Product Development Manager Jobs in Morganton, NC

Position Summary:

The Project Manager - New Product Development (NPD) is responsible for leading cross-functional product development projects from concept through commercialization and product launch. This role ensures projects are executed in accordance with established NPD processes, project governance requirements, and Agile/SCRUM methodologies while meeting business objectives related to scope, schedule, quality, cost, and customer requirements.

The Project Manager serves as the primary coordinator and facilitator across Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Business Line, Sales, and other functional teams. This role drives accountability, manages project timelines and risks, monitors key deliverables, and ensures adherence to all stage-gate reviews and project milestones. The Project Manager utilizes project management best practices, visual management tools, and Agile project execution techniques to deliver successful product development outcomes. This position will also aid in project management or project management training in relation to site-wide initiatives, process improvement, or implementation of IATF 16949-2016 on an as needed basis.

Principle Duties (includes, but is not limited to):

Project Planning, Leadership, Governance, & Execution

• Lead New Product Development (NPD) projects from concept approval through commercialization and launch.
• Manage projects in accordance with established NPD stage-gate processes and project management standards.
• Develop and maintain project charters, schedules, resource plans, risk assessments, communication plans, and project documentation.
• Lead cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on project objectives, deliverables, responsibilities, and timelines.
• Drive accountability for project execution, timely completion of actions, and achievement of project milestones.
• Conduct project and gate reviews to assess readiness and support progression through development phases.
• Escalate project risks, resource constraints, scope changes, and schedule concerns as necessary.
• Communicate project status, risks, and key metrics to leadership and stakeholders.

Agile / SCRUM Management

• Facilitate Agile project management practices, including sprint planning, daily standups, backlog refinement, sprint reviews, and retrospectives as appropriate.
• Partner with stakeholders to prioritize work, manage project backlogs, and align resources with business objectives.
• Monitor project progress, remove barriers to execution, and promote Agile principles and continuous improvement.
• Utilize project management tools, dashboards, and visual management systems to provide transparency into project performance.

NPD Process Execution

• Ensure compliance with corporate NPD processes, Engineering Change Control procedures, quality management system requirements, and applicable industry standards.
• Coordinate key project deliverables, including design reviews, risk assessments, validation testing, prototype builds, pilot production runs, launch readiness reviews, and supporting documentation.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Product Management, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to support successful product development and commercialization.
• Support identification, assessment, and mitigation of technical, operational, regulatory, quality, and supply chain risks.
• Ensure completion of applicable IATF 16949 deliverables, including DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and Process Capability Studies.
• Support compliance with relevant standards and certifications, including ISO 9001, PED, API, and customer-specific requirements.
• Capture lessons learned and best practices to improve future product development activities.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to product development, project execution, and organizational effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities to improve NPD processes, project management tools, reporting methods, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Participate in Lean, Kaizen, and Operational Excellence activities to improve efficiency, quality, and business performance.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

General Responsibilities

• Maintain effective communication across all project stakeholders.
• Ensure alignment between project objectives and business strategy.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications / Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Strong organizational, planning, and time management skills.
• Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Understanding of project management principles, methodologies, and tools through academic coursework, internships, co-op programs, or professional experience.
• Familiarity with Agile and/or SCRUM concepts and project execution methodologies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Project (or similar project management tools).
• Ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional team environments.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes, engineering principles, or product development lifecycles through education, internships, co-op assignments, or work experience.
• Self-motivated with a strong desire to learn and develop project management skills in a manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification.
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Professional Scrum Master (PSM), or equivalent Agile certification.
• 3-5 years of project management experience within a manufacturing, industrial, or product development environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional New Product Development (NPD) projects.
• Experience utilizing project scheduling and reporting tools such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Jira, Azure DevOps, or similar platforms.
• Experience identifying, assessing, and mitigating project risks.
• Experience leading projects within highly regulated or ISO-certified environments.
• Background in mechanical, industrial, process, or manufacturing engineering.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, FMEA, Design Reviews, and Stage-Gate product development processes.
• Experience managing capital, product development, or engineering projects.
• Familiarity with ERP, PLM, and product lifecycle management systems.
• Internship, co-op, or prior professional experience within manufacturing, engineering, operations, or product development environments.

EOE/Women/Minorities/Veterans/Disabled

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This description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work being performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Crane Company. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, general identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.