Program Manager

Company: Whisker
Location: Auburn Hills
Posted on: May 3, 2024

Job Description:

Description:Whisker is the maker of Litter-Robot, Feeder-Robot, and Litterbox.com. At Whisker, we believe pet parenthood can always get better.As leading innovators in pet tech and refined pet accessories, we work tirelessly to solve problems and deliver smarter insights for pet parents while enriching the lives of pets. Whether its a self-cleaning litter box that automates scooping, an automatic feeder that helps pets develop healthier eating habits, or a modern cat tree that delights both humans and felines, we strive to deliver better solutions for consumers while transforming pet care along the way. To us, having a pet is the best thing ever. At Whisker, life together just keeps getting better.Whisker is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan and Juneau, Wisconsin with 500+ passionate team members.What Youll Do:The Program Managers primary responsibility is to lead new pet tech product development programs and teams from concept through market launch. Additionally, the Program Manager may have responsibility to lead sustaining activities for existing product lines.Essential Duties and Responsibilities:This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.Leads the development of new consumer pet products from concept through market launch utilizing the Whisker New Product Development (NPD) phase-gate (waterfall) process.Leads cross-functional project teams to achieve program goals. This includes leading regular core team meetings composed of mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software engineering, manufacturing operations, supply chain, product management, quality, and marketing team members.Keeps up to date program schedules and actions in Smartsheet, and constantly communicates and monitors the critical path to maintain the schedule.Presents to key stakeholders at monthly project updates and gate meetingsUtilizes a vast toolbox of methods, processes, templates, and software tools to keep projects organized and on-scheduleMotivates and influences team members and stakeholdersAssesses and manages risks in all aspects of projectCompiles and updates the program business case based on inputs from core team membersStays up to date on the pet industry and connected home productsPerforms additional responsibilities when requiredRequirements:What Youll Bring:B.S. in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering3+ years of program management experience with consumer products consisting of electrical, mechanical, and software components3+ years experience leading cross-functional teams1+ years of experience with smart product development including IoT, embedded software, mobile app development, and/or connected devicesStrong financial acumen including project calculations, product cost, margins, project expense and capital budgeting and trackingExperience working with customers in multiple channels (direct to consumer, retail, e-commerce)Experience in risk managementProficient in Google Workspace and/or Microsoft Office 365Proficient in Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, or other comparable project management softwareOccasional travel to suppliers and Whiskers manufacturing facilityExperience developing product requirements and test plansNot Required but Nice to Have!MBAPMI/PMP certificationBusiness Intelligence software experience (Domo, Microsoft Power BI, etc.)Process mapping and procedure/template developmentNot required to have pets but highly recommended!Benefits & Perks:Join a tenacious, inventive company that empowers team members to chart their own path, lead by grounding decisions in the why, and has a strong sense of empathy and openness to new perspectives. Be a part of exciting growth, work with incredible people, and create tomorrows pet productsplus a whole lot of extras. You will also be provided with:Premium Medical/Dental/Vision insuranceLife InsurancePTO14 Paid HolidaysPaid Parental Leave401K with 4% MatchFlexible Work ArrangementsTop of the line equipmentStatement of Inclusivity:We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.#onsite1by Jobble

Keywords: Whisker, West Bloomfield Township , Program Manager, Executive , Auburn Hills, Michigan