New Product Program Manager
About the Organization
Are you looking for a company that values work-life balance, offers benefits like tuition reimbursement and paid volunteer hours, and fosters a transparent, employee-focused culture?You've come to the right place.
Pull up a chair. You're in good company.
At Grand Rapids Chair, we craft furniture that fosters connection and creativity in the spaces where people gather. As a family-owned business, we've built our process around the customer-delivering high-quality, Michigan-made furniture with friendly service and fast lead times.
Our commitment to excellence is driven by our values. We believe every employee plays a role in shaping the future of GRC, and together, we push boundaries, take ownership, and celebrate our collective success together.
We Encourage You to 'Go Be Awesome!'
At GRC, know life extends beyond work. That's why we offer competitive salaries, great benefits, and opportunities for learning and professional growth. We're proud to be named one of Grand Rapids'Best and Brightest Companies to Work For- (https://thebestandbrightest.com/events/west-michigans-2018-best-brightest-companies-work/) - because just like our customers, we want our employees to sit happy, too.
Explore our benefits (https://grandrapidschair.com/about/careers/)
Description
Position Overview:The New Product Program Manager (NPPM) is responsible for leading the cross-functional execution of new product development launches (PD&L) from concept through production launch. This role ensures projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with manufacturing capabilities, quality standards, and cost targets.
The NPPM serves as the central coordinator between Product Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Marketing/Sales to drive accountability, remove barriers, and ensure successful product launches. When launch demands are lower, the role supports product engineering through task management, issue resolution, and structured problem solving.
Key Responsibilities:
New Product Introduction (Primary Focus)
Lead cross-functional NPI projects from design release through production readiness.
Develop and maintain detailed project timelines with clear milestones and ownership.
Ensure launches meet targets for:
On-time delivery
Cost and margin goals
Manufacturability
Quality standards
Facilitate regular project reviews and communicate status, risks, and mitigation plans.
Identify and remove barriers that threaten launch timing or success.
Coordinate pilot runs, validation builds and launch readiness reviews.
Cross-Functional Coordination
Act as the primary liaison between:
Product Engineering
Manufacturing & Manufacturing Engineering
Supply Chain & Materials
Quality
Sales & Marketing
Ensure clear handoffs and accountability across departments.
Align stakeholders on priorities, scope, and launch readiness.
Task & Workflow Management Support
Assist Product Engineering leadership in managing workload, priorities, and task tracking.
Support backlog management and ensure critical engineering tasks are visible and progressing.
Help the team recover from schedule slips by re-prioritizing and coordinating resources.
Product Issue Resolution & Continuous Improvement
Lead structured problem solving for product issues affecting quality, manufacturability, or customer satisfaction.
Support root cause analysis using Lean/TPS methodologies.
Drive corrective actions and ensure sustainable solutions.
Identify design improvements that reduce cost, complexity, and defects.
Launch Readiness & Documentation
Ensure complete and accurate product documentation, including:
Bills of Materials (BOMs)
Drawings and specifications
Work instructions
Packaging requirements
Verify manufacturing readiness prior to launch.
Support development of standard work for new products.
Position Requirements
Bachelor's degree in engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related).
5+ years' experience in product engineering, manufacturing engineering, or new product development.
Proven experience managing cross-functional projects.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and design for manufacturability (DFM).
Demonstrated problem-solving skills using structured methodologies.
Experience in furniture manufacturing or similar discrete manufacturing environment.
Lean / TPS training or certification.
Experience with ERP/MRP systems.
PMP certification or equivalent project management training.
Shift Days
Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time
EOE Statement We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Category Engineering
This position is currently accepting applications.
