Program Manager

Location: Centro Tular Primera Sección

The NPD Program Manager serves as the primary operational liaison between Monterrey manufacturing operations and Paragon engineering for the launch of the new product line. This role is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing Monterrey-specific NPD activities related to this customer launch and to ensure alignment with the overall timeline.
Acting as a cross-functional program manager, this individual oversees schedules, pilot and pre-pilot production readiness, materials coordination, testing support, and communication across engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain. The role is highly collaborative, detail-oriented, and critical to ensuring new products transition smoothly from development into manufacturing.
This position does not directly manage people but drives results through influence, coordination, and strong execution.

Key Responsibilities
NPD Program Management
Develop, maintain, and manage Monterrey-specific NPD schedules while remaining compliant with the overall Tampa roadmap for customers
Track milestones, dependencies, and deliverables to ensure on-time execution of pre-pilot and pilot activities
Proactively identify schedule risks and coordinate mitigation plans
Manufacturing & Operations Coordination
Coordinate pre-pilot and pilot production runs with Monterrey planning and value stream managers
Manage sample builds and ensure production readiness for testing and validation activities
Support smooth handoff from pilot builds to ongoing production readiness
Materials & Supply Chain Alignment
Partner with Monterrey purchasing to ensure timely and accurate procurement of materials for product builds
Monitor material availability and resolve constraints that could impact schedules or testing
Quality & Compliance
Coordinate quality assurance activities to ensure compliance with Whirlpool, Paragon, and internal manufacturing standards
Support quality reviews and corrective actions identified during pilot and pre-pilot runs
Testing & Validation Support
Coordinate lab capacity, equipment availability, and testing schedules to support product requirements
Ensure samples, documentation, and data are available to support validation timelines
Cross-Functional Communication
Serve as the primary point of contact between Monterrey operations and Paragon engineering for assigned programs
Facilitate regular cross-functional updates, ensuring alignment across engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain teams
Documentation & Reporting
Maintain detailed records of schedules, testing status, material readiness, and program risks
Provide regular status updates to stakeholders, highlighting progress, issues, and mitigation plans
Risk Management & Continuous Improvement
Identify risks related to scheduling, materials, testing, and execution
Recommend process improvements based on pilot run learnings to improve future NPD execution

Preferred Qualifications & Experience
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Operations, or related field
5+ years of experience in program management, NPD, manufacturing operations, or a related role
Experience coordinating cross-functional teams in a manufacturing environment
Strong understanding of pilot and pre-pilot manufacturing processes
Experience working with quality systems and regulated customer requirements preferred

Key Skills & Competencies
Program and project management
Cross-functional influence without direct authority
Strong organizational and scheduling skills
Clear, concise communication across technical and non-technical teams
Risk identification and mitigation
Detail-oriented with the ability to see the broader system impact
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, matrixed environment