and promoting project success.  These projects can be global, and span across business functions, including enterprise or transformational business projects.  This position will report directly to the Director of Strategy and Transformation office.

What You Need to Know:

• Apply project management knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to a broad range of complex projects and programs to meet requirements and to deliver the end result for a particular project.

• Manage the overall planning, control, status reporting, stability and delivery of assigned projects and programs across several functions to ensure delivery on plan to time, cost and quality.

• Indirectly manage related projects within said programs that are managed by other project managers within the organization, managing dependencies to ensure program success.

• Lead, build, inspire, and develop global project team(s) while encouraging personal leadership from each team member and actively hold each member of the project team’s accountable for their respective project deliverables.

• Develop and maintain RACI charts for owned programs and projects.

• Work for active portfolio management in programs, ensuring alignment with strategic goals

• Collaborate with other functions for resource planning, upfront commitment from the organization, and project requirements to ensure alignment with strategic business objectives.

• Manage project scope and change requests, reporting risk and deviations to stakeholders.

• Collaborate and independently identify project risks and generate alternative mitigation plans for projects and programs across business functions.

• Be a business role model to proactively ensure adherence to passage of projects and program gates identified in governance planning.

• Develop and maintain budget and schedule to update projects and programs on a weekly basis. 

• Consult with the business and other PMO Resources as a subject matter expert.

• Communicate with all relevant stakeholders within and outside the project, PM&D and other business units, including reporting project progress/risks and issues to relevant decision bodies at an early stage.

• Facilitate root cause and lessons learned post project to enhance future project performance.

• Identify, develop, and implement standard approach, and develop and improve project management tools and methodologies through business implementation.

• Facilitate financial review with Finance and other stakeholders to ensure full cost management and reporting in line with standard business rules and expectations.

• Establish and maintain executive scorecards for each owned project.

• Lead a cross-functional group to develop a yearly project budget, including costs across program and project phases. 

• Facilitate steering team meetings on a regular basis, to include administering and leading meeting discussions.

• Proactively seek continuous improvement throughout business processes and implement recommendations.

• Use previous experience and knowledge to provide guidance and mentorship to other PMO resources as needed.

What We Are Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of ten (10+) years of previous professional Project Management experience in new product development, testing, and/or manufacturing, including development of sourced finished goods products with overseas suppliers.

• Experience and track record in project planning to include: planning project budgets and all projects’ financials as well as the permanent monitoring of project costs and product costs; establishing realistic project timelines; creating Work Breakdown Structures; stakeholder management; and risk management and mitigation.

• Experience in leading projects aimed at new product development for a wide range of outdoor power equipment, consumer goods, and/or product and process improvement projects.

• Experience in leading multi-cultural hybrid teams.

• Professional project management certification (e.g. PMP) preferred.

• Experience with a stage gate project planning.

• Experience with change management preferred.

Project Management

• Demonstrated ability to effectively influence without direct authority.

• Knowledge of project management process and techniques, along with a demonstrated ability to identify process gaps, understand project priorities, set clear goals and targets, and independently lead projects and produce positive results.

• Ability to effectively manage issues at the project and program level and proactively identify when issues may turn into a risk and need to be escalated to the Steering Team.

• Monitor geopolitical risks impacting current and upcoming programs and projects.

• Demonstrated ability to manage several types of complex projects concurrently. 

Technical

• Knowledge of phase gate development process and detailed understanding of Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and developing project critical path.

• Advanced proficiency level with MS Office software applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Project).

• Ability to create dashboards and report project status and data to management concisely. 

• Familiarity with Husqvarna business systems and ways of working.

General

• Excellent time management and follow-up skills.

• Detail-oriented and demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple priorities simultaneously and meet critical deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a demonstrated ability to professionally represent the project status to Steering Team

• Strong initiative and ability to be self-directed in completing tasks and function with minimal supervision.

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.

• Excellent teamwork and interpersonal skills.

• Demonstrated ability to be flexible and adaptive to internal processes and change, delays or unexpected events.

• Ability to travel up to 10% to domestic and/or international sites.

• Ability and willingness to work extended hours due to alternate time zones, including overtime and weekends.