Global Product and Program Launch Manager

Comfort starts with our 10,000+ team members across the globe, who are transforming the power of comfort every day. Our employees have the power to change lives, in our homes, work and communities. We foster an inclusive environment while honoring a legacy built on family, where everyone can be themselves.
 
If you are ready to join an industry leading organization where our people are the most important asset, and innovation propels us into the future, you’re ready to take your seat at La-Z-Boy Incorporated. 
 
WE BELIEVE IN THE TRANSFORMATIONAL POWER OF COMFORT

This role is responsible for the Product and Program Launch introductions for various brands across North America, Europe, and Asia. Provides quality and processes related guidance to engineering, product design teams, and management with a focus on developing new and improving existing launch processes to reduce startup delays and exceed customer satisfaction. Champion all launch processes through strong leadership, providing direction, coaching, and training.

Job Description:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (other duties as assigned):

• Responsible for managing the new product launch technicians with a focus on ensuring a smooth transition from design to implementation at manufacturing sites by ensuring adherence to Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and LPDS stage gate deliverables are met, managing the readiness (scheduling, material, quality checks, documentation) for verification trips in various global manufacturing sites, developing a detailed timeline with all required activities, and ensuring team members across different functional areas are completing tasks on time
• Represent the “voice of the customer” towards the internal organization and the “voice of the plant” towards the R&D partners involved in new product and program launch by identifying and resolving issues upfront that could challenge a successful launch or a quality customer experience through DFM, Safety reviews, FMEA, PFMEA, product reviews, and other risk avoidance tools.
• Coordinate any training and documentation required for new product/program launch, manage the execution of safe launch protocols such as layered process and out-of-box quality audits on first production runs, and make sure all gaps are addressed by the responsible management team.
• Drive resolution and timely mitigation of risks and raise to management serious issues that impact successful customer release.
• Establish and manage a process for reviewing “lessons learned” for product launches, ensure effective countermeasures are implemented for future launches, provide continuous improvement to new product and program launch process to ensure a “flawless” launch.

SCOPE & IMPACT: 

This role is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing the Product/Program Launch Processes that will have significant impact on the enterprise as we onboard manufacturing for various brands and locations across North America, Europe, and Asia. Any misses in the new product and program launch process could have a serious negative impact on the company's ability to deliver on our brand promise and could have a considerable negative impact on the company's overall profit margin.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:  

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field with 6 - 8 years of relevant experience or equivalent.
• Supervisory/Leadership experience.
• Highly competent in estimating, planning, tracking, and reporting project status, managing change requests, and project scope.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and conflicting priorities under project deadlines.
• Comfortable utilizing both internal and external resources to complete project assignments.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Project, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Outlook).
• English advanced proficiency.
• Up to 25% Travel Required.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS: 

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is desired.
• Certified Project Management Workshop Leader desired.
• Certified Problem Solving & Decision Making Workshop leader desired.
• Experience with APQP (Advance Product Quality Planning) or similar product development methodology is highly desired.
• Experience launching products in a plant environment (Manufacturing), with focus on Quality, is desired.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Up to 10 direct reports

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Office environment/no specific or unusual physical or environmental demands. Often required to sit, repetitive hand motion (such as typing), to hear, listen, and talk. Required to perform under floor environment, mid-level management, and upper management.

OTHER DUTIES:  Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the incumbent for this job.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Weekly Hours:

40

Benefit offerings to employees and their families include: Medical, Vision, Dental and Basic Life Insurance, available 401k retirement plan with company match of up to 6%. Paid time off includes: 9-11 paid holidays each year, two weeks’ prorated vacation as a new hire and either personal time (non-exempt only) or state mandated sick time.

More information can be found via: https://learn.bswift.com/la-z-boy

If this role requires travel / driving in order to perform the key responsibilities outlined above, candidates must be able to meet the qualifications noted in the company’s Driver Management Program to be considered for the role.

At La-Z-Boy Incorporated, we're an equal opportunity employer. We understand that our employees’ diverse backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and viewpoints add value to our ability to create and deliver the best possible service, quality products, and is of utmost importance as we work together to build comfort. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

We are committed to fostering an environment in which all employees feel valued, included, and empowered to do their best work and bring great ideas to the table. If you are a qualified individual that may need a change or adjustment to the application/interviewing/hiring process as a result of your disability, you may request a reasonable accommodations by emailing our recruiting team at [email protected] or by calling 734-242-1444.