Innovation Program Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Eaton's IS GOLF Pride US division is currently seeking a Innovation Program Manager. This is a Full Time onsite role based at our Pinehurst, NC headquarters! Relocation benefits are available from within the United States.
For five generations, Golf Pride® has been the global leader in golf grips. Throughout our history, Golf Pride® has believed in the importance of developing the best performing, most innovative grips for the world's best golfers and amateurs alike. As the only brand that touches every golfer, we are obsessed with the connectedness of the hands to the club and this inspires every Golf Pride employee in everything we do. Combine that passion with the resources of Eaton, a $20B global leader that powers businesses worldwide, and it makes for an exciting place to work
The expected annual salary range for this role is $113000 - $165000 a year. This position is also eligible for a variable incentive program.
Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.
What you'll do:
We are seeking an Innovation Program Manager to own, in close partnership with Commercial Product Management and Lead Design Engineering, the front end of new product innovation for Golf Pride-branded products sold through major retail partners and direct-to-consumer channels. This role is the single-point owner for front-end standard work, portfolio management, and program delivery, while working in shared leadership with Product and Engineering to ensure concepts progress on time, at target cost, and aligned to the overall business plan.
This role works day-to-day with Commercial, Innovation, and Operations teams to plan, manage, and deliver the front end of the Golf Pride innovation pipeline.
Why This Role Is Special
• Lead retail-focused innovation programs from the GIC in Pinehurst, working hands-on and in close partnership with Commercial Product Managers, Design Engineering, and Operations leaders
• Define and implement how front-end innovation is managed, including standard work, governance, and portfolio cadence
• Work across functions and regions to align priorities, timelines, and decisions, proactively anticipating issues and coordinating resolutions to keep programs aligned to the product strategy and business plan
• Play a direct role in evolving the Golf Pride product portfolio, influencing what advances into development and ultimately reaches the market
• Operate with explicit backing from senior leadership to drive alignment, decisions, and accountability in ambiguous environments
This role is well suited for a program leader who enjoys building structure, driving clarity, and leading peers through early-stage uncertainty.
Primary Focus
The Innovation Program Manager is accountable for front-end innovation delivery and functional excellence, shared with Commercial Product Management and Engineering, with primary focus on:
• Establishing and maintaining standard work for ideas, concepts, and early prototype development
• Managing the front-end innovation portfolio, including prioritization, resourcing, and pacing
• Ensuring consumer- and customer-led concepts are validated and ready for efficient handoff to downstream development teams
Key Responsibilities:
Program & Portfolio Management
• Own the front-end innovation portfolio, including project intake, prioritization, pacing, and governance, in partnership with Commercial Product Management to ensure alignment to product strategy and business priorities
• Facilitate structured reviews and decision forums with Product and Engineering leaders to ensure concepts meet strategic, consumer, technical, timing, and cost criteria
• Balance desirability, feasibility, timing, and business impact across the portfolio
Authority, Alignment & Accountability
• Operate with borrowed authority from senior leadership to drive execution of growth plans
• Put structure in place, hold peers and leaders accountable, and escalate when necessary to maintain progress, while reinforcing shared ownership and alignment to the agreed product plan
• Lead cross-functional and senior stakeholders confidently through periods of ambiguity
Cross-Functional & Global Integration
• Serve as the primary integrator across Commercial, Innovation, Operations, and external partners, actively coordinating dependencies, sequencing work, and resolving friction to keep teams aligned and moving together
• Partner with APAC-based development and manufacturing teams to align early-stage innovation with downstream execution
• Ensure clean handoffs to manufacturing-site Program Managers for development, industrialization, and ramp-up
Process Excellence & PMO Integration
• Develop, document, and continuously improve standard work, tools, and governance for front-end innovation
• Partner closely with the Head of PMO to ensure alignment with enterprise NPD processes and systems
• Support PMO-led initiatives that improve speed, decision quality, and delivery predictability across the innovation pipeline
How This Role Fits Within the PMO
This role is part of a broader, integrated PMO model:
• The Head of PMO owns end-to-end NPD processes, systems, and overall program delivery
• The Innovation Program Manager (this role) focuses on excellence and delivery from idea through consumer-validated prototypes, working in close partnership with Product Management and Engineering before formal handoff
• Manufacturing-site Program Managers lead development, industrialization, and launch following handoff
Together, this ecosystem ensures innovation flows seamlessly from insight to impact.
Qualifications:
Basic (Required) Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• 5+ years of program or project management experience
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without company sponsorship now and in the future

Preferred:

• 10+ years of relevant program or portfolio management experience
• PMP or equivalent certification
• Program Management experience in performance-driven consumer products or golf
• Deep familiarity with stage-gate systems, portfolio governance, and collaboration tools (e.g., Teams, Jira, Wrike, Workfront)
• Passion for building structure that enables creativity
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority
• High confidence operating in ambiguity and driving clarity
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project/portfolio tools (e.g., Project, Teams, SharePoint, Excel)
• Approximately 10% domestic/international travel and occasional off-hours calls

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